TSM CLASSIC MATCH OF THE DAY THREAD 3/24

[Guest Choken One]

Sometimes Hype Over-exceeds the end result and we are left disappointed. On April 1st 2001. This was not the case. The Two Biggest Stars of the Revival in Wrestling, Steve Austin and The Rock, a rematch from another WM two years earlier, set in the home state of Steve Austin, and hosted in front of a large crowd at the Houston Astrodome.

 

While the build up for the match was slightly rushed and contrived thanks to the Debra angle that was scrapped with two weeks left of hype and built as a LEGIT match, everything was gravy.

 

The Match, has been called "The Last Great American Match" "The Beginning of the end of wrestling" "The BEST" and countless other monikers.

 

Once again, Our objective here is to debate and discuss the MATCH, not the politics or booking of the match itself.

 

The Match

WWF Title Match

The Rock Vs Steve Austin

WrestleMania X-7

April 1st, 2001

Houston, TX

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Although I enjoyed Warrior/Hogan from WM VI a lot, this match has to be my favorite Wrestlemania Main Event EVER!

 

The day of WM X-Seven I had a 103 degree temp. and was barely able to move, but somehow I was marking out like a motherf*cker for the whole show, especially this match.

 

If I were to judge the build up, I'd say bleh, but a great emotional match.

 

The swerve at the end kind of spoiled it for me because I was 100% behind Austin and booing The Rock (sounds familiar a year later) so it pissed me off that Austin joined with McMahon.

[Guest]

If I've ever seen a ***** match this was it. Great booking, super hot crowd, and a great brawl.

[deancoles 0]

I was surprised at how little Brawling outside the ring there was and the facial expressions on Austin's face when Rock kept Kicking out at the end were Awesome.

[tekcop 0]

This has to be one of my favorite matches ever. Definately The Rock's best match and one of Austin's top five. I wish Rock would have been less sloppy with some of his moves (the neackbreaker, overhead suplex, and sharpshooter), but the story of Austin's desperation and the stuff played off of Austin's matches with Bret at Survivor Series and Wrestlemania were both fucking great. I also didn't mind Vince's interference as it played directly into the story.

[bob_barron 0]

I watched the match a few days ago. Austin spazzing out and just swearing a blue streak when Rock won't die is awesome.

 

My favourite sequence (well one of my favourites since I love the match) is when:

 

Rock goes to chase after Vince and he runs back into the ring right into KICK WHAM STUNNER. I was so sure with this was it, everyone was sure this was it but Rock kicks out at 2.99999. Austin just has this freaked out look on his face.

 

Awesome awesome awesome

[Guest wildpegasus]

I wonder how long it'll take Ray to post on this topic. We should take bets. That is, if I manage to type this post before he gets here.

 

Me personally, I didn't really like this match but I understand why people do so I'll try not to pick on it.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

I wonder how long it'll take Ray to post on this topic. We should take bets. That is, if I manage to type this post before he gets here.

 

Me personally, I didn't really like this match but I understand why people do so I'll try not to pick on it.

I say within the hour and a ***1/2 rating.

[Tawren 0]

I really like this match. The intensity is incredible as is the crowd reaction. I love how Austin is so focused that he attacks Rock right away, no staredown.

 

That said, both men are very sloppy, I don't like the sharpshooter spot as there is no build to it, and both men are sloppy as hell. I also hate the ending, which makes sense I know, but I just don't like it-I prefer clean finishes, but then again, maybe it is Austin's shitty heel run influencing my thinking.

 

THAT said, Austin is incredible here. He plays his role as desperate man to perfection, especially with his facial expressions, particularily at the end where Rock keeps kicking out. I really dig how he just snaps and wails on Rock with the chair like 10 times.

 

So, Rock is sloppy and I hate McMahon's involvement, but everything else is perfect. ****1/2

[Coffin Surfer 0]

A really excellent match, in terms of match structure, drama, and crowd heat it's about as close a U.S. wrestling match has ever got to the All Japan Main Events of the 90s. Easily, a top 3 WWF match.

 

Not only does Austin's actions make his aggressive "win at all costs" attitude crystal clear, his body language and facial expressions do as well. Austin also makes great use of his time, keeping things intresting with a nice mid range brawling offense. The Rock on the other hand isn't quite as creative at filling his time, and tends to get a little lost from time to time, but Austin does a great job of covering up for him by simply selling his ass off.

 

The false finishes are really nice, especially the Rock's Sharpshooter which comes at a point when its a perfectly acceptable match ender. It comes around the 20 minute mark if I'm not mistaken, it's a counter to a Stunner, and it's a move that famously beat Austin before. Very smart work. The same can be said for the rest of the false finishes too.

 

About the finish. I don't have a problem with Vince getting involved, but did it have to be so damn goofy? In such a intense match, a comedy spot like The Rock chasing Vince around the ring feels so out of place. Other than that, good stuff.

[Michrome 0]

Definitely a classic, and like CF said, the closest WWE ever got to the atmosphere of a heavyweight classic in All Japan. When I watch it, I can't help but wonder if it would be considered for "greatest match of all time" honors if the work had been up to the level of the story told. Add in crisper offense and less sloppiness, and I think this would be pushing the ***** level. For me, it's ****1/2.

[Guest Adrian 3:16]

One of my favorite matches ever, just for the storytelling involved.

 

When viewed back to back with the Bret match at Mania 13, it really brings the Austin character around full circle. And the interference with Vince was a necessary evil, as its a vital part of the story.

 

I remember marking out for the handshake with Vince afterwards as much as the match itself, because I couldn't believe they had the balls to go through with it, and seeing that really drove the point home that things were different now.

 

Shame what happened the next night...

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

A really excellent match, in terms of match structure, drama, and crowd heat it's about as close a U.S. wrestling match has ever got to the All Japan Main Events of the 90s. Easily, a top 3 WWF match.

 

Not only does Austin's actions make his aggressive "win at all costs" attitude crystal clear, his body language and facial expressions do as well. Austin also makes great use of his time, keeping things intresting with a nice mid range brawling offense. The Rock on the other hand isn't quite as creative at filling his time, and tends to get a little lost from time to time, but Austin does a great job of covering up for him by simply selling his ass off.

 

The false finishes are really nice, especially the Rock's Sharpshooter which comes at a point when its a perfectly acceptable match ender. It comes around the 20 minute mark if I'm not mistaken, it's a counter to a Stunner, and it's a move that famously beat Austin before. Very smart work. The same can be said for the rest of the false finishes too.

 

About the finish. I don't have a problem with Vince getting involved, but did it have to be so damn goofy? In such a intense match, a comedy spot like The Rock chasing Vince around the ring feels so out of place. Other than that, good stuff.

I agree with you on how smart the match was for sure. But DAMN I hate the goofyness of the Vince interference though........

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

The thing that always bothers me about the McMahon involvement...is that it was a great idea executed poorly, at least in my opinion. He was just out there for way too long...and it made the repeated chairshots leading to the pinfall anti-climactic. It made sense storyline wise (with Austin saying he'd do anything to win...and them turning him heel)...but it just went too far at the end for me.

[Jericholic82 0]

I loved this match live. and when vince came out I wasnt quite so sure who was turning though the austin thing was rumored for awhile but since it was texas i didn't think they would do it. i figured rock would turn heel but get beat by austin then take off to film the scorpion king then come back for a main event at summerslam vs austin. The intensity was awesome. my favorite part was when Austin catapulted Rock into the ringpost and rock's head went splat that was sick. sick for a different reason was rock dropping his blade after austin hit him with the ring bell. anyway, this was probably their best match ever on tv. funny how they portrayed austin as being desperate and siding with vince, since he had already beaten rock a lot of times in the past (in fact I don't remember rock beating austin untill survivor series 01 and not in a singles match till wm XIX) But he was coming off the neck thing and he had lost to HHH a month before at NWO (btw another classic match, I had it as moty ahead of rock/austin, that should be a future thread) so he was unsure if he still had it in him to win the wwf title (which was his life,he said that in the sitdown interview with rock and JR).

 

 

Wow, makes me want to go and pop in my tape of wmx-7 to watch, man I got to get the dvd, anyone know where I can find it?

[Guest NCJ]

Haven't seen WM XX yet, but the X-7 main event is definately the best WM main event that I have ever seen, and is probably a top 5 WM match ever. The emotion and work of both guys was great. I loved the build up outside of the Debra storyline. That interview between J.R., Austin, and, Rock is one of my favorite segments ever. It really put over the importance of the title to Austin, and how important it was for the Rock to actually beat Austin for once in a big match. That is the other storyline that I think alot of people were missing. Even though The Rock was the champ he wanted to win that match just as much as Austin to prove he was the best. Austin had always been the one guy Rocky couldn't defeat and it was going to take drastic measures to stop him. It showed in the way Rock wrestled the match. Bret Hart had always been the one guy Austin couldn't beat and they played off of that with certain spots and made it seem like Rock studied those matches. Rock kicking out of everything and Austin totally snapping at the end of the match and siding with McMahon was just an incredible ending to a great match.

 

Austin vs. HHH was a great match at NWO, but I really prefer the Rock vs. Angle match from that same ppv.

[Brett Favre 0]

Probably my favorite match of all time (that i've seen). This match had it all. Apeshit crowd, huge emotion, and it had some badass false finishes. I was actually rooting for The Rock in that match, and I was happy as hell to see him kick out of like 3 stunners. When Vince came out, I was also pissed, but confused. Then when he helped Austin I was pissed again, and my little brother, an Austin fan, was happy as hell. But the spot where he hits The Rock with a chair like 10 times was great and shows his desperation to win the belt. That was an amazing crowd, which helped the match. ***** match for me, possibly the best i've seen.

[The Mandarin 0]

By far, my favourite match I've ever seen.

 

Amazing crowd, atmosphere, drama, selling, psychology, it just had everything. The ending was pretty much unforgettable, even though Austin's run got really stale quickly (though it was very good around King of the Ring 2001 leading up to a **** title match)

 

I'd say *****, no question.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I'll say ****3/4 as Vince's involvement went a little too long for my taste but other then that everything rocked. Austin was absolutely perfect in his role, nuclear crowd completely siding with Austin and Rock playing the antagonist very well.

[HurriShane 0]

I remember watching this match live I didn't think it was too great, even thinking their Backlash 99 match was a little better. But I just saw this match a month or so ago and I have to say I was wrong. It was an awesome match from start to finish, and I'd give it ****1/2 The only reason for it not to get ***** from me would have to be the Vince interference at the end. It's definitley a classic match and probably one of the 5 best WM matches of all time

[Guest Ray]

I wonder how long it'll take Ray to post on this topic.

If I hadn't left SC I probably would never have returned here, but I did and I am so GET READY FOR AUSTIN LOVE!

 

 

The biggest complaint around here (and everywhere, really...) is Vince's interference. I always took it as a great addition to this epic story they were telling. This is Steve Austin we're watching. It's the man who raised hell and whipped asses -- without fear -- for years. This is the man who was screwed time and time again by Vince and no matter how stacked the odds were against him, Austin always kept fighting. But he's no longer that man in this match. He's full of doubt and nearly overwhelmed by desperation. He'll do anything to win the title. He'll even make a deal with the devil who wronged him so many times before. When Austin accepts Vince's help, he's sacrificing his own honor for the title he so desperately wanted. That's why Vince's presence doesn't hurt this match.

 

Now THAT is epic storytelling.

[deancoles 0]

Choken One, When you post the Next Classic Match of The Day Thread please do Savage/Flair from Wrestlemania 8.

[Guest Choken One]

i can't do that.

 

Its all based on my randomizer on the windows media player...

 

I don't want to use themes....or patterns...FLAIR/SAVAGE will come up soon im sure.

[Guest Trivia247]

Wow...

 

Thats classic

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

i can't do that.

 

Its all based on my randomizer on the windows media player...

 

I don't want to use themes....or patterns...FLAIR/SAVAGE will come up soon im sure.

At least it's more random then the order of entry in Elimination Chamber matches.

[Michrome 0]

The problem with the Vince interference was the execution. The comedy chase with Rock, the endless nearfalls off it...it shoulda been a low blow by Vince, leading into a stunner.

[Zack Malibu 0]

I was in the crowd for this, and was pro-Austin the whole time. The McMahon thing I pretty much saw coming, and while I was OK with Austin going heel, I don't think that the McMahon involvment was needed. Have Austin win by nefarious means, then go full throttle heel the next night on RAW.

 

I love the climax of the match though, with Austin just simply beating and beating and beating on Rock until he finally succumbs. No fluke finisher, no cheap pin, but a brutal way to get his heelishness into effect.

[Guest Ray]

The comedy chase with Rock

I don't see why this is bad or comedy. Rock basically had the match won before Vince came down. Vince pulled Rock off Austin when he tried to pin him. Rock is chasing Vince to get revenge on him.

 

the endless nearfalls off it...it shoulda been a low blow by Vince, leading into a stunner.

That really wouldn't fit with the rest of the match and it would come off as just another screwjob finish. A key element of the story here is Rock surpassing Austin. Austin was out for a year after his surgery. Austin sat at home watching Rock tower over everyone in the WWF. Rock had surpassed Austin as the number one face in the company. Rock became "The Man", as they say. That's why he can kick out of almost everything. Rock kicking out of everything is one of the best parts of this match. It adds insane amounts of drama and richness to the story. It's also necessary to complete Austin's heel turn.

 

Rock kicks out of a Rock Bottom, a chairshot from Vince (and is still strong enough to Rock Bottom Austin and chase down Vince after), a stunner, another chairshot (Austin's facial expressions throughout this segment are gold-- he's thinking "god, what do I have to do to beat this guy?"), then Austin snaps...and beats the absolute hell out of Rock with the chair. He can't take it anymore. Rock is better than him and he knows it.