As soon as upon a time, The Rock and “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin determined to step out from their respective characters to indicate appreciation to at least one one other.
The rivalry between Rock and Austin propelled World Wrestling Leisure (WWE) to new heights through the Angle Period. They headlined three WrestleManias (15, 17, and 19) with Stone Chilly successful the primary two for the then-WWF Championship and The Brahma Bull taking the ultimate encounter in a singles match.
In 2021, A&E aired a by-product from their Biography sequence referred to as Biography: WWE Legends. The very first biographical documentary aired was for Stone Chilly Steve Austin on April 18 of that 12 months in its first season.
Behind-the-scenes and post-match clips from WrestleMania 19 have been featured in that episode. After The Rock hit his third backside to lastly vanquish Stone Chilly, he approached the latter by sitting down beside him and reducing his head so he may discuss intently.
The Brahma Bull mentioned one thing to The Rattlesnake and pushed senior referee Earl Hebner away to have their second collectively. It was revealed afterward that Rock uttered “I like you” to Austin and thanked him for what he’s executed for his profession.
“I lowered my head right down to Steve’s ear and I mentioned ‘I can’t thanks sufficient for every little thing that you’ve got executed’ after which I mentioned ‘I like you’” The Rock mentioned. [from 2:05 – 2:18]
Alternatively, Austin knew WrestleMania 19 was his final match at that time as he needed to retire resulting from lingering neck issues, which he first suffered in SummerSlam 1997 towards Owen Hart. After The Brahma Bull confirmed his love, the Rattlesnake mentioned the identical factor again to him.
I bear in mind simply layin’ there in entrance of 70,000 and mentioned ‘I like you too’ (laughs). I informed him ‘I like you’. Verbatim I mentioned ‘I like you too.’ Two huge a**, robust a** guys tellin’ one another that they love the opposite one in entrance of tens of millions of individuals.” [2:19 – 2:37]
The Rock vs Stone Chilly WrestleMania 19
Final match of their WM trilogy / Steve Austin’s final match for 19 years pic.twitter.com/yAV9Pazn4Z
— Vick (@Vick_8122) March 8, 2024
The Rock added that WrestleMania 19 was the one time for him and Stone Chilly Steve Austin to overtly specific their emotion and appreciation to at least one one other.
What occurred to the careers of The Rock and “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin after WrestleMania 19?
The following night time on Monday Evening RAW, Eric Bischoff “fired” Stone Chilly Steve Austin resulting from “medical causes” (a technique to write him off as he retired following WrestleMania 19). The Rattlesnake then turned co-general supervisor and “sheriff” of RAW, each in 2003.
From then on, Austin made sporadic appearances at premium reside occasions like WrestleMania, doing his traditional schtick of arriving, elevating hell, and leaving. His legendary profession culminated in a spot on the 2009 WWE Corridor of Fame.
21 years in the past right now, Stone Chilly gave The Rock and McMahon’s a beer bash. An all-time second. @BRWrestling
(by way of WWE)pic.twitter.com/Zh62zlNX3J
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 22, 2020
The Rock, in the meantime, had another match at Backlash 2003 in a dropping effort towards the debuting Goldberg earlier than stepping away from WWE to solely deal with his budding Hollywood profession. He returned in 2011 to host WrestleMania 27, defeat John Cena at WrestleMania 28 in 2012, and win his eighth and last WWE Championship on the 2013 Royal Rumble towards CM Punk.
These days, Rock is a member of the Board of Administrators of TKO Group Holdings (which owns WWE and UFC). He’s integrated his real-life function into tv because the villainous authority determine often known as “The Ultimate Boss.”
Please credit score A & E’s Biography: WWE Legends and provides a H/T to ITR Wrestling for the quotes within the first a part of this text.
