[ominous music playing]
[Big E] Today, on WWE Raw Classics.
Raise your beverage to the beer-swilling,
hell-raising,
toughest SOB in professional wrestling.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Austin] Oh, hell, yeah!
[Big E] No superstar in the history of WWE
has personified Monday Night Raw's attitude quite like The Texas Rattlesnake.
What?
[Big E] Whether he's causing vehicular mayhem,
shattering glass, or stomping a good old mudhole
Austin 3:16 has entertained audiences for nearly three decades.
[King] Put him in jail right now!
[grunts]
[Big E] Join us for the very best of "Stone Cold."
It's WWE Raw Classics,
only on Netflix.
[rock music playing]
Oh!
Welcome, WWE universe,
to Raw Classics.
I'm your host, Big E.
And if you're ready to take a look back
at the iconic career of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
give me a "Hell, yeah!"
[audience] Hell, yeah!
[Big E] The leather-vest-wearing,
middle-finger-flipping,
hell-raising SOB from Victoria, Texas,
helped usher in WWE's famed Attitude Era
and changed the trajectory of sports entertainment forever.
Most "Stone Cold" fans know that the first major superstar
to clash with the violent, brash, anti-authority rebel
was none other than Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Let's take you back to 1997,
when these two went head-to-head
on Raw Is War.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin perspiring.
"Stone Cold" can't wait to get this over.
"Stone Cold" wants it done one way or another,
and he wants it done tonight.
-[Bret Hart theme music playing] -[King] Uh-oh!
It's Street Fight time!
It won't be for the weak of heart.
[McMahon] Where is he?
[King] Don't worry, McMahon. He'll be here.
[McMahon] Is he coming or not?
Here he comes!
[inaudible]
[McMahon] Wait! Look out for the--
That's Bulldog and Hart!
Bulldog and Hart! Look at this!
Bulldog and Hart! And Bret Hart!
[JR] The entire Hart Foundation doing a number!
The Hart Foundation assaulting "Stone Cold."
[King laughs] What did you guys expect?
[McMahon] I can't believe Bulldog!
and Owen coming from behind and you--
And you saw how Bret Hart was biding his time.
Taking his time coming down here.
[King] Look at this!
They're yanking him around the ring like a pit bulldog would do.
[JR] There's three of 'em. Three-on-one.
[McMahon] Bret Hart is just all over it!
[King] They're pounding him into oblivion.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has just been hammered!
Quick, it's Shawn Michaels! Shawn Michaels!
[King] Look out!
[McMahon] Oh, he almost got Bret, now he's gotten Owen!
Marco's coming in to clear it out!
[King] What's he doing here?
[McMahon] Shawn Michaels.
He's… He's going after Bulldog.
[King] Look out, Bulldog!
[McMahon] He's going after-- Oh, he just got him again!
Michaels!
[King] Get away!
[McMahon] Michaels going after Bret with a chair!
He got him again!
[King] Look at this!
[McMahon] Shawn Michaels!
[King] Yeah, but Bret Hart's still in the ring! [laughs]
[McMahon] Michaels almost got Hart, but he missed.
[JR] But the Hart Foundation apparently got the job done!
The trap was set. Austin wins a bait.
[King] Well, ring the bell. Start the Street Fight.
We're ready to go with action.
[JR] Anything goes in a Street Fight.
There can be no disqualification.
[McMahon] Austin wanted to finish this off once and for all
and unfortunately for him, it has finished all right.
And Bret Hart knows it. Look at him.
He knows he has Austin right where he wants him.
His brother and his brother-in-law coming down to help him out.
It's been three-on-one. No one's gonna recover.
Look at this from that. Bret Hart is fighting-- Oh, yeah!
[JR] Bret Hart is systematically physically bisecting
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
It's just a matter of time perhaps until Austin's career is ended.
[McMahon] And that would please "The Hitman" Bret Hart.
Just last night,
when it dropped that Bret was gonna submit in his own hold.
That's right, Austin.
If you missed it last night,
Austin actually put the Sharpshooter on Bret Hart.
Had it not been for Bulldog and Owen,
I don't know that Bret Hart would be here today.
But look what Bret Hart is doing.
[JR] Austin is virtually defenseless.
[King] Whoa-oh! Ooh!
[McMahon] According to Bret Hart,
he claims this is what American fans, at least, want him to do.
They want him to--
[JR] Oh, no.
[McMahon] They want him to be this way.
[JR] Remember the Street Fight!
Anything goes. There can be no disqualification.
[King] What's he gonna do now?
[McMahon] Austin is…
[King] Uh-oh!
[McMahon] Austin is unconscious.
[JR] Bret Hart knows how this feels.
[McMahon] Oh…
[JR] Bret will snap Austin's ankle. He'll snap him like a twig.
[King] So what?
-[McMahon] Oh, no! -[JR] Oh!
Austin dodged a bullet!
[McMahon] There are plenty more bullets where that came from.
Oh! And just like he did last night!
Austin leveling Bret Hart. Knocking him down to his size now.
[JR] Austin striking the kneecap. Oh! Strike with the steel chair!
Right into the ligament! Right into the knee joint!
[King] He's stompin' his face in! Oh, no!
[JR] Austin is one biting rattlesnake to see.
[King] Look at these sadistic fans! Bret Hart was right about 'em!
[McMahon] And Austin is doing to Bret what Bret was doing to him.
Oh!
[JR] Right in the wrist. Right in the knee.
Every joint in Bret's body is being attacked by "The Hitman."
-[King] He's gonna cripple "The Hitman." -[McMahon] Bulldog and Owen nowhere.
[King] Where are they?
[McMahon] Shawn Michaels ran them off.
And now "Stone Cold" Steve Austin just might accomplish
what he set out to accomplish in the beginning
with putting Bret Hart out of action.
[King] I think Bret Hart's leg is totally useless now.
[McMahon] And now "Stone Cold" stalking Bret Hart. Look at this.
[inaudible]
[JR] The hyena is stalking his prey. Bret Hart is wounded.
[McMahon] Oh, no. That…
Oh!
Bret Hart, who has nothing but contempt for "Stone Cold."
Bret Hart, who has nothing but contempt for the fans in America.
When it's Bret Hart who…
[JR] Look! Just like last night, the Sharpshooter.
The Sharpshooter.
[McMahon] And this time, there's no Bulldog.
This time, there's no Owen.
There's nobody but Bret Hart and "Stone Cold."
[JR] Bret Hart's knee is ripping and tearing
with his own hole at the hands of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Bret Hart is screaming in pain.
[King] What are these referees doing?
[McMahon] I hope they're trying to stop it.
[JR] "The Hitman's" whole career may be flashing right before his eyes.
It could be over.
I mean, permanently over for "The Hitman's" wrestling career.
[King] Now you say it like you're concerned about him, Jim Ross.
You know you don't care about him. Just like these fans don't care about him.
[McMahon] And "Stone Cold," the most tenacious fighter in the WWE,
is not about to give up.
I think they're gonna have to rip "Stone Cold" off Bret Hart.
-[King] Listen to these fans. -[McMahon] Listen.
[crowd chanting]
[King] Where is Owen? Where's the Bulldog?
[JR] We need more officials down here. That's enough.
I mean, I may not agree with Bret Hart's American family values,
but he's still a great athlete.
This is enough. Enough's enough.
[McMahon] But nonetheless, I think it almost had to end this way.
I mean…
[JR] Yeah, but you gotta have some compassion.
He's a human being.
[McMahon] He's a human being, of course,
but as far as "Stone Cold" is concerned, he's so pumped up, he's so jacked…
Bulldog-- It was a setup and you know it, JR.
Bret Hart stood up "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
He sent Bulldog and Owen from behind, attacking "Stone Cold" from his back.
[King] How do you know Steve Austin didn't have it set up
for Shawn Michaels to come out here and help him, huh?
[JR] Austin has no allies, but that's not the point.
Steve Austin has made his point here.
He's established his dominance in this rivalry.
But enough is enough.
[McMahon] Michaels must be keeping Bulldog and Owen at bay with a chair,
otherwise they would be here no doubt.
The Hart Foundation has been reunited, to a certain extent,
and turned to their-- Oh, and finally they get him off.
[JR] Bret is hurt severely.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is he finished or is he not?
[EMT 1] The bar.
[EMT 2] Get him on the-- Watch his knee.
-Man, we're gonna take care of everything. -Come on, guys. Let's move it. Come on.
Let's move it. Let's go, guys.
Let's get 'im to the hospital.
-[man 1] Come on. -[man 2] Let's go.
[indistinct conversation]
[man 1] We're here with you, Bret.
Let's go, JC.
Don't you say one word. I told you we were goin' straight to hell.
[man 1] Come on, let's go!
[crowd cheers in background]
[McMahon] My God, who knew? Oh, my God, look at this!
Oh, no!
[indistinct commotion]
Hey! Hey!
-[King] If it's-- -[McMahon] Look at--
Hey! Come on! All right!
Get 'im out of-- Get 'im outta here!
-Get 'im outta here! No! -Get 'im back!
-[man 3] Get him off! -[man 4] Get him to the hospital.
-What kinda crap is this? -[man 3] Get him in.
-[man 4] Get him to the hospital. -[man 3] Let's go! Go!
[man 4] Let's get him the hell to the hospital.
[man 3] Go!
Go!
[siren blares]
[Big E] Just vicious.
Steve Austin had an attitude and a mean streak
that simply was not going to be denied.
[rock music plays]
By this point, Steve was well on his way to making a name for himself,
but so was his opponent for this next matchup, Triple H.
And in this Raw classic from 1997,
we get to see both men in the early stages of what would become
one of WWE's most heated rivalries.
[McMahon] I wonder whether or not Austin'll be politically correct tonight.
He never has been.
If Chyna gets in his way,
I don't think Austin will hesitate to blast her.
I'm not proud to say that.
[King] You think Steve Austin would punch out Chyna?
[McMahon] Given sufficient provocation, he just might.
If anyone would here in the WWE, it would be "Stone Cold."
[King] If he throws that punch,
he might have a heck of a fight on his hands.
[McMahon] He might. He's got one on his hands right now, I'll tell you.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Helmsley set up for the ride.
And-- Ah-ha.
Putting on the brakes
and look at Helmsley get right into Austin's face.
Helmsley is a competitor, but a smart one.
He won't take unnecessary risk.
[JR] No doubt about it, Helmsley will keep his faculties together.
He's a thinking man's wrestler.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, however, is so reactionary.
Austin is an impulsive, instinctive competitor.
[King] He's a hothead!
[McMahon] He's a hothead and he goes by his guts.
Wait a minute. Look at this.
[crowd cheers]
[JR] I thought Austin was gonna indicate that Helmsley was number one.
[McMahon] We got the message. We know what you mean, "Stone Cold."
Locking up now with Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Mankind. Uh-oh, my goodness.
Thumb to the eye by Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
[King] Yeah, "Stone Cold" just got the finger.
Uh-oh!
[McMahon] And Mankind wanting to be "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's
tag-team partner next week.
Oh, no!
Unbelievable!
[JR] Helmsley almost wiped out the cameraman
from that velocity of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
These Canadian fans are liking this opportunity
to see these Americans tear each other apart.
[McMahon] And wait a minute. What's he doing?
Scooped up! Oh!
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin rolling back into the ring.
-[King] Take a look, McMahon. -[McMahon] All tight.
There's another lunge.
-To the buckle. -[King] Whoa!
[McMahon] Right now, Helmsley getting in the ring all right.
But maybe coming in the hard way.
-[King] He went out the hard way. -[McMahon] Yes he did.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin next week live on Raw from his own state of Texas,
in San Antonio.
It'll be "Stone Cold" and whomever his partner will be
against the Bulldog and Owen-- Oh! That was so close. And a toe slide.
[JR] You know that spoiled overtime.
[McMahon] And… no. And Austin not quite able to put him down.
[JR] Austin's not proud of many things,
but he's proud of his Texas heritage,
I would assume.
Austin's got that state of Texas tattooed on his left calf.
[McMahon] This one'll be a Donnybrook, no doubt about that, ladies and gentlemen.
We shall return.
Apologize for taking a break and be right back with more action.
Welcome back, everyone. Live from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin against Hunter Hearst Helmsley
and Helmsley about to be placed up on the perch and you know what?
You get the impression from this Canadian crowd
that they actually do wanna root for "Stone Cold" in this match.
They wanna root for Austin, although some of the things he's done tonight
certainly makes them not want to.
-[King] These Canadians-- -[McMahon] Whoa!
[King] These Canadian fans are morons, McMahon!
There may be only one thing stupider than a Canadian fan, that's a Texas fan.
[McMahon] Oh, no!
[King] Next week those Texans will probably be cheering for Bret Hart.
[McMahon] I'd doubt that. Steve Austin, Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Helmsley now, in the corner, sent up to the rod, to the buckle, and oh!
Austin right into that boot.
[JR] As we said earlier, Austin is very aggressive.
Sometimes, he's just very instinctive and that instinct cost him
because Helmsley saw it coming.
Helmsley keeping his head in the game here.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" and tag-team action next week.
"Stone Cold" and a partner, a guest that the WWE will now choose
against Owen and Bulldog for the tag-team titles next week.
But right now, look at this.
And thus far, surprisingly,
Chyna has not been a factor in this matchup.
[King] You think maybe she knows?
[McMahon] I think she does.
[King] "Stone Cold" wouldn't care whether she's a lady or not.
[McMahon] She's keeping her distance, no doubt about it.
[JR] She definitely ain't no lady.
[McMahon] Whoa!
Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the cover. The count in almost. A ten right there.
[King] You better not let Helmsley hear you say that.
[McMahon] She is a tremendous force to reckon with.
-[JR] It's the truth. -[McMahon] A 200-pound female bodyguard.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley!
[JR] The Inverted Atomic Drop
and Austin trying to strike with a clothesline.
Wanted to get Helmsley, but Helmsley side-stepped Austin
and Helmsley came up with a counter in a split second.
[McMahon] I can't believe that some people are actually cheering for Helmsley.
They go back and forth.
I think they wanna cheer for Austin
and then they cheer for Hunter Hearst Helmsley
simply because he's in there against Austin.
[King] They're confused, McMahon. They're Canadians and they're confused.
Look at Chyna.
-[McMahon] What do you mean? -[King] Look at that!
[McMahon] Chyna's got a chair! Oh, no. Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
-[King] Oh! -[McMahon] Clothesline.
And Chyna leaving that chair on the apron of the ring.
[King] Look at that!
[McMahon] Chyna just tripped "Stone Cold"! There may be hell to pay now.
Oh, a clothesline.
And behind the official's back,
Chyna taking the feet right out from Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
That's what the plan is!
That's the plan behind the official's back!
Wait a minute! Oh, no!
[JR] Mankind! Mankind was coming to help Austin
and he got a chair for his trouble!
And that's a stunner!
-"Stone Cold" Stunner! -[King] Get in there, Chyna.
-[bell rings] -[sound of glass shattering]
[McMahon] From deep in the heart of Texas, Austin hits the "Stone Cold" stunner!
But Mankind just ate the steel chair from Helmsley.
[Big E] Triple H learned the hard way.
Never turn your back on a Texas rattlesnake.
Mick Foley as Mankind sacrificed his body to create the distraction allowing Austin
to pick up the win.
As much as Steve preached his "DTA,"
"don't trust anybody" mantra,
he would find himself occasionally getting help,
mostly from Mick Foley.
What can we say?
Steve is a charming fellow.
[Chimel] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[bell rings]
[McMahon] On comes Steve Austin!
[JR] He doesn't even have a partner! Austin's alone!
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" going to work on Owen Hart.
Earlier on the Bulldog! Bulldog just getting up!
And "Stone Cold" hasn't waited.
The official tag-team title match is on and "Stone Cold" doesn't have a partner.
[JR] The match officially underway and Austin is by himself.
[McMahon] At least at the moment he is.
[JR] Spinning heel kick caught Austin right in the mouth.
[King] "Stone Cold" didn't care if he had to face him alone, he would.
And that's what he's gonna do!
[McMahon] The WWE Gorilla Monsoon said he must have a partner.
-[King] Where is he? -[McMahon] I don't know.
Nonetheless, Steve must have a partner. Oh!
[crowd chanting] Go!
[McMahon] Owen Hart, high on the watch. Right on the mark.
[JR] Owen Hart missed the enzuigiri, but Austin got the clothesline.
Sharpshooter coming up.
[McMahon] At him is Bulldog.
And over to the corner, from behind, Owen Hart now, double-team effort.
Two!
Three!
[McMahon] And the British Bulldog balling "Stone Cold."
[King] If "Stone Cold" does have a partner, now he needs to show up.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, rattlesnake that he is,
taking on two individuals.
No one WWE superstar can take on two of the caliber of a British Bulldog
and Owen Hart, both men individual champions
and I would suppose in just a few moments, tag-team champions.
Whoever "Stone Cold's" partner is,
must've been a double cross or somebody got sick?
[King] The Bulldog and Owen gotta be loving this though.
But they'd better capitalize on it while they got the chance.
[JR] Austin clubbing away at the British Bulldog
who has gained legendary status--
Oh, watch this. Referee diverted. Owen Hart alone with "Stone Cold."
[McMahon] Oh, and across the rail.
-[King] It's take hold-- -[McMahon] Oh, no!
Austin definitely needs a partner. No doubt about that.
[King] Owen Hart's the money. Working like a well-oiled tag team.
[McMahon] Wait a minute. We're told Austin's partner has arrived.
[Dude Love theme music plays]
We're told that Austin's partner…
That's him. We'll take this break. We'll be right back, ladies and gentlemen.
-[King] Who? -[McMahon] Stay with us.
Live, ladies and gentlemen.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin against Owen Hart against Davey Boy Smith,
the British Bulldog!
[JR] Belly to belly, what a move.
[King] Where's his partner?
[McMahon] And apparently his partner is on his way. That's all we know.
[King] A long walk.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's partner is--
Back on his way, he may get through that.
A clothesline.
And "Stone Cold" could use a partner.
"Stone Cold"-- Oh, no! What a maneuver.
[JR] Owen Hart chopping the knee of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
That's gonna slow down
the toughest SOB in the WWE.
[McMahon] And "Stone Cold" in trouble.
[JR] The British Bulldog is awesome.
Ask anybody around Manchester, Birmingham, England, London.
They can all tell ya what the Bulldog is made of.
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin missing Owen Hart
for the intercontinental title at SummerSlam.
And Austin already stated, and apparently now a part of his contract.
He'd been pegged to win the title.
He's going to kick a certain portion of the anatomy of Owen Hart.
[King] He's buff, McMahon.
-[McMahon] Ow! -[King] He just kissed his foot.
[JR] Austin has gone the entire way alone.
No tag-team partner. Where is the partner?
[McMahon] I think that's the way he wanted it.
[King] He's stupid, then.
[McMahon] He's a tough SOB and oh!
[JR] I agree with the King.
One man against two men like Owen Hart and the British Bulldog is a death wish.
It's a career death wish.
[McMahon] Back here in Texas, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[crowd boos]
[JR] Austin grew up in Texas. He's from Victoria, Texas.
[King] Big deal.
[crowd cheers]
[McMahon] And Austin hammering away on the man he will face
for the intercontinental title at SummerSlam.
And look at Austin go to work.
This is what "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is about.
[JR] Austin going for the Stone Cold Stunner.
[King] Yes!
[Dude Love theme music plays]
[Dude Love howls] Steve-O!
Looks like you could use a little help, my man.
Like maybe a tag-team partner.
What's the matter? Don't you recognize me?
I don't blame you for not teaming up
with that mutilated freak Mankind, but you never said nothin'
'bout teamin' up with the hippest cat in the land.
Steve-O, baby, it's me, Dude Love.
And I am comin' to save the day.
[howls] Have mercy.
[rock music continues]
[McMahon] What in the world is this?
It's Mankind.
It's Mankind, ladies and gentlemen.
It's an alter ego.
You should know, JR. You should know.
[JR] I know all about Dude Love.
I know all about you can't jump without the rope in this house.
I know all about the kid that wanted to be a heartthrob.
He wanted to be like Shawn Michaels and now he's here.
Dude Love lives!
[King] Dude Love?
[McMahon] Dude Love?
[JR] Austin says, "What in the hell have I gotten myself into?"
[McMahon] And the count.
The match back underway here and Owen Hart.
It's "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and here comes the tag!
[JR] I'd say there's some teamwork here.
Austin and Dude Love or Mankind, whatever you wanna call him,
can they coexist?
Can they win the tag title because the team that wins this
are the new tag champions.
[McMahon] And look at this.
Dude Love. Call him Jack Foley-- Oh!
Call him whatever it is you wanna call him.
[chuckles] Here we go.
Austin tagging back in. Well, I guess not.
Austin doesn't wanna get back in.
[JR] Austin needs a break. He's gone the whole way by himself.
[McMahon] And the British Bulldog now hammering away
on Dude Love recused himself.
[King] I don't know, McMahon. Dude Love and "Stone Cold" have gone to slaughter.
[McMahon shouting indistinctly]
[McMahon] And Owen Hart with a dropkick from the top row.
And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he's got Bull--
[King] A stunner! A stunner!
It's over! Dude Love for the cover!
[bell rings]
[sound of glass shattering]
[Chimel] Here are your winners
and the World Wrestling Entertainment tag-team champions.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Dude Love.
[JR] This is Foley's baby boy!
He's a champion in World Wrestling Entertainment!
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
is now a tag-team champion with,
of all people, Dude Love.
[King] Dude Love?
[McMahon] And look at this.
Wait a minute.
This looks great.
Dude Love was gonna give the tag-team championship belt to Austin.
Look at this.
[JR] In this place, baby boy has made it.
But how are these two gonna coexist?
[inaudible]
[crowd cheers]
[JR] My God, does Dude love groupies.
Where is that from?
He's a sex island.
He's Dude Love.
[McMahon] Look at this.
Austin gives him the belt.
And now, Austin is gonna shake Dude Love's hand.
[Big E howls] Have mercy!
Steve Austin and Dude Love winning the tag titles together
was exactly what made Raw so fun.
The Attitude Era was the Wild West.
And quite frankly, anything went.
And when I say "anything,"
that includes getting even with your horrible boss,
which was one of the most stunning moments in WWE history.
No!
[King] Yes! Let 'em arrest him.
[McMahon] No, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
[King] Assault and battery. He assaulted a police officer.
What's the matter with you?
Get ahold of yourself!
[King] Arrest him!
Just gimme a minute.
[King] Look at McMahon. Thinks he can fix anything.
[JR] Well, these police officers--
What is the matter with you?
-[JR] Violating the restraining order. -[King] Jail.
He assaulted the police too.
[McMahon] You had to forfeit
the intercontinental title,
the tag-team title.
Of course, everybody can understand why you're upset.
[inaudible]
I can understand you being upset, not being able to compete.
They can understand that.
But don't break the law.
[King] He already did. Look at this!
[JR] "Stone Cold"'s not gonna win this fight with New York City's finest.
Don't you understand? Why you're not allowed to compete?
You can't get that through your head?
Don't you know why?
Don't you know you're not physically able to compete?
Your doctors say you're not ready.
If you compete, you could injure yourself for good.
You could wind up paralyzed.
[King] That'd be good.
And the WWE is not gonna stand by
and let you do that to yourself.
These people don't want you to wind up in a wheelchair.
They wanna see you compete.
Everybody wants to see you compete.
But in due time, Steve. In due time.
[King] Listen. Get the violins out.
[McMahon] Get a hold of yourself.
[JR] Telling the truth.
Makes all the sense in the world.
Yeah, you better be talking to those guys over there.
[King] I say put him in the slammer!
Listen…
don't you know people care in World Wrestling Entertainment, we care?
They care. They care about you.
That's all it is.
And you just gotta go with it.
In other words…
you simply gotta work within the system.
That's all you gotta do.
[King] This man an attorney?
You know as well as I do that this is what I do for a living.
This is all that I do and can't nobody tell
I ain't the best in the damn world.
Don't even say nothing.
Sit here and tell me to work within the system.
You ain't the one sitting on your ass at the house like I am.
But if that's what it takes
to make you or World Wrestling Entertainment happy,
hell, I feel like Cool Hand Luke.
I'll work within your stupid little system.
That's all these people ask.
I appreciate the fact that you and World Wrestling Entertainment care.
And I also appreciate the fact that, hell,
you can kiss my ass.
[JR] Oh, God!
Oh, my God!
[King] Put him in jail! Right now!
Yes!
He's trying to put the cuffs on.
[JR] They're cuffing Austin.
He is letting the police put the handcuffs on him.
Austin is going directly to jail.
And Vince McMahon is out.
[crowd chanting]
[King] Look at this.
[sound of glass shattering]
They oughta put him under the jail.
[Steve Austin theme music plays]
[JR] I cannot believe this.
[King] He will be fired, won't he? Tell me he will be fired.
[JR] I'll tell you what.
How do you keep your job now?
[inaudible]
[Big E] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stunned his boss
and the greatest nemesis
of The Texas Rattlesnake's career was born.
Now onto a defining moment in the legendary rivalry
between "Stone Cold" and The Rock.
Hope y'all have some scuba gear.
[Austin] A beautiful night.
You got the moon shining bright up there.
You got the cars going back and forth over there.
But you ain't got no one on this bridge but "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
with the intercontinental championship belt.
Rock, when I gave this belt to you, I did just that.
You didn't have to earn a damn thing.
Well, tonight, son, if you wanna find it,
I got a few things I'm gonna give you first.
If you're gonna find it, you're gonna need a few objects.
You gonna need your little mask so that you can see under the water.
You gonna need your little snorkel.
Hell, son, you might even need a regulator because you're gonna have to go deep.
So I got your ass a little oxygen tank
and I really doubt there's any oxygen in the damn thing,
but nonetheless, there the damn thing is.
And I tell you what, Rock, here's your little flippers
'cause you probably can't swim worth a damn either.
Here's a cell phone.
When you find the damn thing, dial my number.
And here's the pager.
When you dial me, tell me you found your little belt.
I'll page you back.
Put the 316 and give you the big thumbs-up.
Rock, you're the biggest piece of trash I ever saw.
It hurts me to do this,
but I really don't give a damn about your or WWE,
so I'll see you a little bit later.
[King] No! There goes the belt!
[Austin] And that's the bottom line
because the 316 said so.
You piece of trash.
Let him swim out there and find the thing.
If he's lucky, he'll find it. If he don't, maybe he'll drown.
I really don't give a damn what he does.
[sound of glass shattering]
[Big E] Gotta love "Stone Cold."
The man simply did not give a damn.
Tossing The Rock's intercontinental belt into the Detroit river was a typical day
in the life of the chaos-causing Texas Rattlesnake.
Take, for instance, the time when Mike Tyson,
the baddest man on the planet, signed on with WWE in January 1998.
With a grand introduction planned for Monday Night Raw,
what could possibly go wrong?
All right. Mr. Austin, why are you here?
Because I am sick and tired of seeing Mike Tyson.
He comes in, he's shaking everybody's hands,
making friends with all the WWE superstars,
and it's made me so damn sick, I've been in the back throwing up.
[King] Yeah, me too.
[Austin] I ain't gonna shake your hand because I ain't here to make friends.
Mike, I-- Shut up.
I respect…
I respect what you've done in the boxing world,
but Jesus Christ, son, when you step in this ring,
you're messing with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
and that's something you don't do.
[King] You're on a different planet.
Let me make it short and sweet.
What I'm telling you is I want a piece of Mike Tyson's ass.
[King] Whoa!
[Austin] Shut up.
Don't say one word, Vince.
I'll knock your damn lights out too.
I respect what you done, Mike,
but you're out here calling yourself the baddest man on the planet.
Right now, you got your little beady eyes locked on the eyes
of the world's toughest son of a bitch.
[inaudible]
I could beat you any day of the week, twice on Sunday.
Do I think you could beat my ass? Hell no.
Do I think I could beat your ass?
Why, hell yeah!
I don't know how good your hearing is,
but if you don't understand what I'm saying,
I always got a little bit of sign language,
so here's to ya…
[King] Whoa!
-Whoa, here we go. -[JR] Here we go.
Tyson owns it!
All hell has broken loose!
It has hit the fan!
My God! My God! Austin and Tyson have woken up!
Mike Tyson and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
[King] I told you it was gonna happen.
I knew it would happen.
[JR] Tyson wants Austin. Austin wants Tyson!
[Big E] Anyone catch that big wad of cash
that came out of Mike Tyson's pocket?
His team scrambling to pick up the money was easy to miss
with all the hell Steve Austin was raising.
And speaking of hell,
one of Austin's greatest opponents was none other
than the Devil's favorite demon, Kane, who had just beat "Stone Cold"
for the WWE title in a first-blood match at the 1998 King of the Ring.
[JR] Austin's bleeding!
Referee's calling for the bell!
[Big E] Austin immediately invoked his rematch clause
and just 24 hours later,
a WWE championship rematch was set for Monday Night Raw.
[JR] And the WWE title is at stake here, on the line.
We're live in Cleveland.
It ain't gonna be pretty, but the gold is on the line.
[King] What do you think McMahon is thinking right now?
Oh, he's gotta be a little worried.
[JR] Austin the aggressor. He started out just like last night.
In the earlier part of the match, he was owning Kane.
The power of the seven-foot, 325-pounder,
the WWE champion clad in his Satanic red,
knocking down the challenger.
Man, I haven't said that in a while.
Austin the challenger for the WWE title.
[King] Sounds good, doesn't it?
[JR] Not particularly. And a knockdown.
This crowd is jacked.
This match is everything we thought it was gonna be with the early goal.
The Rattlesnake is striking with fists and fire.
Speed, fury, and vengeance.
[King] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is possessed.
He wants to beat Kane.
He wants to regain the title,
but he also wants to disappoint and humiliate.
Vince McMahon, look at this.
[JR] Austin looking for the stunner
and Kane, with great agility, landed on his feet.
And Austin just caught Kane with a clothesline right off the top.
Right off the apron and knocked Kane down.
-[King] Watch your head. -[JR] Oh, my gosh.
It is getting nasty out here in no man's land.
Business is picking up here.
Ooh.
Good God, it sounded like a car wreck out there.
Somewhere on the Ohio turnpike.
[King] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is pulling out all the stops.
He's gonna do whatever it takes.
[JF] Race for the old hammer on the outside.
Letting these two men go.
Austin cannot win the title via count out.
He cannot win the title via disqualification.
Austin must pin Kane or make Kane submit to get his title back.
[King] Wish this were the first-blood match,
but it's not because I know Kane is gonna bust Austin open again.
There he goes. He's going right for that head. Stomp it.
[JF] Kane's seven feet, 325, a WWE champion.
A shocking victory at the King of the Ring next to his brother, The Undertaker.
[King] Go for that head, Kane.
[JR] The Undertaker saying earlier, "I did what I had to do."
What does that mean?
Why did he cost Austin the title?
Yes, I can understand him not wanting his brother to set himself on fire.
I can understand that.
But there better be a better way, a different way.
And oh my! A midair collision! A Lou Thesz Press!
And Austin, rights and lefts and rights.
Right in the face of that mask.
[King] I bet Vince McMahon is out of his chair now.
What's he doing? Oh, no!
[JR] We talked about it. You toughen up those titanium testicles.
Austin's not going down.
He's going for the ankle.
Austin's trying to shatter the ankle, apparently, of Kane.
And if Kane can't stand, King,
he's not nearly as dangerous as when he's seven feet tall.
[King] I'll tell you one thing, look at this.
[JR] Austin going for that knee.
[King] "Stone Cold," when he's out there with that,
he's risking disqualification.
That would be a big mistake.
[JR] Austin's like a lumberjack cutting down a giant redwood.
[King] Uh-oh. Whoa!
[JR] Great leg strength by Kane, towering Austin on the outside.
The WWE title is at stake.
There is no richer prize in this game.
[King] That's right and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
has shown no compassion up to this point.
Or about as much as The Undertaker showed last night.
[JR] The Texas Rattlesnake being challenged here in spades
by the WWE champion. Oh, man.
Physically and mentally on the outside
against all the odds, the chips are down.
Austin's gotta pin Kane. Or is that all-- Oh!
Look at the power of this heinous, evil WWE champion.
[King] Kane picks Austin up and throws him on that metal railing.
[JR] And Austin goes over 250 pounds and Kane throwing Austin around
like Austin was a light heavyweight.
[King] That's right. He's a true champion, Kane is.
He's a role model.
Here's a man whose lips have never touched liquor.
Never said a foul word in his life. I wish you could say that, JR.
[JR] This live crowd is unbelievable.
We're gonna see more tomorrow night in state college as Kane,
with a hard right hand…
[King] And the only gesture Kane has ever done with his right hand
is to salute the American flag.
[JR] Oh, yeah, you've seen it?
Have you seen him do that?
That's a yes or no question.
[King] No. I heard Mr. McMahon say it.
[JR] Don't believe everything that you hear.
[King] I believe everything Mr. McMahon says. Here we go. Open him up.
[JR] And ripping and tearing at the face of Austin.
And a hard stomp-off.
Paul Bearer!
I smelled something.
He took his shoe off and hit Austin right in the face with the damn thing.
[King] I didn't see it.
[JR] And now Austin's going for Paul Bearer.
Paul Bearer.
Look out from behind. Look out!
What a right hand by the WWE champion.
[King] I'm telling you these two men are relentless
and it makes me wonder.
Did The Undertaker help Kane win the WWE title
because he thinks he can beat Kane
or because he thinks he can't beat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin?
What do you think, JR?
[JR] I don't know.
That's the part of the conspiracy that I haven't figured out.
And right now that's a big, huge arm.
The size of this man's arm, Kane, the WWE champion,
is absolutely overwhelming.
He's engulfed Austin's neck and wait a minute.
[King] Here we go. Look at this.
[JR] Straight from hell comes The Undertaker.
Now what is his mission tonight?
[King] I know what his mission was last night.
He showed absolutely no compassion for Mankind.
He threw Mankind off the top of that cell last night and now here he comes tonight.
[JR] Mr. McMahon warned The Undertaker not to get involved in this.
To heed his warning.
[King] You better heed it.
[JR] Arm slam by Kane, the WWE champion.
[King] What's The Undertaker here to do? Is he gonna help his brother?
[JR] Kane now, stepping over the top rope.
Look at this. Seven feet, 325.
This is uncanny athleticism.
[King] Whoa! Man!
[JR] What a collision.
And down goes Austin.
That could be it right there.
Big-time lateral pressure
and referee Earl Hebner has gone along too.
[King] The Undertaker. I don't think Kane needs The Undertaker's help.
But maybe The Undertaker's out here to even the score.
Maybe he's gonna help "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Maybe he feels guilt. You think?
[JR] I don't know what's in The Undertaker's head
other than evil and aggression.
[crowd chanting] Austin!
[JR] Austin's fighting back like a rattlesnake.
Austin has so much rage.
He wants that belt back.
-[King] Here we go! -[JR] Austin may go for the right here.
Yes he does!
A chokeslam by Kane.
[King] That is it. He's proven it.
Look into your brother's eyes and let him realize
that you're better than he ever was.
You're the true WWE champion, Kane.
[JR] Kane has been obsessed by topping his brother, The Undertaker--
Oh, no! Two toe!
Off a tenner.
Austin going for the stunner.
Kane misses that flip. Austin got there.
A stunner!
"Stone Cold" hooks the leg!
-[bell rings] -Austin!
[King] No!
[JR] "Stone Cold"!
[Finkel] The new World Wrestling Entertainment
champion, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[JR] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has just regained the WWE title.
[King] Look at this!
Undertaker's in the ring!
What's gonna happen now?
[JR] Kane is down from the stunner!
Austin has his belt back!
And The Undertaker is in the ring.
And you gotta believe, with evil intentions.
Paul Bearer, whoa!
Austin just paid The Undertaker back for the King of the Ring.
Last time…
[Steve Austin theme music plays]
[sound of glass shattering]
The brothers Undertaker and Kane have been left horizontal
by the WWE champion!
They sit up simultaneously!
Oh, God, this is amazing.
The atmosphere's amazing.
Austin's a champion again.
And The Rattlesnake has hell on his hands.
[inaudible]
[Big E] Two "Stone Cold" Stunners to Kane and that's all she wrote.
Austin pulled out the win and once again became WWE champion.
As long as The Texas Rattlesnake breathes air on this Earth,
he can strike anytime, anywhere.
Anywhere except a hospital.
I mean, medical facility.
Surely, Austin can't raise hell there, right?
-[heart monitor beeps] -I can't wait to get outta here.
[machine beeps]
-[nurse] There. -Is it normal?
[nurse] Yes. It looks real good.
Looks just fine to me. How about you, doctor?
Oh, I'll take it from here, nurse.
-No! -[nurse screams]
[heart monitor beeps rapidly]
[McMahon] Get him off me!
Take your stupid little life-support system off, huh?
How about your foot? Your foot? Like that? What do you think about that?
[steady heart monitor tone]
Calling Dr. Austin. Calling doctor--
Get up, you piece of trash. Get up!
Get up, you piece of…
Calling Dr. Austin.
-We got an emergency here. -[charges defibrillator]
-Everybody clear! -No!
[defibrillator zaps]
Get up! Get up, Vince!
Oh, no! Oh, please no! No!
I've always known you were full of ****, Vince.
Let's find out how full of **** you really are.
-Help me, please! -This'll hurt you more than it'll hurt me.
[McMahon shrieks]
[Austin growls]
You piece of trash!
[McMahon] Ow!
I'll take it from here, nurse.
Steve gets me every time with that raspy Texan voice of his.
Still hilarious 26 years later.
But far from the last time,
"Stone Cold" will get the best of the boss.
This next moment was vintage Austin, creating the sort of mayhem
only a Texas rattlesnake can deliver.
There's no question,
Undertaker,
that both you and Kane deserve to be
the WWE champion.
The two of you
single-handedly
covered "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
for the championship.
The two of you who have had tremendous battles…
[JR] Wait a minute.
-[McMahon] …between the two of you… -[JR] Austin!
[King] Wait a minute!
[JR] Austin in a Zamboni!
[McMahon] The two…
What's that?
[JR] Austin's in a…
Austin's coming to the arena.
Don't let him in here!
[JR] Austin's tearing up the…
Austin's raising hell.
[King] Whoo, yeah!
[crowd roars]
He'll run us over!
[JR] "Stone Cold" is here!
-[King] Get your guns out! -[JR] He's gonna crash McMahon's party!
[King] He's at the ring!
[JR] Oh, yeah!
Austin got McMahon!
[King] Get him!
[JR] Oh, yeah!
But all the cops are cuffing Austin.
[King] Lock him up!
[JR] Mr. McMahon just got a slow dose of what a lot of folks think
that he's got coming.
Just a small dose.
Boston may pay the price here.
-[King] Lock him up! -[JR] There's about eight that took.
Police officers that are handcuffing
the former WWE champion.
[King] Is Mr. McMahon all right?
[JR] Is Mr. McMahon all right? Who cares?
[King] Whoa!
Ah, he got him again!
[JR] Austin handcuffed.
The Rattlesnake scratched McMahon, even handcuffed.
[King] He's trying to bite him.
[JR] Austin's gonna wipe that smile off McMahon's face.
Permanently.
[King] Get outta there, Vince.
He'll kill ya.
[JR] Austin got screwed out of the title last night
and he's damn sure not gonna stand for it.
We still don't know who the WWE champion is.
Where's the-- Oh.
[King] The belt!
[JR] You know, it's a damn shame that McMahon's ego
is so huge that he had to create his own master plan
to ensure that Austin would get screwed out of the WWE title and break down.
Austin took out the audio, ladies and gentlemen.
With that Zamboni. I know folks are having trouble hearing us.
Just bear with us here.
We're live.
[King] That idiot has run over all our cables and wires and everything
with that Zamboni out here.
Lock him up!
[JR] Well, this crowd on their feet.
Everybody's standing for the one and only Rattlesnake.
And it looks like Austin's gong to jail.
[King] Yes.
-[JR] It took eight police officers. -I ain't through with you, Vince.
I ain't through with you. Not yet, by a long shot.
[JR] Mr. McMahon was gonna present
the WWE title to the new champion.
We still don't know who that's gonna be.
Austin crashed the party with a Zamboni machine.
That son of a bitch ain't gonna be safe from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Easy there, bud.
All right. I've done it before.
Get him outta-- Take his ass to jail!
Take his ass to jail!
[officer] Simmer down.
You're going to jail, you son of a bitch!
You're going to jail!
Hold him back.
Relax.
Relax, we got him.
[JR] Our audio problems, we understand, are corrected.
Mr. McMahon just apologized for his language.
[King] Slam the door on him.
[JR] Ah, come on, Vince.
Let him go! Yeah, bring him!
[JR] Yeah, let him fight. He's handcuffed.
-[King] Yeah, let him go. -[JR] Might be a fair fight.
Well, Austin's going to jail.
But this just may not be the last time we see Austin tonight, King.
[King] What?
You think he's got friends down at the pokey?
[Big E] "Stone Cold" clearly loved wreaking havoc
and seemingly has a license to drive Zambonis.
I wonder what other vehicles Steve is legally licensed to operate.
[JR] Wait a minute. That's…
[King] Hey, wait a minute. Don't run over Mr. McMahon's Corvette.
[JR] I don't think he's… Doesn't look like he's gonna run over it.
-[King] Wait a minute! -[JR] I don't believe this.
[King] You can't do that!
[JR] I do not believe this, ladies and gentlemen.
[King] Mr. McMahon!
[JR] That's one of the Corvettes of Mr. McMahon's collection.
[King] That's a $50,000 car!
[cement mixer hisses]
[cement mixer warms up]
JR!
[JR] Oh, my God!
Oh, God!
Austin is loading McMahon's car with cement.
McMahon's Corvette is being loaded with cement!
[King] Oh, my God!
[JR] McMahon's prized Corvette!
One of his collection is being destroyed by The Rattlesnake.
[King] No!
[JR] The Rattlesnake has struck!
And it looks like…
Austin is headed our way.
[King] Somebody call the cops!
[man] Look at that 'Vette.
[Big E] A part of me died inside
seeing that beautiful white Corvette get destroyed.
Do not mess with a Texas rattlesnake.
Clearly, no one during the Attitude Era bothered to heed that advice
and in this next moment,
Steve dusted off yet another vehicle from his garage and took it over
to Albany, New York's Pepsi Arena to raise some more hell
in what is widely considered one of the greatest Raw moments
of all time.
Rock, you won't mind one more time taking Mankind apart, will you?
Matter of fact, The Rock'll lay the smackdown
on his candy ass.
[Cole] Yes!
Much similar to the Greenwich Street Fight
that we're going to see in Albany, New York. Check it out.
[sound of glass shattering]
[Cole] Uh-oh! What?
[Steve Austin theme music plays]
-[King] What? -[Cole] Wait a minute! What the hell?
King, it can't be!
-[King] Look at that! -[Cole] King!
[King] Look at this. He's coming driving a beer truck.
[Cole] Austin's… the beer truck. Wait a minute, King.
Austin's driving the beer truck.
[King] He can't do that!
[Cole] The Rattlesnake's crashing the corporation's party!
He's planning a party of his own.
What a reaction.
[inaudible]
[sound of glass shattering]
For the man who could be champion in six days,
Austin, Rock, at WrestleMania, this Sunday night.
If you're ready for WrestleMania, gimme a hell yeah.
[crowd] Hell yeah!
[Austin] You damn right because "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
has been jerked around long enough.
And I will say this.
With Paul White as a special referee, or without him,
it really don't make a damn because that belt is coming with me
and that's all I got to say about that.
[crowd cheers]
For the last few weeks-- Shut your little lips.
Before I come there and punch your little glasses off right now.
For the last few weeks,
I come out here and I sit here
and listen to you spin your little nursery rhymes
about Jabroni Avenue or Know Your Role Boulevard.
Jesus Christ, son, you better get your ass serious
because "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is gonna take his ass to Philadelphia,
check right in to the SmackDown hotel, roll right in to room 316,
and burn that son of a bitch to the ground!
[Cole] Whoa!
The Rattlesnake's ornery tonight.
You look at me.
Take your little glasses off so I can see your eyeballs, son.
Pull 'em off because I want you to look right here.
When that bell rings, and the match is over,
you are looking at the next WWE champion.
And that's the bottom line 'cause "Stone Cold" said so.
[Cole] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is focused.
As far as right now goes, the big celebration afterwards,
"Stone Cold's" gonna drink a hell of a lot of beer.
But I think we oughta share a little pre-match beer right now.
[Cole] Pre-match beer? He's gonna break--
I'll tell you what. Hey!
"Stone Cold" Jabroni, you come out here and you make your idle threats
like you're the great one, but obviously, you're not,
so The Rock says,
"You take that truck and drive it right back down Know Your Role Boulevard."
"You drive it right back to Jabroni Drive and you check your candy--"
[Cole] Wait a minute!
"Stone Cold"!
"Stone Cold" with a beer bath!
A beer bath on the corporation.
"Stone Cold" giving the corporation a beer bath.
[King] You gotta be kidding me.
[Cole] A return for Austin.
[King] He's drowning Mr. McMahon in beer!
[Cole] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
[Steve Austin theme music plays]
A determined "Stone Cold."
"Stone Cold" is ready for WrestleMania.
The Rattlesnake has struck again.
King, he is focused.
He's determined to win back the championship this Sunday night.
[King] This ain't focusing! I think he might be drunk.
He can't get away with this!
[Cole] He can get away with anything he damn wants to right now.
He's The Rattlesnake.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin has given the corporation a beer bath!
[sound of glass shattering]
[Big E] A beer bath for the ages.
A defining, iconic moment for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
and Monday Night Raw.
And just when you thought there were no more vehicles
Steve could wreak havoc with,
think again.
[King] Look at that belt.
[engine revs in background]
[JR] Hey, wait. There's Austin.
[King] What the hell is that?
[JR] There's The Rattlesnake.
-[King] What is he-- -[JR] I told you he'd be here.
I told you The Rattlesnake wouldn't let you down.
[King] Where did he get that?
[JR] My God, it's a monster truck.
-Is that The Rock's car? -Uh, yes, sir.
-The Rock's car? -Wanted to make sure I kept an eye on it.
It's brand-new. He made damn well sure--
-Are the keys in it? -Uh, yes.
-The keys are in it? -Yeah.
I don't think he wants you to touch it, though.
Oh, okay, but thank you for your help.
[JR] The Rattlesnake getting in The Rock's new car.
[King] What is he doing?
That's The Rock's car.
He's stealing the car.
He is stealing The Rock's car. Call the cops!
Now, see that, JR?
That's the kind of WWE champion you got.
A car thief!
[JR] I think you spoke too soon.
-[Cole] Where's he going? -[JR] That's The Rock's new Lincoln.
The Rattlesnake's got something on his mind.
[Cole] Wait a minute.
-[JR] Uh-uh. -[Cole] Uh-oh.
[JR] You don't think…
[Austin] Rock. Rock?
[Johnson] Austin, that's The Rock's car.
You don't even think about it.
[Austin revs truck]
That's The Rock's car!
[JR] Kicking off, then.
Here he goes! He's gonna run over that--
Oh, man. I thought Austin was gonna run right over that new Lincoln.
Oh, your candy ass is lucky, Austin.
That's The Rock's car!
Custom-made for the great one.
[JR] A $40,000 Lincoln, isn't it, King?
[Cole] He's backed up.
[JR] Oh, oh no.
[King] No! Oh, my God!
[JR] Oh, God!
Austin is destroying The Rock's new Lincoln Continental
with that monster truck!
Look at The Rock's new car!
Look at The Rock's personal property!
You stupid son of a bitch!
[King] I can't believe it, JR.
[Johnson] You stupid son of a bitch. That was $37,000.
[JR] Oh, he's gonna do it again!
What a ride for The Rattlesnake.
That was The Rock's Lincoln.
A brand-new Lincoln!
-[King] Oh, my God! -[JR] That's gotta be 40 grand!
Completely destroyed!
Wait a minute.
-[King] What's he doing, JR? -[JR] Oh, hell, he's coming our way.
The Rattlesnake's coming our way.
[King] He's coming in here!
[JR] Get up.
[King] Unhook me.
[JR] Austin's driving that monster truck right in here for the arena.
Listen to the ovation.
[Johnson] Well, you damn right.
-[King] He's crazy. -[JR] Austin's toying with The Rock now.
I knew he'd show up.
The Rattlesnake'll never let you down.
[inaudible]
You damn right. Oh, hell yeah, he's here.
[King] This is no way to show up for your funeral.
[JR] It may be The Rock's funeral.
Austin and The Rock this Sunday on pay-per-view in the rematch.
But what's gonna happen here tonight?
[King] You better get outta here, Austin. You done made The Rock mad now.
[JR] Or is Austin going this time?
-[Cole] He's leaving. Get him out. -[JR] I ain't so sure he's leaving.
[Cole] He needs to be arrested.
[JR] The Hearse!
The Rock rolled that Hearse in here tonght and now it's being destroyed as well.
First the Lincoln and now the Hearse.
And now, The Rattlesnake is ready to bite.
Here we go!
[King] He's coming for The Rock.
[JR] The WWE champion, the challenger.
[King] Yeah, Rock!
[JR] My God, Austin is manhandling The Rock.
[King] He's gone crazy.
[JR] Austin has gone ballistic here.
The hell with his funeral.
[King] Get outta there, Rock. He'll drive that thing over you!
[JR] Look at Austin!
Austin is on fire!
Oh, God.
The Rock knocked down again.
Austin will not be denied.
[King] Get some help out here for The Rock.
[JR] Austin is absolutely destroying The Rock.
[King] This is awful
[JR] Just six days before the rematch for the WWE title.
[King] What's he doing?
[JR] The king of the mountain is a rattlesnake.
The Rock…
Oh, The Rock is six feet deep!
Austin knocked The Rock six feet deep.
[King] No, this is awful.
[JR] And The Rattlesnake.
[King] Where's he going now? Oh, he's gonna start that thing up again.
[JR] What's Austin doing here?
The Rock has been knocked into his own grave site.
[King] He's got that stinking cooler and more beer.
[JR] The Rattlesnake was ready for the funeral.
The Rattlesnake is ready for a backlash.
The Rattlesnake is ready to defend his title this Sunday.
[King] Rock, where are ya?
[JR] Austin came back.
He has reclaimed his property.
He has reclaimed the smoking-skull belt.
[King] This is awful.
[sound of glass shattering]
That poor Lincoln Continental.
Steve was a force of nature like no other and when it came to vehicular mayhem
and creating magical moments on Raw, Austin was simply the best.
Now let's switch it up a bit and get to some matches, shall we?
The year was 1999.
The WWE championship was on the line
and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was going face-to-face with The Dead Man,
The Undertaker.
[Cole] That face.
[JR] Austin's not lost any heart.
-[King] Yes he has. -[JR] We'll find out.
[bell rings]
Austin now the right hand's on The Undertaker.
It's gonna be an ugly early, I can guarantee you that.
This one may not be too pretty, folks, because of the intensity here
and what's at stake.
Austin burying that shoulder, deeper into the abdomen of The Undertaker
who is the reigning WWE champion.
And The Undertaker, overpowering Austin now.
Hard right hand, The Undertaker has Austin caught in the corner
and The Undertaker intimidating the referee and anybody else
that is in his sight.
[King] Keep him down!
We gotta continue the celebration.
[JR] Another hard right hand by The Undertaker on The Rattlesnake.
This crowd, 19,553.
Another fast pass.
This crowd behind Austin with that jackhammer right hand
and then buries it, the forearm.
Will that be enough? That-- Two and a half. Whoo!
Good strong two-count there created by Austin on The Undertaker.
The first near-fall of this contest.
The WWE title is at stake.
It doesn't get any bigger than that.
Austin again burying his shoulder into The Undertaker.
Austin has come with everything he's got thus far.
A lot of power and The Undertaker reverses.
[King] Everything except his heart, JR. Don't forget that. Look out!
[JR] Austin goes for the stunner.
What a collective gasp from this sold-out crowd in Charlotte.
Undertaker on the outside, Austin going out after him.
Double sledge right to the spine.
And Austin and The Undertaker out here on the outside.
Austin measuring.
the WWE champion.
[King] Come on, Undertaker!
[JR] Undertaker is the most evil, demonic son of a you-know-what
that I've ever been around in my life.
[Cole] You talk about evil.
What about a CEO that rewrites his own contract
because he knows he's gonna lose a big match?
[JR] I don't call that evil. I call that pretty intelligent.
You wouldn't do it?
The Undertaker tasting some steel steps.
-[Cole] I'd never do that. -[JR] Don't taste like Carolina barbecue.
Let me tell you.
[Cole] It's a heartless son of a gun to do that.
Oh, that is Steve Austin, isn't it?
[JR] Austin now sending The Undertaker for the ride.
Lowered the head. The Undertaker saw it and almost kicked Austin's head off.
Austin returns the favor. And a hard clothesline.
That man get The Undertaker.
Caught him by the chin, but also got a near fall.
This is a frantic pace these two are setting here in the early goal.
We've taken all our commercial breaks.
We aren't going anywhere
until this match is settled right here live tonight on Raw.
Hey, wait a minute.
Paul Bearer.
If the referee had seen that,
Paul Bearer would've cost The Undertaker the WWE title.
[Cole] No, come on.
[JR] That was interference by a corporate ministry member.
[Cole] You think?
[crowd chanting]
[JR] The Undertaker measured Austin, that elbow looking right into the…
[Cole] Watch this. Watch this kick to the face.
[JR] Undertaker, another hard right hand.
Undertaker has taken this near 20,000 fans out of the game as they came here
to see The Rattlesnake.
[King] You know they're shocked.
Like you are, JR. You can't believe--
That's not the Austin you know and love. You know why?
Because he's got no heart left.
He's like the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Got no heart.
[JR] Can't make me believe it.
Undertaker has got the advantage. Yes, I'll agree with that.
[King] I don't know why Austin's here. He was scheduled for a preliminary match.
Should've been a curtain jerker.
[JR] Well, that's your and Mr. McMahon and Shane's opinion.
Maybe all of us don't agree with that.
[King] Look at this. I think Austin's hurt.
He doesn't have the heart to continue.
[JR] Austin having a hard time getting up here.
[King] He's crawling like a dog.
Fired CEO that he is.
[JR] Austin's hands are down, and The Undertaker has a free shot.
Caught Austin right in the nose.
[King] That nose was already busted open by the McMahons last night. You see that?
[JR] Austin down again.
Being rammed into the steel steps.
A WWE champion with his title at stake here.
He's building an advantage.
Over The Rattlesnake and kicked right to the ribs.
Another right hand by The Undertaker.
[King] And look at Austin reeling. He's out of it, JR.
Let's face it. He's finished. He's history.
-[JR] No doubt. -[King] He's heartless.
[JR] If he's breathing, he's in it. He's damn sure breathing.
[King] Wait a minute.
[JR] Austin wants the title back. This is the night to get it done.
[King] Oh, no!
[JR] Paul Bearer again.
Waddling over.
The buffet buster.
Oh, my, The Undertaker just dropped Austin down.
This is for the WWE title.
That man, The Undertaker, is the champion.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the challenger.
And while Austin was still the CEO of this company,
he made sure that Austin would get a title shot tonight
and if there was any outside interference by the corporate ministry
and it was detected, we would have a new champion.
The Undertaker would forfeit the title.
And that's what we have now.
Undertaker recovered.
[King] Tell you one thing.
I'm just sitting here thinking, JR,
if "Stone Cold" doesn't win this title tonight,
I pity what his life is gonna be like after this.
What do you think the McMahons will do to him?
He had his one last chance.
He rewrote his contract.
This is him shooting his big shot.
He don't get it done tonight, he is history.
[JR] Austin doesn't get it done tonight,
his life will continue to be and be magnified as a living hell.
No doubt about it.
[King] Well, that's what he made life around Titan Towers when he was the CEO.
[JR] What a whip to the…
That moved the whole ring.
Tremendous velocity by The Undertaker.
Austin in trouble here.
Austin's feet are on the ropes.
[King] Get out there, Paul. Waddle over there.
[JR] Undertaker now,
straight-away chokehold by The Undertaker.
Uh-oh.
And again, The Undertaker intimidating the referee.
Austin is up.
The body slam. He took hold of The Undertaker.
There's a calf and there's a near fall.
That was extremely close here.
And The Undertaker now, wrenching away with a reverse chinlock
on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[King] Squeeze him!
He's got no heart left.
Squeeze the crap out of him too.
[JR] I can guarantee you.
I know "Stone Cold" as well as anybody in this country
and this WWE title means the world to The Rattlesnake.
Being the WWE champion,
the pride it takes to be the top man in this business
means everything to The Rattlesnake.
[King] Wait a minute.
I know two people in this world that the WWE means even more
than it does to Steve Austin
and that's Vince and Shane McMahon.
And Steve Austin being the WWE champion
is a nightmare to the McMahons.
[JR] I know the McMahons are back in control.
I know Shane and his daddy Vince are in the driver's seat.
[King] You better suck up or you may be outta here.
[JR] Lessons? You're good at it.
[King] I'll tell you one thing.
Michael Cole knows how to sing the praises of The Undertaker to the McMahons.
[JR] The Undertaker, that huge arm, around the neck of Austin,
reaching it down.
The Undertaker forcing Austin to carry and try to breathe
with that 328 pounds on his shoulders and neck with Austin fighting his way up.
The Rattlesnake's heart is good, his heart is strong.
His heart is competitive.
With a right hand by The Rattlesnake, The Undertaker really--
Oh, the champion retaliates with an elbow right to the face. Yes.
[King] Let's face it. The Undertaker is just too much for "Stone Cold."
[JR] He may be.
Time will tell.
We'll find out right here tonight live,
[King] Especially after that drubbing Austin got last night in the latter match.
I told you two McMahons can take care of one Austin any day of the week.
Look at this. This is it for you, Austin.
Yes!
[JR] Undertaker taking it off the top row.
With a slant, this could be all. This is gonna be it right here.
And Austin kicked out.
The Rattlesnake kicked out.
[King] I hate rattlesnakes!
[JR] I don't think The Undertaker can believe that.
After wearing and beating Austin down.
After coming off the top rope with that sledgehammer-like arm,
that man, The Undertaker,
I truly believe was shocked he didn't get the three count.
[King] How does that man, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
kick outta that? How does he continue to do it?
[JR] 'Cause he's got the guts of ten men.
The heart of a lion.
[King] He don't have any heart left. I don't have to say that again, do I?
[JR] I don't believe that.
[King] The McMahons took his heart last night.
[JR] Well, that's their story and they may be sticking to it.
You gotta prove it to me.
Jawbreaker by Austin.
Austin may have hurt his own head
ramming it into the jaw of The Undertaker.
[King] You're worried about Austin's head on that?
[JR] Both men down.
WWE title on the line here.
[King] Could've broken The Undertaker's jaw, you're worried about Austin's head?
[JR] Austin pulling The Undertaker to the corner.
Uh-oh.
Oh, no.
-[King] Get out there, ref! -[JR] "Stone Cold"!
[King] Don't let him do this!
[JR] And… There you go!
Austin… Austin kicked off while The Undertaker…
Almost over the railing. Austin holding on there.
[King] Don't help him, anybody.
Because he's on his own here.
[JR] Undertaker with the right hand knocking down the challenger,
The Rattlesnake.
The unconquerable Rattlesnake challenging for the WWE title.
Can the toughest SOB in WWE history regain the WWE title?
Maybe not. There's the cover.
One, two.
That's all this time.
Somehow, Austin kicked out again and The Undertaker going right back
to work on that neck.
[King] I just got a feeling that The Undertaker's strategy is working.
Wear him down, show the world that his heart is gone,
and then finally beat him and finish him off.
And leave what's left of him for the McMahons to play with.
[JR] As bad as I hate to say it, if Austin doesn't win the title tonight,
I don't think the McMahons would grant him another title opportunity.
-What a collision. -[King] They're both down.
[JR] For the collision…
Austin and The Undertaker are down,
and The Undertaker sits up.
The demonic Undertaker.
[King] Come on, Paul! Help him up.
[JR] The personification of evil back on his feet.
Austin breathing in the corner.
Caught The Undertaker coming in.
Perhaps out of desperation.
Now again The Rattlesnake striking with all he's got.
How much does Austin have left in the tank?
Undertaker reverses.
[King] There's your answer, baby.
[JR] The tombstone.
Austin… There's the stunner! He got a stunner!
Two! Three!
There is Paul Bearer saving the title.
Paul Bearer pull the referee outside.
[King] Austin just fought Paul Bearer. That should ban-- disqualification. Uh-oh.
[JR] Austin hanging The Undertaker off that rope.
Undertaker is reeling here and knocks down The Rattlesnake.
Again, the WWE title on the line.
Undertaker, just the clothesline.
[King] Uh-oh.
[JR] Austin… He got the stunner!
Austin got the stunner!
The wagon's hub!
Yes! Yes!
The Rattlesnake.
The Rattlesnake!
[sound of glass shattering]
[Steve Austin theme music plays]
"Stone Cold" is the WWE champion!
[Chimel] Steve Austin.
[Big E] "Stone Cold" with a gritty, gutsy victory
hitting two stunners to take down The Dead Man.
Big win.
And another feather in The Texas Rattlesnake's cap.
By 2001, Austin was firmly entrenched as WWE's top guy.
But was challenged by the next generation of top stars.
Among them, the Olympic hero, Kurt Angle,
who clashed with The Bionic Redneck on Monday Night Raw.
[Garcia] From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
weighing in at 237 pounds,
he is the World Wrestling Entertainment champion
Kurt Angle.
[JR] Angle won the WWE title 15 days ago when Unforgiven went to his hometown.
And here we go.
Kurt Angle and "Stone Cold"
for the World Wrestling Entertainment championship.
One right hand by Angle.
Look at Austin.
Arguably, the greatest WWE champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history.
Wanting to regain that gold,
Austin cannot live without the WWE title seemingly.
[Heyman] There's the bell and the match is on,
Monday night, October 8th, 2001,
Indianapolis, Indiana, Austin, Angle, one-on-one for the WWE title.
[JR] Angle with the backhand chops and the right hands,
but Austin reverses again.
But Austin cannot connect.
The champion beating the challenger to the punch here.
Austin sits for the far side.
Angle got set up a little early and paid for it.
The counter to the reverse elbow.
And down goes the challenger.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is not the same man in his mind
without the WWE title.
The WWE title, as far as Austin is concerned,
is his entire life.
The most important thing in his life.
Austin Lou Thesz Press.
In the right hands, vintage Rattlesnake here.
Austin measuring the champion and driving the point of the elbow
right into the heart of the champion.
Austin now the cover.
The leg is up with Angle quickly kicked out.
[Heyman] Well, Kurt Angle needs to kick out.
Kurt Angle needs to stay out of every pit and predicament
because "Stone Cold" lives and breathes for that title!
[JR] And there's a Lou Thesz Press here!
Dangle the wrong hands.
On a night when there's been mandated by the WWE commissioner
no outside interference,
no one from the alliance can be a part of this match.
Not a wife, not an associate, not an affiliate, not anybody.
Not an owner. Nobody.
Austin catching Angle in the unflattering gesture.
Going back and forth.
The count here!
Angle'll break that ankle and Austin quickly on the ropes!
And senior referee Earl Hebner making the champion break.
Austin trying to distance himself.
[Heyman] Hey, I'll give Hebner credit.
At least he noticed that "Stone Cold" was in the ropes this time.
[JR] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin almost laying in wait for Kurt Angle.
And now Austin.
Cracking that knee.
Kurt Angle's around that steel-ring post.
What a tremendous amount of aggression and force.
It's not a cam.
Angle's leg.
It has been his nick in past matches.
But now Austin…
And Angle countered it right there.
Austin countered it.
Now lying over
our table here
and Kurt Angle shows just how physical he can be.
And how badly he wants to keep the WWE championship.
Austin's head bouncing off this table
like a basketball at an Indiana Pacers game.
[Heyman] Unreal, Mike Turner.
But Angle doesn't care if he gets disqualified.
[JR] Angle running into that ring post.
Austin with the counter there.
And Angle's shoulder jarring into the steel ring post.
Austin measuring Angle again.
Talking the trash.
The challenger, The Rattlesnake, talking the trash.
And Austin flipping out across our table!
My God!
Kurt Angle just threw Austin right across our table.
And the challenger is hurting here on the concrete floor.
[crowd] USA!
[JR] Guaranteed if Austin wants to get down and dirty,
Kurt Angle is happy to oblige.
Now wait a minute.
Kurt Angle. Oh, now, Kurt, that's too far.
Kurt, I don't know.
Kurt exposing that concrete floor.
And we know what happened about three weeks ago
when Austin pound drove Angle right into the concrete floor.
Angle has snapped here seemingly.
It is all on the line and Kurt Angle knows that.
[Heyman] Don't you think Hebner should restore order to this match?
[JR] I think-- Uh, yes I do, but it's easier said than done
and Austin almost beheaded Kurt Angle there.
[Heyman] What a dangerous situation with those mats curled up.
[JR] Hebner got a lot of fight here.
He lost a lot of fight.
So much on the line.
The richest drives in all of sports entertainment at stake.
The WWE championship.
Kurt tossed by Austin.
Did we witness the pursuit, the obsession, to become the WWE champion?
[Heyman] This is a match both men have to win.
This is a match neither man can afford to lose.
[JR] It was 15 days ago when "Stone Cold" tapped out
in Kurt Angle's hometown of Pittsburgh,
where Kurt Angle became the World Wrestling Entertainment champion.
Angle has done it all.
He has won every championship in the federation,
then Kurt Angle fought him back with everything he has.
[Heyman] Well, Austin tapped out, but Austin tapped out
with his hand underneath the rope.
The tap should never have been allowed.
And now the driven, sick, sadistic,
focused "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
focuses his attention on the WWE champion Kurt Angle.
[JR] Austin, all heart, sat there again measuring Kurt Angle, the champion.
Angle being punished in the corner by the relentless challenger "Stone Cold"
and then Angle fights back.
Kurt Angle refuses to stay down,
refusing to lose and Austin going right back to work on that leg.
First it was the ring post on two shots,
and now two shots on the apron of the ring,
both on Angle's left knee.
Referee Earl Hebner trying to get these men in the ring.
[Heyman] The battle between the WWE and the alliance,
the balance of power will be decided tonight.
But make no mistake about it.
There's a selfish need for "Stone Cold."
Steve Austin needs to be the WWE champion
and tonight, he will accomplish that goal
against a man that stole the title from him, an unforgiven Kurt Angle.
[JR] All I know is I saw Angle tap out.
That's Austin with that chock block moments ago,
till Angle backed down and now Austin working that neck.
[crowd chanting] USA!
[Heyman] Why are people cheering USA?
Austin's from Texas for crying out loud.
[JR] I wanna correct myself. I said I saw Austin
tap out 15 days ago in Pittsburgh.
And Austin with a vile shot.
[Heyman] And I just saw Austin cream Kurt Angle.
Wham! Right to the back of the head.
[JR] Austin maintaining the pressure.
The undaunting pressure, relentless pressure.
And now on that neck.
Kurt Angle has had a history of neck problems.
He broke his neck going into the Olympic trials.
He won the Olympics with a broken neck.
A gold medal.
The first American to ever do it in freestyle wrestling
in the 220-pound-weight category.
Austin scores with a suplex.
Now trying to break the fenders, break by hand of the champion.
[Heyman] Piece by piece, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
is taking Kurt Angle apart.
Never, ever in my life have I seen a more ruthless competitor
than "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[JR] Austin is the personification of evil.
[Heyman] No, sir, he is the personification of merciless.
A merciless challenger.
A great champion.
And a man driven--
[JR] Austin doesn't give a damn about these fans.
He doesn't give a damn about you.
He doesn't give a damn about the alliance.
The only thing that Austin gives a damn about
is the World Wrestling Entertainment championship.
[Heyman] He's the alliance leader and that's why we hitch our wagon to him
and soon-to-be once again the WWE champion.
[JR] Angle trying to-- Hope you're wrong.
Hope you're wrong as hell as Angle trying to build some momentum,
but Austin cut him off with a knee to the abdomen.
Austin looking for the stunner.
Just ten in the mudslide. Ten in the mudslide.
And we got a new call.
Austin quickly back up
and the shot running on the back of Angle's head,
putting all that torque and pressure on that neck of Kurt Angle.
[Heyman] Do you know what it would do to the psycho of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
if he is not successful in his quest for the title tonight?
[JR] I don't give a damn if he's not successful for the WWE title.
What I do give a damn about is the fact that I know that Kurt Angle
will never quit and he will never give up.
Win, lose, or draw, he will never ever give up.
Austin again handling that neck, and not so tenderly, of Kurt Angle.
There's the reversal of the Irish Whip into the sleeper by Angle.
Angle's got Austin in the sleeper.
And wouldn't it be something if Austin went to sleep here?
And woke up still short of becoming the WWE champion?
But Austin countered very resourcefully with that jawbreaker.
[Heyman] "Stone Cold" has the chance now.
Steve Austin needs to rise up off the mat and pursue Angle
like a shark that's smelled blood.
Advantage Austin if Austin can capitalize.
[JR] Austin using his head, literally.
The snap the neck back with Kurt Angle will free Austin
from that sleeper hold.
Both men back up as this battle for the WWE title continues.
And Kurt Angle fighting fire with fire in the right hands.
Austin snatches that headlock as quickly as he can.
Angle cannot score the clothesline.
Again, it's just a little early.
And Austin, hitting Angle with everything he can.
First to race up, Angle stepping off Austin on that exchange.
And then it's Austin with a sleeper.
And now it's Austin with the opportunity to put the champion to sleep
and once again become the World Wrestling Entertainment champion.
Angle fighting as hard as he can to free himself from the sleeper hold.
And we knew this was gonna be physically intense.
We knew this was gonna be a knock-down drag-out
and it has not been anything less.
Cross body by Angle.
Could that be enough?
And Angle got a near fall as Austin kicked out
and quickly Austin got back to his knees.
There's the inside cradle!
And the referee's hand coming down for three.
[Heyman] But notice how Austin gets off his back,
stays out of the pinning predicament.
No way is "Stone Cold" going to miss this opportunity.
[JR] Austin is down, Angle is up.
Angle buying himself a little time there.
And what's Austin doing? Austin rolling on the outside.
Austin out of bounds.
So let's kick here in the apron.
They couldn't catch as the champion coming back in.
And Austin with a subset clip.
Uncharacteristic for him.
On the outside back in.
Angle trying to get his balance. And does!
And right down on Austin's face, he's hammering!
Angle is hammering the challenger.
[Heyman] How many closed fists can Hebner allow Angle to throw?
[JR] As many as Austin, Paul. As many as Austin.
Angle-- Austin used Angle's own momentum.
He sidestepped him and that's a desperation move,
if you ask me.
[Heyman] A desperation move by who? By Austin?
[JR] By Austin, the challenger.
[Heyman] Austin never acts out of desperation. Austin acts out of--
[JR] Now Austin's got a chair.
Austin's got a steel chair!
And William Regal unarming Austin.
Regal trying to unarm Austin again.
[Heyman] Who the hell is William Regal fooling?
[JR] Austin with a shot.
Regal, it's gonna be one-on-one, just like the commissioner said.
[Heyman] The commissioner should mind his own damn business.
[JR] He is! That's exactly what he's doing.
He's the WWE commissioner.
Austin would've loved to have used that steel chair.
Now going back to that exposed concrete.
No, don't do it!
Austin could be disqualified here.
Kurt Angle counters!
And then drops Austin on the exposed floor.
Austin landing kidneys first on the concrete.
[Heyman] What a dangerous situation.
These two men battling with the mats pulled up.
[JR] Angle on top, hammering Austin, the challenger, back in the ring.
Austin finds himself a corner, but no success there.
No sanctuary as Angle laying it in with everything on the challenger.
And Austin, the legs a little spaghetti legging.
And awesome counter with a big-time Spinebuster.
And again the momentum changes in this WWE championship matchup.
[Heyman] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin versus Kurt Angle
and now is the time for Austin to put Angle away.
[JR] Austin what's he gonna do here?
It's the Boston crab, a submission move.
All the pressure on the lower back of Kurt Angle.
Look at Angle's head and neck.
[Heyman] Look at the pressure Austin's applying!
[JR] Angle taps out! It's over!
Angle's gotta hold on and he gets to the bottom rope.
And Austin pulls Angle away from the rope.
Austin's gotta break the hold there.
I don't think that's a jocular call.
Kurt Angle fighting, screaming in pain from Austin's Boston crab.
[Heyman] But what damage has been done?
[JR] Austin may get disqualified here.
Mess around-- A bully, and I don't trust anybody.
"Stone Cold."
Angle to move outta the way.
And Kurt Angle now.
Got a second wind and a rush of adrenaline.
Austin back in the corner.
The World Wrestling Entertainment championship is at stake.
And Kurt Angle now beginning to build some momentum.
Beginning to be able to sustain a little bit of offense here.
It has been back and forth virtually this entire match.
And more right hands for the champion.
[Heyman] More illegal pummeling fists, right hand.
[JR] Austin, a foot to the face, catching the champion coming in.
And Austin going airborne.
The counter! Belly to belly. Overhead suplex.
Austin cannot figure Angle out.
Angle again.
Alternative suplex.
Kurt Angle with a waist-lock.
Giving those hands.
Momentum's going to Angle!
[Heyman] Austin needs to break the hand.
Austin needs to pry the hand of Kurt Angle apart.
[JR] But I don't think he can.
You can feel Kurt Angle beginning to build his momentum.
Two German suplexes.
Austin is in big trouble here.
Also, the low blow and the referee did not see it.
Austin with a low blow, that mule kick.
Caught Angle in the Olympic gold all right.
And the WWE champion.
That may be the deciding factor in this match.
[Heyman] If that referee doesn't see it, the referee can't call it.
Stunner. Idealic!
[JR] Austin, he may be setting yes, but with the stunner no.
Angle countered!
Oh, no! Austin prevented, but one caught.
And Angle's head and Earl Hebner's head.
The crack. Ebner may have twisted his ankle as well, falling outta the ring.
The referee is outside the ring, face down on the other side of the ring,
and they-- He's got the championship belt.
Austin's got the WWE title belt.
And Commissioner Regal is by God not gonna let this go down.
[Heyman] Why doesn't Regal mind his own damn business?
[JR] He is minding his business.
He's the WWE commissioner.
Regal just took the title away from the challenger.
Wait a minute! My God!
Regal just hit Burt Angle in the face with the WWE title belt!
What a no-good son of a bitch!
He just hit Angle in the face with the WWE title belt!
He's our commissioner!
That's the WWE commissioner!
What in the hell is he doing?
[Heyman] The commissioner is helping up the referee.
"Stone Cold" with the cover!
[JR] My God this cannot be!
-[Heyman] One! Two! -[JR] No! No, no, no!
Yes! Angle kept down! Angle kept down, by God!
[Heyman] What the hell does it take to put Kurt Angle away?
[JR] Look at Austin!
He is livid! Austin could not beat Angle!
Even with Regal's help!
[Heyman] I can't believe that Kurt Angle is conscious!
[JR] Kurt Angle can barely stand.
Austin picking Angle up.
There's his shot. Stunner!
-[Heyman] Stunner! -[JR] "Stone Cold" Stunner!
On Kurt Angle! Earl Hebner is counting down this fight!
Damn it!
[Garcia] Here is your winner
and the new World Wrestling Entertainment champion,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
[JR] That Regal is a no-good bastard!
And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
The referee didn't even see what happened!
[Heyman] The balance of power has shifted back to the alliance.
Ladies and gentlemen,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin has regained the WWE title.
[JR] And Earl-- Austin forcing Earl Hebner to raise his damn hand.
Yes, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rattlesnake, the paranoid,
psychotic bastard is once again the WWE champion!
[Big E] Paranoid, psychotic bastard is right, JR.
Kurt Angle and Steve Austin developed quite the rivalry
and their competitive natures brought out their absolute best.
While "Stone Cold" and Angle's feud was short-lived,
it will be long remembered.
However, this next and final selection is somehow overlooked
when it comes to Steve Austin's career.
Did you know in 2002, we got a Raw match
that featured the team of "Stone Cold" and The Rock taking on the NWO?
It's as unbelievable as it sounds.
And it's coming to you right now.
[bell rings]
[JR] And here we go.
A tag-team matchup.
The Rock and Austin. Two men against three.
[King] The Rock wants to get ahold of Hogan.
That was a big mistake.
See, The Rock's too emotional about this thing, he and Hogan.
[JR] Oh, yeah. He shouldn't be emotional about three men
that ran him over in a semi truck while he was helpless in an ambulance.
And look at The Rock hammering Scott Hall.
Hall and Austin.
Oh, that's gonna be a nasty match on Sunday at WrestleMania.
A physical, in-your-face, Slobber Knocker.
And a shot of Kevin Nash to the outside.
And Hogan. Does Hogan have a case of the limber tail tonight?
[King] Watch your back, Rock. Oh, man!
[JR] The Rock blocked the right hand, knocking down Scott Hall.
[King] Wait a minute.
The match has just gotten underway, JR.
[JR] He certainly seemed off.
Cheap shot by that seven-foot, 300-pound Nash.
The Rock to the mid-right hand.
The clothesline, the cover,
and a near fall here in the early going of this three-on-two, hand-to-hand match.
[King] Look at this.
[JR] Man, great right hand by this seven-foot, 300-plus pounder,
a former WWE champion in Kevin Nash,
who now is taking over on The Rock.
There's nothing that Hollywood Hulk Hogan would like better
than for Nash to put some knots on the head of The Rock
or The Rock to end the fight tonight.
[King] Look at the size of Nash, would you?
I mean, Rock is a big guy, but Kevin Nash almost dwarfs The Rock.
[JR] There go him to the leg. Could be over here. And a near fall.
The near leg hooked by the seven-foot, 300-pounder.
Nash is a powerhouse.
He is not a finesse guy.
[King] No, he's not. Not at all.
[JR] What he does…
Nothing but powering straight ahead, but he does it well.
And a tube chop on the outside by Scott Hall, knocking down The Rock.
-[King] Oh, yeah! -[JR] Oh, yeah! Mr. Big Shot.
[King] Listen to this crowd, JR!
[JR] Mr. Icon. Glad to get the tag when Rock's had the hell beat out of him.
But that's Hogan's style, it seems to me.
[King] Man, you don't know that, JR.
I mean, Hogan hasn't been in WWE for ages.
You said it yourself. In eight years. You don't know that much about him.
[JR] And Hogan… Were they knocked down in the right hands?
Or the people's champion, Hogan and The Rock?
Who would've ever thought it could happen?
[King] Who would've thought you'd see Hogan wearing out The Rock?
You didn't think it, did you, JR?
-[JR] I did not. -[King] You're witnessing it.
Live, right here tonight. Look at this!
[JR] A suplex!
Hogan with a suplex.
Took him down, The Rock, and now Hogan makes another tag.
A quick tag.
And there's good team work, good continuity.
As bad as I hate to admit it, from the NWO, isolated The Rock.
[King] Did you expect anything less?
Look out. Here comes The Rock. Whoa!
[JR] The Rock trying to file that NWO corner
with a drop by Hall.
There's a tag to Nash. And Nash…
[King] Whoa! Somebody hold!
[JR] And Nash looking to drop that 300-plus
right in the heart of The Brahma Bull.
The Rock needs to make a tag.
And there it is, to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[King] Here comes that Rattlesnake!
[JR] The Texas Rattlesnake has come to fight as well!
Austin, the knee still taped up.
Thanks to that reach attack by Scott Hall.
Lou Thesz Press and down goes Nash!
And Austin, right in Kevin Nash's face.
Hall sent for the ride and Austin--
That whiplash Spinebuster by Austin.
Stuffing away right in the solar plexus of his adversary.
The Soviet WrestleMania with 67,000 in the house
and a worldwide audience on pay-per-view.
[King] A double clothesline by The Rattlesnake?
[JR] Austin may have broken that left hand.
He's shaking it off.
Well, you think that's gonna slow him down? I don't!
[King] He's a rabid rattlesnake right now.
Nothing's gonna stop him.
All that pent-up frustration won't stop him.
[JR] That shot by Nash,
catching Austin right in the face with that huge boot.
[King] I spoke too soon.
That big boot of Kevin Nash's will stop anybody.
[JR] And Scott Hall now, certainly ready, willing, and able to take the tag
on the man that Hall will meet at WrestleMania on Sunday.
[King] Well, this is the man, Scott Hall,
who said he was gonna skin The Rattlesnake alive.
He's starting the job now.
[JR] I'll tell you what, King.
You and I have had the privilege of calling a lot of WrestleManias.
I have never, and I mean this sincerely,
have ever looked forward to a match
or an event like this Sunday on pay-per-view,
The Fall-Away Slam by Hall.
Looking for the over. There it is.
And referee Earl Hebron found a two-count.
[King] WrestleMania's gonna be huge, JR.
I like that you can't say it any better than a match for the ages.
[JR] Austin and The Rock,
they've gotta reach places they haven't been before
to survive this three-on-two attack.
They've gotta go places they've never been
just exactly like they've gotta do this Sunday at WrestleMania.
We are gonna see if they're gonna survive a side of The Rock, a side of Austin,
that we've never seen this Sunday in Toronto.
[King] Well, if they wanna survive and they wanna make it to WrestleMania,
we'll have to see a side of them tonight.
Let's face it. I ain't even been thinking that much about it, but do the math.
This is three-on-two. Did you forget about that?
This is a handicap match.
[JR] King, I know that.
I can do math. I know three-on-two.
But I've got a feeling that Austin and The Rock are gonna do it here tonight.
And look at Austin, burning right there on Kevin Nash.
Nash, trying to hot dog and finally gets that knee right back in the gut of Austin.
[King] Nobody hot dogs any better than Kevin Nash.
[JR] And that tag made again.
Three-on-two.
Three of the biggest, baddest, meanest men
in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment
against "Stone Cold" and The Rock.
Oh, man, with the hard clothesline.
That may be it. That may be-- No!
They got an air paw. Austin kicks out.
The toughest SOB in WWE's not gonna quit.
Now you've got Hollywood Hogan putting his hands on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[King] Gotta admit Hogan looks great.
Look at that body. Look at those--
[JR] A blatant chokehold.
[King] Those pythons may be bigger than ever, JR.
[JR] Well, good for him.
-[King] Listen to you. -[JR] Straight right hand.
Hogan, he's certainly the opportunist.
And makes another quick tag. He was in, he's out.
[King] Give the man his due.
Muhammad Ali has said it about himself in boxing, but in wrestling, Hogan is,
without a doubt, he's the greatest of all time, JR.
[JR] Maybe he is, maybe he's not. We'll find out Sunday.
There's a cover!
[King] Coming from the king, who thinks he's great himself,
but I'll admit as far as wrestling goes, he's the greatest of all time.
[JR] Wait a minute.
I'm thinking the end may be near here.
As Scott Hall, Chico himself, may be looking to utilize--
Oh, no! The Razor's Edge with a backdrop!
Austin elevated.
Scott Hall brought out of that predicament.
The Rock ready for the tag for them to let Austin fight back.
Austin opening him for the sternum.
[King] No! Oh, man! Oh!
[JR] And another knockdown by Hall.
Really laying the leather to "Stone Cold" here.
[King] What a physical match this is, JR. Look at The Rock!
[JR] Oh, what an electrifying atmosphere it's gonna be Sunday.
67,000 plus in the SkyDome from 15 countries, all 50 states.
It's gonna be amazing.
On pay-per-view.
And that's a tie!
The Rock and Nash.
And The Rock is tattooing the seven-foot, 300-pounder.
[King] Smack is being laid down right now on the NWO.
[JR] The Brahma Bull airborne.
DDT on Scott Hall!
But Nash, oh boy.
Man, he is a powerhouse.
[King] I think it's so back and forth, I dunno who's got the advantage.
[JR] Nash with that in-your-face style.
[King] Look at Hogan. He wants The Rock. He's begging for him.
[JR] Oh, sure he does.
With The Rock down on his back,
Mr. "I'm an icon, if he doesn't believe it, ask me,"
wants the tag.
[King] For the second time in this match, we get to see Hogan--
[JR] Yeah! Yeah!
The Rock is off from behind! Damn it!
That damn Nash came from behind.
The Rock was gonna get right in Hogan's face, you gotta believe.
[King] You know this is a handicap match.
You said you can do the math.
It's three-on-two.
[JR] Hogan driving The Rock's head on that turnbuckle.
And Hogan, keeping The Rock cornered.
Hard right hands by Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
Hogan and The Rock.
Who would've ever thunk it? Who would've ever thought it could happen?
But it's gonna happen.
In six days, on pay-per-view, a match I've waited for my entire life.
And look at Austin.
Austin wants Scott Hall.
But I don't think Scott Hall wants any of Austin.
[King] Get right over here, JR. Watch yourself.
[JR] Hogan sent The Rock for the ride.
And a boot to the face!
Hogan caught the boot to the face.
The leg drop from the 300-pounder!
Hogan's got the leg hook!
Hogan's got the cover!
And Hogan's got the win!
[King] You saw it! Do you believe it, JR?
[JR] By God, I can't believe it!
Hogan just beat The Rock!
With a big boot and a leg drop!
And then Austin turned against him and Hogan.
Got an elbow right in the kidneys by the seven-foot, 300-pound Kevin Nash.
[King] Now it's a real numbers game now, JR. Look at that.
[JR] Hall is the stunner.
Hall using Austin's stunner on The Rattlesnake.
The Rock is down.
Austin is down.
And the NWO are victorious here tonight.
[King] Seeing is believing.
You didn't think it could happen, but you just saw it.
[JR] Oh, what a WrestleMania it's gonna be!
[Big E] We just watched history unfold.
And possibly the biggest Main Event on Raw ever.
I mean, does the star power in that match get any bigger?
[sound of glass shattering]
"Stone Cold" truly is an icon with six WWE championships,
two intercontinental championships,
three Royal Rumble titles,
a King of the Ring victory,
and a Triple Crown championship proudly on his resume.
His stellar career will forever be etched in WWE history books
and his ass-whopping legacy will continue to grace television screens
for years to come.
That does it for this episode of Raw Classics.
I'm Big E and we hope you enjoyed our look back at the best of The Texas Rattlesnake.
Now gimme a hell yeah!
Hell yeah!
I said, gimme a hell yeah!
Hell yeah!
I love it. Let's go home.
[theme music plays] home.