#2: The Rock vs. Steve Austin, WWE WrestleMania X-Seven (4/1/2001).
This is for the WWE Championship.
Eras come and go, and no matter what, they always end. The Attitude Era brought WWE more profit and exposure than it had seen in quite some time, and it is still fondly looked back on as one of the most entertaining periods in the history of the promotion. So, how did it end? With one of the more controversial booking decisions of all time.
It was such an amazing time to be a fan in early 2001, wasn't it? You have The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, the two biggest stars WWE ever produced, at their absolute peak, here at the same time. Austin has been working his way back to this moment ever since he left in November of 1999 for neck surgery. After returning in late 2000, Austin won the 2001 Royal Rumble in January to earn a main event spot on this show.
Meanwhile, The Rock, in Austin's absence, became WWE's top star, and at certain points throughout 2000, seemed even bigger than Austin himself. He and Triple H traded the WWE Championship all year long, until Rock dropped it to Kurt Angle at No Mercy in October. Months later, after some ominous promises from Rock, he beats Angle and regains the championship at No Way Out in February.
The build to this match is, surprisingly, questionable. It started well enough - with tense staredowns between the two, but no physicality. Not bad! Then, Vince McMahon decided that The Rock's new manager should be Debra, who is Austin's wife. Great. Even the greatest PPV of all time has it flaws.
This part of the storyline went on for weeks, and was finally put to rest shortly before this show. The final interview between the two is what is remembered most about the build to this match. Rock promises to give his absolute best to find victory. Austin, meanwhile, tells Rock that he needs to win more than anything, and he'll do anything to do it.
The match is announced as No Disqualification right off the bat. Austin enters the Astrodome to his most iconic entrance, in my opinion. Texas gives him his flowers. The Rock comes out next, and his reception is very much mixed. Right away, both guys are going at it like their lives depend on it. The sense of urgency at play here adds a ton of drama to the story being told.
Austin isn't afraid to take advantage of the No DQ rule, as he doinks Rock in the head with the ring bell, which causes him to bleed. Not to be outdone, Rock doinks him in the head with the ring bell, which causes Austin to bleed now. Both men are a bloody mess. Nice flashback to WrestleMania 13, as Rock gets a bloody Austin in the Sharpshooter. Austin counters with one of his own, and the crowd is exceptionally loud for this moment.
Austin, in a true sign of desperation, busts out the Cobra Clutch, a move he hadn't really done since his days as the Ringmaster. Rock pulls a Bret Hart and turns it into a pin attempt, which Austin barely kicks out of. Enter Vince McMahon, who makes the long walk down the ramp to ringside. He breaks up a pin attempt for the Rock, and then gives a chair to Austin. A chair shot gets a nearfall, and Rock looks to fight off a seemingly 2 on 1 disadvantage.
He beats the hell out of Vince, and walks into the best Stunner he ever took from Austin, and he still kicks out! Another chair shot to the head, and another kick out. Austin grabs the chair and lays into Rock 16 times straight, and finally holds him down for the 3. He celebrates with Vince afterwards, and doinks Rock with the title belt.
The finish to this match, with Austin turning heel and siding with Vince, is still in question to this day. I think the execution on this night was picture perfect. Austin said he'd do anything, and damnit, he did! He needed the championship at all costs, and he was willing to work with his greatest enemy to do so.
That said, in the aftermath, I'd say his heel run was a dud. Fans simply didn't want to boo him. It just didn't feel right. At least we got Paranoid Stone Cold! The Rock would take his first absence into Hollywood after this, and he'd return in July for the Invasion storyline.
All thoughts about the heel turn aside, this match is absolutely amazing. It's the closest WWE has ever come to showcasing a King's Road style match ala All Japan that I've seen, personally. It builds and builds, and the momentum never slows. It's exciting, it's thrilling, and it's just a wild match between two guys who were in their prime.