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WrestleMania is the showcase of the immortals.
Contests like Hogan/Andre or Michaels/Undertaker can evoke images of two legends duking it out. Other contests can transform mere mortals into figures of legendary status, like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13. Sometimes, Wrestlemania can culminate in the result of one’s progress over the course of a year.
In this case, Dwayne Johnson’s WrestleMania career reflects his progress from one year to the next.
While this man would be destined for greatness, his beginnings at Wrestlemania weren’t glamorous by any means.
At Wrestlemania 13, Rocky Maivia defended his Intercontinental Championship against The Sultan (aka Rikishi). It was not a catch-as-catch-can affair, and when your Dad (in this case Rocky Johnson helped out his son post-match) is the most memorable thing to come out of the fray, then there is something wrong.
Between Wrestlemanias 13 and XIV though. young master Maivia reset himself.
When he debuted as a blue chipper, Rocky was about as well-liked as the douche in high school whose major secret was just unleashed to the world. There were heels in the company (Owen Hart, Mankind, etc.) who got sizeable pops when they defeated the youngster. Something had to give, and therefore, the dark side was a calling.
Teaming up with the Nation of Domination, it was not too long before Maivia became the center of attention, drawing away cameras from leader Farooq (soon-to-be Hall of Famer Ron Simmons).
Once he ‘won’ the Intercontinental Championship on RAW due to forfeit, Rock’s first major program with the belt came at the hands of Ken Shamrock.
After a conniving turn-of-events at the Royal Rumble, Shamrock was given another chance at Wrestlemania for the belt. Once again, Shamrock had legitimately defeated Rock, but personal ‘zone’ issues once again derailed his chance at a title reign. Rock was bloodied and beaten up, but the IC belt would once again be around his waist.
The period between Wrestlemania XIV to XV proved that a man could legitimately launch into another zip code.
Another losing the IC belt and ditching the Nation, The Rock became a babyface once again. Unlike the last time however, the fans were firmly in the corner of the “People’s Champion”.
That face turn would be shortly lived as Rock bucked the trend at Survivor Series 1998, winning his first WWE Championship thanks to a structured screwjob of Mankind at the hands of Vince & Shane McMahon.
While Mankind would be Rock’s primary focus until February of 1999, Wrestlemania was looming near, and a rattlesnake was hissing in the foreground.
Steve Austin would clash with The Rock at Wrestlemania XV for the WWE Championship. While this match wouldn’t exactly be exemplary of their careers, it did prove that WWE at this point was cooking and gas, and the fans wanted more.
After ditching The Corporation, The Rock turned babyface once again, and the fans were more than willing to give in.
Through the duration of 1999, Rock was warming up for a big 2000.
While Steve Austin was down from spinal fusion surgery, The Rock instantly became the #1 good guy in the company.
It also didn’t hurt that Rock had a good selection of bad guys to play off from, especially one Triple H.
In a way, Rock and Hunter grew up in the WWE together. Rock’s first singles title came at the hands of HHH in 1997.
1998 saw them feud as leaders of their respective factions.
1999 saw them feud in small bits as their paths collided again.
All of those angles, as good as they might have been, were pale in comparison to what was to come.
Now the top two guys in the company, Rock and Hunter were always at odds. It also doesn’t hurt that the top prize, the WWE Champion, was constantly at stake.
Wrestlemania 2000’s main event did involve Triple H & The Rock, but they were not alone. Add in Big Show and Mick Foley. Also add in all four members of the McMahon family, with each member representing a different competitor, and the only guaranteed result was chaos. Also should I add this was an elimination rules match as well?
Big Show (w/ Shane McMahon) was ousted first, while Mick Foley (w/ Linda McMahon and about 20 extra pounds) would join him a few minutes later, but not before giving Triple H some barbed wire shots.
Rock and Triple H were the final two, and the title was now finally squared onto these two. It seemed that Rock, with Vince McMahon in his corner, would seemingly defeat The Game, who had his wife (then of the storyline variety) Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley in his corner.
However, plans would turn awry. Vince turned on Rock, and Triple H would nefariously retain the title, becoming the first heel ever on the grandest stage to do so (Hulk Hogan and Diesel did it before Triple H, but both were good guys).
The two would battle for more or less the rest of the year as Rock would enjoy two title runs, while also facing off against MANY different up-and-comers.
As 2000 concluded, one of Rock’s best opponents came back as Steve Austin was as recovered from neck surgery as he could be.
Wrestlemania X-Seven was a paramount time in WWE history. Business was booming, competition was run out/purchased, and the overall product may have been the strongest ever.
It should be no surprise that Rock/Austin II would be the organic choice to headline the show. Between Austin winning the Rumble and Rock winning back the title at No Way Out from Kurt Angle, the stage was set.
For 30 minutes, it was a contest reminiscient of two gladiators inside the Roman Coliseum. “It’s a contest that both men must win, but neither man can afford to lose,” was the call that Paul Heyman provided a commentary. It was definitely reflected in the in-ring work.
For the second straight year though, Vince McMahon cost Rock his dream, and in the process, it gave Steve Austin a heel turn and the WWE Championship to boot.
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From the time Wrestlemania X-Seven ended to about Wrestlemania XX, Dwayne Johnson would alternate between making movies and whooping candy ass.
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Wrestlemania X-8 needs no introduction.
With that one action/reaction, perhaps the most anticipated Wrestlemania match in history was born.
In Toronto, 60,000 screaming WWE fans went nuts. While Hogan was portrayed as the heel, the crowd made it very well known that they were behind the leader of the new World order. Rock was booed mightily no matter what he did. Rock may have won the match, but the fans were starting to get sick of him. This led to a heel turn for the ages.
Now bald and somewhat bitter, Rock would be even more entertaining via run-ins with newer superstars (like Hurricane) and those Rock Concerts, like the one in Sacramento the week before Wrestlemania XIX.
The main purpose here though was to whoop Austin’s ass and finally beat him. Rock lost twice to Austin, but as Rock says, “…all they remember is act 3.”
It took three Rock Bottoms to do it, but in poetic fashion, Rock beat Austin clean as a sheet. It would be the last competitive match Austin ever had, and depending on who you talk to, maybe the best match of the trilogy. I for one am not of that opinion.
As Wrestlemania XX was about to come to pass, Mick Foley had an on-going problem with a group named Evolution. Although Triple H wasn’t a focal concern because of his title, the other three members (Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista) were incessantly beating him senseless seemingly every week. Foley, in a foreshadowing statement, told Evolution he’d show up, but that didn’t mean he was coming alone. Cue the reuniting Rock n’ Sock Connection!
The duo looked ready and fit to battle. Despite their physical readiness, they were no match for the triumverate from Evolution. Foley ate an RKO from Randy Orton, which would only accelerate their program. The only thing acclerating in Rock’s career by this point was his Hollywood status.
It’s hard to imagine that after that particular event, Dwayne would not be involved in a physical manner at another ‘Mania until 27!
In-between the events lied a special happening. Dwayne, able to jet into Miami for a night, inducted his grandfather (“High Chief” Peter Maivia) and his father (Rocky Johnson) into the hallowed Hall of Fame at Wrestlemania XXIV weekend in 2008. Rock was briefly welcomed back into the arms of his fans, while still paying respect to two ground-breaking superstars that just so happened to be his own flesh and blood.
As 2011 started, promos for a certain ‘Wrestlemania Guest Host’ started popping up.
The RAW before the Elimination Chamber PPV, the lights went out, and boom went the dynamite! THE ROCK HAS RETURNED!
Not only did Rock do the ‘Guest Host’ bit, but was also heavily vested into the WWE Championship match. Rock’s center of attention, John Cena, went up against standard-bearer The Miz. That match was an absolute mess, and it resulted in Rock drilling Cena with the Rock Bottom. Miz retained the belt via the distraction.
Although it was only the night after WrestleMania 27, Cena vowed to face Rock at 28, and Rock agreed. After laying a SMACKDOWN on The Corre (yeah, remember them?), Rock and Cena shook hands on a truce, with a main event waiting in the wings a full year out.
Miami, Florida was the prime setting for hometown boy Rock. His first major match in eight years, Rock looked as huge as ever. In 30 minutes, he managed to beat John Cena in his prime. Sure Rock looked gassed and had to be carried through it all, but the fact he has managed to beat a big-name at WrestleMania once again solidified the man.
CONTESTS
Wrestlemania 13: Rocky Maivia def. The Sultan (w/ Iron Sheik) via pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. During a post-match beat-down, Maivia’s father Rocky Johnson came in to save his son. (9:45) *
Wrestlemania XIV: The Rock def. Ken Shamrock via Disqualification to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Shamrock originally won the belt via submission, but could not snap out of his ‘Zone’. After pummeling many officials, the referee had no choice but to reverse his decision. (4:49 from bell-to-bell) *1/2
Wrestlemania XV: Steve Austin defeated The Rock via pinfall in a No Disqualification match to win the WWE Championship after Mankind made the count. (16:52) ***1/2
Wrestlemania 2000: Triple H defeated The Rock, Mick Foley, & The Big Show to retain the WWE Championship in a Fatal-Four-Way Elimination Match. Big Show was first to go, then Mick Foley second. The Rock was lastly eliminated when Vince McMahon, who was in Rock’s corner, turned on him. (36:28) ***
Wrestlemania X-Seven: Steve Austin defeated The Rock via pinfall in a No Disqualification match to win the WWE Championship after Vince McMahon interfered on Austin's behalf. (33:06) ****3/4. This was the start of Austin's ill-fated heel turn.
Wrestlemania X-8: The Rock defeated ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan via pinfall. After the match, Rock and Hogan fended off Scott Hall and Kevin Nash as this would start Hogan’s face turn. (16:23) **** (*** for the match and ***** for the atmosphere)
Wrestlemania XIX: The Rock defeated Steve Austin via pinfall after delivering a THIRD Rock Bottom. (17:53) ***3/4. This was Austin's last competitive match.
Wrestlemania XX: Evolution (Randy Orton, Ric Flair & Batista) defeated The Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection (The Rock & Mick Foley) in a Handicap Match when Randy Orton pinned Mick Foley. Rock and Sock got a rousing ovation post-match. (17:03) ***1/4
Wrestlemania XXIV: inducted his grandfather (“High Chief” Peter Maivia) and his father (Rocky Johnson) into the Hall of Fame.
Wrestlemania 27: He was the official ‘Guest Host’. Also gave a Rock Bottom to John Cena, which allowed The Miz to retain the WWE Championship. The night after on RAW, Rock and Cena shaked hands on a Wrestlemania 28 main event.
WrestleMania 28: The Rock defeated John Cena via pinfall after delivering yet another Rock Bottom. Rock’s first major match in eight years, and it showed. (30:34) **1/2
Overall Record: 5-4 (4 pinfall victories, 1 DQ win. 4 pinfall losses)
Overall Combined Length In-Ring: 3:02:53 (3 hours, 2 minutes, and 53 seconds). That’s an average of 22:30 a contest.
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