How Many Times Did The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin Fight At WrestleMania? Full Match History 3k1x16

The legendary WrestleMania rivalry between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin revisited.

The rivalry between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the most iconic feuds in WWE history. As the two biggest superstars of the Attitude Era, their battles captivated fans worldwide.

A common question among wrestling fans is: How many times did The Rock and Stone Cold fight at WrestleMania?

The answer is three times – at WrestleMania XV (1999), WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), and WrestleMania XIX (2003).

Each match played a pivotal role in their storied careers, with high stakes and unforgettable moments. Let’s dive into their full WrestleMania history.

Who Won the Rock vs Stone Cold WrestleMania Matches? 5g3ss

Over their three WrestleMania encounters, Stone Cold won twice – at WrestleMania XV and WrestleMania X-Seven – and The Rock won once – in their final battle at WrestleMania XIX.

When Did The Rock and Stone Cold Rivalry Begin? la32

The rivalry dates back to 1997-1998, when Austin was rising as WWE’s (then WWF) top babyface and The Rock was a brash heel leading The Nation of Domination.

They had their first match against one another at In Your House 1999 for the Intercontinental Championship, which Austin won.

The heated rivalry escalated into main-event status by 1999, leading to their first WrestleMania clash. Rock was aligned with Vince McMahon and won the vacated WWF Championship at Survivor Series.

Austin won the 1999 Royal Rumble shortly after – for the second year in a row – and ended up dethroning The Rock at WrestleMania XV.

The Rock vs Stone Cold at WrestleMania – Full Match History 4x5c2k

WrestleMania XV (1999) 1m7i

WrestleMania XV marked the first WrestleMania encounter between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

By 1999, the WWF was thriving, but with Shawn Michaels sidelined, the company needed a fresh main-event rival, and The Rock – a charismatic, cocky champion aligned with Mr McMahon’s Corporation – was the perfect foil.

Their feud injected new life into the WWF’s already white-hot Austin vs McMahon saga, and by the time the event arrived, anticipation for their match was through the roof.

Stone Cold had won the 1999 Royal Rumble, securing his spot in the main event, while The Rock, who had aligned himself with Vince McMahon’s Corporation, was the reigning WWF Champion.

At the time, the event set a new WWF pay-per-view high mark, with 800,000 buys, obliterating a 10-year record, and the over 20,000 fans in attendance acquitted for over $1.4 million at the gate.

The match itself was chaos from the start, quickly spilling outside the ring, with both men brawling through the crowd and up the entranceway.

The action was relentless, featuring dramatic near falls, referee bumps, and interference from McMahon.

In the end – true to storybook norms, the good guy triumphed – Austin hit the Stone Cold Stunner to reclaim the WWF Championship in what was an over-the-top, wildly entertaining match that set the stage for even bigger battles to come.

WrestleMania X-Seven (2001) 2533z

Rock and Austin’s second WrestleMania clash took place at WrestleMania X-Seven in Houston, Texas, and is considered by many as the greatest WrestleMania main event of all time.

It was a defining moment in wrestling history, marking the peak of the Attitude Era, and there was an air of finality about this match, even though the business kept moving forward the very next night. Wrestling was never as hot as it was on this evening.

The match felt like a blockbuster – two fully formed, genre-defining figures at the top of the game facing off in front of 60,000 fans for the richest prize in the industry – filled with intensity, dramatic near falls, and an electric crowd.

Austin and Rock bloodied each other, smashed each other with weapons, and expertly teased humbling finishers – be they submission holds or stealing their opponents manoeuvre.

Austin fought with desperation, and the fans were fully behind him, but the match took a shocking turn when Vince McMahon interfered, aiding Austin in a brutal steel chair assault on The Rock.

The Texas Rattlesnake then did the unthinkable, shaking hands with McMahon and cementing a controversial heel turn, creating one of wrestling’s most iconic images.

The match remains a high point of WWE’s stadium shows, and the night itself felt like the apex of sports entertainment.

WrestleMania XIX (2003) 3w3s2q

The third and final WrestleMania encounter between The Rock and Stone Cold took place at WrestleMania XIX on March 30, 2003, in Seattle, Washington.

By this time, The Rock had transformed into a Hollywood megastar and had fully embraced his arrogant, villainous persona. He had never beaten Stone Cold at WrestleMania, and this match was his last chance to do so.

Meanwhile, Stone Cold, plagued by injuries, knew that this would likely be his final match, though this wasn’t publicly known at the time.

From the opening bell, the match was emotionally charged. Stone Cold and The Rock exchanged finishers multiple times, with each kick-out raising the tension.

The Rock, determined to break his losing streak against Austin, hit three consecutive Rock Bottoms before finally securing the victory.

After the match, Dwayne Johnson dropped ‘The Rock’ facade and quietly whispered something to Austin before leaving the ring, allowing his rival a moment of solitude.

The trilogy was over, and so too was Austin’s wrestling career.

What Did The Rock Say To Stone Cold? 5i164

At the end of their WrestleMania XIX encounter, and what would be their final match, The Rock broke character and sat beside his pained friend.

Johnson later revealed he’d said to Austin, “I thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me. I love you.” Austin responded that he loved him back.

Rock then cleared out and gave Austin the stage to himself.

Did The Rock and Stone Cold ever fight again after WrestleMania XIX? 6z6i5e

No, WrestleMania XIX was Stone Cold’s last official match until his brief return at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, where he defeated Kevin Owens.

The Rock transitioned to Hollywood, making sporadic WWE appearances. While they had segments together over the years, they never had another one-on-one match after 2003.

What Was The Best Stone Cold vs The Rock Match? 3k1e52

All three matches are great, but most fans and analysts consider WrestleMania X-Seven the best of their trilogy.

The match was an Attitude Era classic that had everything – chaos, drama, chair shots, blood, interferences, and of course, the shocking Austin heel turn.

However, WrestleMania XIX holds emotional significance as Austin’s final bout.

Stone Cold vs The Rock Head-To-Head Record 465n1g

The Rock and Stone Cold had 10 one-on-one matchups altogether in their careers. Austin won seven of these encounters – albeit one by disqualification – while The Rock won just one, which was, of course, their last.

Their other two matches ended in a no contest.

Ultimately, The Rock vs Stone Cold is one of WWE’s greatest rivalries, spanning multiple WrestleMania events and defining an era.

With their three WrestleMania clashes, unforgettable promos, and legendary careers, they remain icons in professional wrestling history.