At WrestleMania X‑Seven on April 1, 2001, The Rock faced Stone Cold Steve Austin in a no‑disqualification match for the WWF Championship. Austin earned the title opportunity by winning the 2001 Royal Rumble, while The Rock had reclaimed the championship at No Way Out.
Their rivalry was already intense, but personal tension escalated when Vince McMahon forced Austin’s wife, Debra, into the Rock’s corner, with Austin vowing to hold both the Rock and McMahon responsible if she was harmed.
From the opening bell, the match exploded into chaos. The Rock and Austin unleashed a brutal brawl inside the ring and at ringside, using rings, chairs, monitors, and the ring bell as weapons. Both were busted open from brutal strikes with the bell, which heightened the intensity of the match and amped up the crowd.
The match saw both competitors trading signature holds and finishers. The Rock locked in a Sharpshooter, which Austin countered with one of his own. Austin then followed up with the Million Dollar Dream submission (a callback to his early persona as the Ringmaster). The Rock retaliated by stunning Austin with a Stone Cold Stunner, which drew a huge crowd reaction and a near fall.
The turning point came when Vince McMahon appeared ringside. After The Rock delivered a spinebuster and hit the People’s Elbow, he went for a pin, but McMahon slid into the ring and pulled The Rock off the cover just before the three-count.
Furious, The Rock chased McMahon around the ring and back inside, only to run into a Rock Bottom from Austin. Austin then hit a low blow and motions over to McMahon, who brings a steel chair into the ring.
With the Rock held in place by Austin, McMahon delivered a chair shot, revealing a shocking alliance between the longtime rivals. But even after all of that, The Rock manages to kick out, keeping the match alive.
With frustration mounting, Austin snaps. He unloads on The Rock with sixteen vicious chair shots, finally pinning The Rock to win the WWF Championship. The stunned crowd watched in disbelief as Austin shook hands with McMahon and celebrated with beers, confirming his heel turn.
This 28-minute main event is widely regarded as one of WrestleMania’s greatest. It combined raw emotion, violent action, and a historic character shift that altered WWE’s direction. Austin’s alignment with McMahon symbolized the end of the Attitude Era and remains a landmark moment in wrestling history. The match is still celebrated for its storytelling, intensity, and the lasting impact it had on the careers of both superstars.
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