WWE: Top 25 Stone Cold Steve Austin Moments

13. "Everyone Remembers Act III..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ke5ybNgkWQ Rematches are usually never a great idea. They're often muddled by repetition and cop-outs, and sometimes even back-stab from the other side that leaves the fans in disarray, like the screw-jobs involving Bret Hart and Hollywood Hulk Hogan in Montreal. But sometimes these rematches can be honest, sincere, and totally take place in the context of the big picture. What about a trilogy of matches, two of them sequels to the first? All because one particular entertainer wanted to settle things once and for all in the ring with the Texas Rattlesnake. It was Wrestlemania XIX, one of the biggest Wrestlemania's of all time. And it was Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock, the final rematch between both of the business's greatest. This time there were no titles on the line and no outside interference. It was nothing but a personal score wanting to be settled by The Rock, for he saw Stone Cold as the one goal he hadn't achieved in the WWE, and that was beating him at Wrestlemania. Prior to their final encounter The Rock had a talk with interviewer Jonathan Coachman about his match, calling it "the climax, the final chapter, the grand finale", and describing it as follows: "If there's no thing that Hollywood has taught me, it's that Act One and Act Two....they don't matter. The only thing that matters...everyone remembers Act III..." While it sounded quite selfish and obligatory all at once, The Rock was right about one thing: everyone remembers the final act. When their match officially begun, and Stone Cold's entrance music went off, none of the fans would have ever guessed it would be the final time he ever competed in that squared ring. When the two titans clashed in their final match, they went all out. It wasn't a no disqualification match, so traditional wrestling rules applied. Steve Austin wrestled like a proper face, always getting the fans to rally behind him, while The Rock wrestled in a fashion unfamiliar to most at the time. Playing the part of a greedy product of Hollywood, he avoided contact whenever possible, and when he did get involved in the action he mocked the Rattlesnake in the process. And in proper rematch fashion the momentum never faulted. That was until The Rock got the better of Stone Cold. There came a point where the Great One Rock Bottomed Stone Cold a total of three times near the end, the third putting a resounding impression that had Austin curling up in pain. Then The Rock went for three count, and won the match. He did what he set out to do, and that was beating Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania on his third try, finally proving himself that he lives up to his words. After the dust settled and Stone Cold got up the fans were on their feet in support of Austin's performance, because they knew he gave it his all in the final performance of his career. While it might seem odd to include a moment that sees Steve Austin in defeat, it's a proper sendoff to his wrestling career. Being his final match in the WWE and facing none other than The Rock it makes sense knowing that the finale of his career be included not because he lost his final match but because it was the perfect capping point for a man as gritty, respected, and recognised as Steve Austin.