The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

February 5, 2001 - A Familiar Sight

Triple H Steve Austin
WWE

WWF creative is not quite bad enough for Austin to bury publicly yet, but on the road to WrestleMania X-Seven, a double can-they-co-exist match is booked. Upcoming No Way Out opponents The Rock and Kurt Angle team up to take on the wrestlers, Austin and Triple H, who are set to semi-main event the pay-per-view. Triple H is the perp behind the attempted murder, but Austin keeps up the pretence for eight Nielsen-friendly minutes before attacking his nemesis and throwing the match.

McMahon is meddling with the careers of his wrestlers for the sake of it now.

He’s no longer pretending that there’s some sacred image of the federation to uphold, which makes an upcoming development all the more pointless…

February 25, 2001 - No Way Out

Three Stages of Hell - No Way Out 2001
WWE.com

Stephanie McMahon has replaced Chris Kreski, the downgrade is risible, and in quite the coincidence, Austin loses to her partner Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match as Rock regains the belt from Kurt Angle. While both matches are incredible, the action is mere distraction from the plot. The build to WrestleMania X-Seven is poor.

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Contributor

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!