Dwayne The Rock Johnson is opening up about one of the most emotional moments in WWE history the night Stone Cold Steve Austin stepped away from the ring for good.
In a new interview for Sports Illustrated, The Rock reflected on their WrestleMania XIX match and revealed that the WWE legend didnt have to lose that night. But he did anyway, as a gesture of respect and tradition. Johnson shared how personal that moment truly was, especially after delivering three Rock Bottoms to finish the match.
Even more powerful was Austins selflessness, as The Rock explained:
What followed was a rare private moment between two icons as The Rock pinned one of the greatest of all time.
That wasnt the only time Steve Austin showed respect for The Rock behind the curtain. According to Johnson, their legendary WrestleMania rivalry wasnt some corporate idea from WWE Creative it was Austin himself who made it happen.
The Rock then revealed how Austin made the call to Vince McMahon:
The rest, as they say, is history but the mutual respect and loyalty between two of wrestlings biggest icons is still hitting fans in the feels decades later.
However, its worth noting that while WrestleMania XIX was long believed to be Austins final match, it technically wasnt. Nearly two decades later, Austin shocked fans by coming out of retirement for a no-holds-barred brawl with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. The match was Austins first since his clash with The Rock and despite the 19-year gap, he delivered a performance fans wont forget. Still, the original WrestleMania XIX moment remains one of the most symbolic endings in WWE history.
This kind of respect behind the curtain doesnt happen often in pro wrestling, and it says a lot about both men not just as performers, but as people.
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