3. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock - WrestleMania X-Seven
When Austin had surgery on his injured neck in late 1999, Rock took over as the face of the company and became the top star. Ratings and PPV buyrates stayed strong and steady and it vaulted Rock to the brink of a new career in acting. When Austin came back, it was no longer a foregone conclusion that he would pick up right where he left off as The Man. Rock and Austin both entered the 2001 Royal Rumble looking to secure their main-event spots for Mania. It turned out to be Austin that got the win, but Rock would go on to defeat Kurt Angle to win the WWE Championship at No Way Out, setting the stage for a monster showdown and rematch from Mania XV in Houstons Astrodome. The WWE topped off the feud with easily the greatest hype video compilation ever produced, set to Limp Bizkits My Way. The crowd at Mania 17 was very pro-Austin, obviously, putting Rock in what became the all-too-familiar situation where he was a face that had to adapt. They exploded out of the gate with a quick flurry of offense that included several of their usual high spots and counters of their finishers. Then, they took the match to the outside in typical Attitude-era fashion and brawled throughout the crowd. When they finally made it back into the ring, they traded momentum for long stretches. It was turned into a no-disqualification match just before the entrances, so there were also chairs and ring bells and TV camera cords used. Things got a little weird when Vince McMahon came down to the ringside area, but it took awhile for him to make his presence felt. When he did get involved, it was to help his long-time archrival, Austin. Surprisingly, though, the fans in attendance did not boo the hell frozen over type alliance; they were just happy to see Austin win the title from Rock. While the shocking heel turn really did not get over and the fact that they tried it was questioned from the outset, the match was praised up and down. Most critics have called it the defining moment of the Attitude era and also its end. It was arguably the greatest WrestleMania main-event of all-time.
"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.
