The WrestleMania XV main event between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin was a wild, chaotic, and physical No Disqualification match for the WWF Championship. And it had added drama before it even began. Mr. McMahon made his way to the ring and attempted to appoint himself as the special guest referee, only to be immediately confronted by WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels, who reminded him that only the Commissioner held that authority.
Michaels barred McMahon and all Corporation members from ringside, stripping The Rock of his corporate safety net and handing officiating duties to Mankind.
The match kicked off aggressively, with The Rock immediately taunting Austin and interrupting his trademark salute to the crowd. Both wrestlers immediately rushed each other, trading punches and quickly taking the action outside the ring.
The intense fighting soon spilled into the audience and around the arena, with Stone Cold at one point throwing The Rock into the massive WrestleMania XV logo. As they made their way back ringside, tensions escalated with each wrestler spitting water into the other’s face and both using the steel barriers, ring steps, and announcing tables to inflict damage.
When the fight returned to the ring, Austin initially appeared in control, but The Rock managed to regain momentum, hitting his finishing move, the Rock Bottom. Austin surprised everyone by kicking out of the pin attempt. Frustrated, The Rock grabbed a steel chair intending to finish Austin off, but Austin countered with a swift kick, causing The Rock to lose his grip on the chair. As Austin attempted to swing back, The Rock pulled the referee into the line of fire, causing him to roll out of the ring injured and leaving the match temporarily without an official.
Seizing this opportunity, The Rock regained momentum and began to target Austin’s injured left knee.
After landing another chair shot to Stone Cold’s head, The Rock made another pin attempt as a replacement referee rushed in, but Austin again kicked out at two. After some back and forth, The Rock was able to land a Samoan Drop and went for the pin again, but once again, Stone Cold kicked out on two.
The Rock’s frustration had finally boiled over, leading him to hit another Rock Bottom, but this time on the second referee. Austin capitalized on the distraction, delivering a Stone Cold Stunner to The Rock, but even with a third referee coming in quickly for the count, The Rock was able to also kick out on two.
In the dramatic final moments, Vince McMahon arrived and made his way into the ring, knocking out the third referee and viciously stomping Austin in the corner. Moments later, Mankind stormed down to ringside dressed in referee gear, attacking Mr. McMahon and forcing him out of the ring.
After a quick rollup pin attempt by Austin failed, The Rock delivered another Rock Bottom and attempted his signature “Corporate Elbow”. Austin rolled away at the last possible second, sprang up, and delivered a decisive Stone Cold Stunner. With Mankind counting the final pinfall, Stone Cold Steve Austin secured the victory and became the new WWF Champion, sending the crowd into a frenzy as WrestleMania XV concluded.
