The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines
March 30, 2003 - One Last Time
Austin is in such rough shape that he almost misses the match. He’s stressed, overcaffeinated, and dehydrated. He suffers a huge panic attack and, worried about his heart, spends the eve of WrestleMania XIX in the hospital. He’s in terrible physical and mental condition.
The match somehow happens, and it verges on great in spite of itself. An electrifying atmosphere helps. Considerably. The fans don’t know that they’re lucky to even be watching it.
Austin can’t do much. It’s a match of two halves. Rock spends the first half stalling, putting on Austin’s waistcoat, and mimicking him. In reality, he’s chewing scenery and eating the run-time. Some limb work on the leg justifies Austin’s protracted selling.
The second half is all greatest hits and finisher kick-outs. Rock wins after a third Rock Bottom, ending his obsession to beat Austin on the Grandest Stage.
While it’s better viewed through the lens of pathos, the story beyond the fiction, and Rock’s improvisational brilliance and selflessness, Austin digs deep and exerts just enough authorial control to make it work as an in-ring contest on its own, flawed terms.
WrestleMania XIX, most heavily promoted around Hulk Hogan Vs. Mr. McMahon, draws a shockingly low 560,000 buys.
It’s a sad ending, really, but it’s also beautiful.
After years of refusing to concede, of iron sharpening iron, of secret resentment and begrudging, unarticulated respect: Finally…the Rock is able to express his genuine admiration for the man who he knows made him. The Rock crouches down and makes sure the referee can’t hear this intimate moment. He whispers something to Austin as the camera lingers, uncomfortably, on the scene.
He thanks Austin, and tells him he loves him.
At WrestleMania XV, Austin is the bigger star. At WrestleMania X-Seven, they are peers. At WrestleMania XIX, Rock is clear.
In the end, it’s the most thrilling tie in the history of the sport.