The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

August 22, 2019 - SummerSlam

SummerSlam 1999 Steve Austin Mankind Triple H
WWE.com

Austin and the Rock are babyfaces who are mostly kept apart and each tasked with elevating heels at SummerSlam. This does not go well.

The Rock can’t do anything with D-Generation X underling Billy ‘Mr. Ass’ Gunn, whose new persona is that he has a toned ass and enjoys doing various things to the asses of others. However.

“Is Rock better than Stone Cold?”

This question is echoed around dorm rooms and schoolyards. The answer might be “yes” when Rock verbally incinerates Gunn in the build. In the best gag of the Attitude Era, Rock pretends to be Billy praying to God. “Yes, Bob?” God answers.

“But my name’s Billy!”

“It doesn’t matter what your name is!”

Even the omniscient God doesn’t know poor Billy Gunn’s name. It’s among the best bits of trash talk ever spoken.

Austin, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to want to do anything with Billy’s old leader Triple H. Austin will only drop the WWF title to Triple H via transitional champion Mankind. Foley’s herculean exploits eventually help establish Triple H as the convincing top heel. He forms the new authoritarian heel faction alongside Stephanie: the McMahon Helmsley Era at the end of the year.

Russo is nearing his departure to WCW, and it’s considered a coup, bizarrely.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!