WRESTLING NEWS
Underrated The Rock Matches That Deserve More Respect
By JOEL KANANEN
The feud between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock is era-defining and includes memorable matches such as WrestleMania XV. Their overlooked Backlash 1999 match was the much-anticipated sequel to XV, and it delivered on every account as an entertaining and comedic bout full of brutal violence and stage production destruction.
Backlash 1999
The Rock's return to wrestling saw him taking the WWE championship from CM Punk in 2013, when they were the highest-level main event players, along with John Cena. Among the clashes between them was Elimination Chamber 2013, a well-worked and often overlooked match that helped build The Rock's comeback and Punk's notoriety.
Elimination Chamber 2013
The opposing attitudes and skill sets of Kurt Angle and The Rock made them excellent rivals, and no other match exemplifies it more than No Mercy 2000 — a no-disqualification WWE Championship contest. The match's excitement was heightened by interference from Rikishi and the McMahon family, as well as an unexpected Angle victory.
No Mercy 2000
Of the many battles that The Rock and Mankind had as friends and foes, their Empty Arena match was one of the most unique. Broadcast at the same time as the Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show, the match featured The Rock berating Mankind while leading him all around the empty arena and ended with Mankind pinning The Rock under a crate.
Half-Time Heat
Two of the most charismatic men in wrestling history put on a show in this SummerSlam 2001 main event — their first time ever competing against each other. Although The Rock is not usually remembered as a WCW star, this match exemplifies how entertaining he was at all points in his career, especially against opponents such as Booker T.
SummerSlam 2001