The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

January 19, 1997 - First Time Ever

Fake Diesel Rocky Maivia
WWE

Maivia and Steve Austin share the ring during the Royal Rumble match for the very first time. There’s not a great deal to it. In fact, the only notable thing about their interaction is an illustration of how badly the WWF needs talent, depth, star power, ideas: everything.

Maivia attempts to eliminate Austin by the corner. The roster is so thin that the WWF uses imported talent from Mexican lucha libre outfit AAA to bulk up the numbers. The actual contracted talent is so inexperienced that Glenn ‘Fake Diesel’ Jacobs decides to beat up Maivia instead of motioning to assist with the elimination. Even the petty parody character played by the future Kane is a damning sign of the times: WCW is kicking the WWF’s ass, and they literally don’t know what they’re doing when they’re on the ropes.

It’s major history, all the same.

An upper midcarder at this point, Austin actually wins the Rumble - he is eliminated, but re-enters to steal the victory - but the result is not a vehicle with which to push him. It is a device to further infuriate an embittered Bret Hart into turning heel. Bret is meant to get his win (and title) back at In Your House: Final Four on February 16 before wrestling Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 13.

This doesn’t happen. Shawn loses his “smile” and embarks on hiatus. Bret does win at Final Four, but drops the title to Sid on Raw the next night - leading to…

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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!