SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 18 Min. +
Memorably, these legendary frenemies had twice before clashed at WrestleMania – 1999 and 2001 – with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at stake. Now, with Austin on the verge of forced retirement due to a lingering neck injury, completing their trilogy meant a final showdown at Seattle’s Safeco Field on March 30, 2003. Motivating The Rock’s pride were two bitter World Title losses, as Austin, healthy or not, evidently had his WrestleMania number. The match commentators are Michael Cole and Tazz, with Carlos Cabrera & Hugo Savinovich as the WWE’s Spanish language announcers.
Note: As of this date, it would be Austin’s last match.
REVIEW:
It’s all about the star power. Stealing WrestleMania 19’s glow more through nostalgia than actual substance, this match’s run time is deceptive. Less than eight minutes of finishers and stealing the other guy’s crowd-pleasing finishers makes this expedited slugfest more of a greatest-hits highlight reel. Frankly, it resembles a Monday Night RAW street fight where the unremarkable action escalates into an in-ring slugfest and a ringside beatdown. To the surprise of no one, there are few, if any, technical wrestling displays – more disappointingly (no doubt due to Austin’s physical condition), no major choreography spots commemorate his retirement.
In the end, what might have been a legendary finale to The Rock vs. “Stone Cold” is a strictly run-of-the-mill brawl. This match offers historic context only by watching their two prior WrestleMania battles first.
ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
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