The Build To Stone Cold Vs. The Rock At WrestleMania 17 Was Pretty Bad
The WrestleMania 17 main event of Steve Austin vs The Rock may be the most important match in wrestling history, but it had a forgotten horrible build. WWE eventually got it back to course with the legendary performers facing off in the main event of a landmark night in company history. The build unfortunately had a lot of flaws that would get corrected just days before the event.WWE rushed into Rock and Austin after the two had bigger stories going before this program. Even the idea of the story to implement heat lacked severely and failed to create something special. The incredible talent and magical chemistry of Austin and Rock saved the day to have the match take place in an electric environment. However, WWE deserves some blame for how poorly it could have gone.
The Two Were Rushed Into The Feud
Steve Austin winning the Royal Rumble match in 2001 felt off since he was still in the midst of his feud with Triple H. WWE placed them in a heated rivalry after it was revealed Triple H hired Rikishi to deliver the hit and run attack on Austin. The feud was still Austin’s main story instead of instantly starting his WrestleMania 17 build as the #1 contender.
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Austin and Triple H had an all-time great two out of three falls match at No Way Out 2001 to end their feud. Triple H winning after a war of attrition was the right call, but Austin losing on the PPV before WrestleMania didn’t do him any favors. The other side of the main event saw The Rock having to win the WWE Championship first.
Rock defeated Kurt Angle on the same night of Triple H vs. Austin to win the title just one show before WrestleMania. The ending of Austin vs Triple H and Rock winning the WWE Championship felt rushed to kickstart their program later than the average WrestleMania season. Rock and Austin were already working with things against their favor to start the build.
Debra As A Main Part Of The Story Was Awkward
WWE struggled to find a way to create tension between their two biggest face characters at the time. Vince McMahon’s love for manipulating others saw him placing Debra as The Rock’s new manager after winning the WWE Championship. Austin’s real-life marriage to Debra was referenced with him warning Rock about what would happen if something happened to her.
The threats from Austin towards Rock, and the discomfort of Rock having to work with Debra, placed them at odds for a few weeks. Fans responded well due to the magnitude of Austin and Rock starting to feud during the respective top chapters of their careers, but Debra's presence just made it all awkward.
Debra being put in harm’s way and having to think about managing against her husband was the story WWE chose to tell with the feud. Austin and Rock tried their best to make it work, but Debra was just taking away from the obvious best storyline path. WWE eventually removed Debra from the equation with a week to go in time for the icons to sell their match differently.
How WWE Saved It Late
The pivot during the week before WrestleMania 17 saw WWE making it about the WWE Championship and the two biggest names fighting to be the best. WWE booked them in massive matches before, but this was the first time the two had met since Rock reached Austin’s level as a top face in 2000 when Austin was out. The magical timing of two iconic performers at their peak competing over the top prize on the biggest show was too hard to ruin.
A backstage interview between the two hosted by Jim Ross sold the show perfectly with Austin showing his desperation to stop at nothing to be #1 again. Rock was able to match Austin as a true equal for the first time and that segment showed it. The final Smackdown show before the big night saw them getting physical to a huge ovation after passive-aggressive beer toasts.
WWE completely saved it when putting the icing on top with the all-time great video package to Limp Bizkit’s “My Way,” that is still talked about today. Rock and Austin ended up having an all-time great match close out the biggest show ever with a polarizing ending. Most of the build was a disaster that would have harmed any other combination, but Austin and Rock survived it with a classic match.
