29. The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania XIX
When Steve Austin left the WWE in the summer of 2002, Rock returned shortly thereafter from making a movie to help do some damage control and ensure that the ratings didnt fall too far. In doing so, Rock cut a promo that included a zinger thrown Austins way. Austin can take his ball and go homeif you dont want to be here then you get the F out. So, when Austin and Rock returned on the same night at No Way Out in 2003 (Rock had taken a hiatus to make another movie), you got the feeling that might eventually be addressed. It took all of two weeks. Rock called out Austin and challenged him to one last match at WrestleMania to write the final chapter on the greatest rivalry in the history of the WWE. The story was built around Rocks Hollywood heel character wanting to finally get that elusive WrestleMania victory over Austin, calling it the one thing that hed never done in his career. On WrestleMania weekend, Austin took a dangerous combination of coffee and energy drinks that over stimulated his system and sent his body spiraling out of control. His heart rate reached alarming highs and put not only his match but his life in danger. Austin certainly didnt show much to suggest that he wasnt 100% healthy. Rock did a great job in masking whatever was going on with Stone Cold with a lot of antics that took the attention away from Austin and put it on him. The winner was in question throughout the climax. When Austin kicked out of a second Rock Bottom, the crowd came unglued. It looked like Austin might pull it out one more time despite Rock being younger, stronger, and faster. Rock picked up Austin for one final Rock Bottom and made sure to put everything he had left into itthe move took out everything that Austin had left, leaving him open to the pinfall. It was Austins final match. Rock and Austin had an epic final battle. Stone Cold did an admirable job of gutting his way through the match and it was a fitting end to his career, but Rock fittingly got most of the praise for carrying it. It was honestly one of the best performances of Rocks career given the circumstances.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
