The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

November 18, 2001 - War Is Over

rock austin survivor series 2001
WWE.com

“This Invasion crap”: the explicit words of Vince McMahon, and the sentiments of his rapidly dwindling fanbase. The average Raw rating in 2000 is 5.88. In 2001, it is 4.64.

Vince promises to do away with this “crap” at Survivor Series, and is true to his word. Team WWF (The Rock, Big Show, Chris Jericho, the Undertaker and Kane) defeats the Alliance (Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Shane McMahon, Rob Van Dam and Booker T). It’s an excellent, red-hot main event. The fans don’t really believe in it - two members of the Alliance didn’t wrestle for the real WCW or ECW on a single occasion - but the idea of the WWF losing and what might then happen informs a delirious atmosphere in the haze of suspended disbelief.

Team WWF wins when Angle, yes, swerve-turns on Austin, allowing Rock to pin him.

November 19, 2001 - What?

Steve Austin Ric Flair
WWE

Angle is annoying about it on Raw, however, and upsets people by taking credit for saving the company. Austin turns face, in a nonsensical yet necessary means of pretending none of this ever happened, by siding with new WWF co-owner Ric Flair over Vince McMahon, who is a heel, even though he opposed the heel Alliance.

The mess is over. The good times are, too.

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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!