The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines
March 3, 2003 - Austin Returns
Austin returns to Raw. He begins his address by thanking the fans. It’s easy to read into things, but he’s hanging on the ropes like he knows he won’t be touching them for much longer. He’s just living in the ring for a moment. He claims he’s brought a big fat can of whoop-ass, and he’s “fixin’” to spread it to every one of the WWF (sic) superstars in the back”. This is a direct callback to the Austin 3:16 promo, but the vibe is different. He’s barely making eye contact with the crowd. He promises to raise more hell than ever before, but he knows different.
He’s interrupted by the Rock, who is a new level of phenomenal under his new megalomaniac ‘Hollywood Rock’ persona. He, too, is on the way out. The difference in him is staggering. You watch him in 2003, trash-talking the crowd and firing off burials like a human submachine gun, and he’s miles better than he was in 2001. In 2001, he’s the biggest star in the world.
Rock issues a challenge to Austin for WrestleMania XIX, but Bischoff joins the promo train and offers the Rock a deal: if he beats Booker T next week, he gets to pick between Austin and Triple H in Seattle.
March 10, 2003 - Plans Change
On Raw, the Rock reveals that, with Bischoff’s blessing, he is choosing his opponent. It’s not Booker T; it is lovable undercard idiot the Hurricane, who is chosen for a night off. Austin interferes, allowing Hurricane to successfully roll Rock up and score a shocker of a win. The only option Rock has now is Stone Cold.