Wrestlemania XV Moment: March 28, 1999: Steve Austin Vs The Rock (champion)
The main-event of Wrestlemania XV, opposing Steve Austin to then WWF heavyweight champion The Rock, was suppose to be refereed by the deranged Mankind. But because of injuries sustained during his match against Big Show earlier in the evening, WWF head honcho Vince McMahon decided to put on the muscle shirt, making himself part of the main-event. But WWF commissioner Shawn Michaels overruled McMahon decision and ordered Mike Chioda to call the match.
The match rapidly turned into a wild brawl with both wrestlers exchanging successions of boots and right hands in the aisle and on the entrance stage. Kicking the offence in high gear, Austin brought the fight into the crowd, whipping the champion into a wall and clotheslining him on the concrete floor.
The Rock fought back by backdropping the Rattlesnake into a lights rack near the stage. Mocking Austin in the aisle, the Rock spat water in Austin’s face and suplexed him outside the ring. Truly pissed off, Austin put The Rock on the Spanish announcers table and delivered 2 elbow drops to The Rock’s head, destroying the table in the action.
The two wrestlers finally made their way into the ring, pounding each other furiously. The Rock then it a Rock Bottom on the challenger for the 2-count. Dazzled, Austin introduced a chair into the match; swinging it around to knock The Rock out cold, but unintentionally (or not!) hit the referee on the head.
Chiodas motion less in the ring, Referee Tim White entered the match to restore order. The Rock then hit a samoan drop on Austin fallowing and avalanche of punches. But Austin lifted his right shoulder off the mat just before the 3-count. Furious at White’s slow count, Rocky rewarded the referee by Rock Bottoming him to the mat.
2 zebras down, senior referee Earl Hebner then took charge of the bout to only be cowardly attacked by Vince McMahon. Joining the Rock in a stomp session on a laying Rattlesnake, McMahon ran for his life when Mankind hit the ring as the forth referee of the main-event!
The even playing field restored (sort of), The Rock hit another Rock Bottom on Austin. But his cockiness cost him when he failed to lay the Corporate Eldow on Austin.
Ready to unleash a can of whoop-ass, Austin reversed another Rock Bottom attempt into a devastating Stone Cold Stunner for the win!
With the WWF heavyweight belt back on his shoulder, Austin chugged a few Steveweisers with Mankind. To end the show, Austin pleased the roaring crowd by stunning Vince McMahon and pouring beer on the evil owner.
Also on Wrestlemania XV:
- Hardcore Holly Defeated Billy Gunn & Al Snow
- Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart Defeated Test and Dlo Brown
- Butterbean Defeated Bart Gunn
- Mankind Defeated Paul Wight via DQ
- Road Dogg Defeated Val Venis, Goldust and Ken Shamrock
- Kane Defeated Triple H via DQ
- Sable Defeated Tori
- Shane McMahon Defeated X-Pac
- Undertaker Defeated Big Boss Bossman
Stephane Lajoie is a 23 years old sports journalist. He graduated from the UQAM in August 2004 with a bachelor's degree in communication/journalism.
WHAT WORKED: I kind of liked the AMW vs. Siaki/Apollo match. Some awkward parts in the beginning as Team Mulato wasn’t on the same page as to whether they were delivering double arm drags or double flap jacks.
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