The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines
November 14, 1999 - Survivor Series
The advertised main event between Steve Austin, Triple H and the Rock does not happen. Austin’s neck issues have worsened. He requires surgery, but the WWF requires you to buy the PPV and give them money, so he’s written off on the show itself when he’s run over by a car. If this happens in 1998, the WWF is not in a good place. At all.
It happens in 1999, when the WWF, in an anomaly of history, boasts two megastar babyfaces.
April 30, 2000 - Backlash
Austin isn’t missed, exactly - the Rock is closing in on achieving the record of most consecutive five-figure houses drawn - but he’s still such a huge star that he factors into the Backlash build in order to spike the buy rate.
Triple H is the first heel to retain the WWF title at WrestleMania, when Vince turns on the Rock and again sides with a man who has sought to corrupt his daughter. The delayed gratification model has persisted, post-Russo, and has even infected the happy ending show. Elsewhere, though, the WWF is reaching a creative peak.
At Backlash, the WWF sets a buy record (650,000) for a non-Big Four pay-per-view that will only get broken once.
The advertised Austin interferes to rid the ring of corporate pests. Rock beats Triple H to win the big one. Austin has not recovered and does not look good at all. He can’t manage a Stunner, and can only swing a chair around. It’s strange that his ego allows it, in one sense, but the pop is deafening. Does he crave that sound?
Or is he worried about his spot?