[1997-12-07-WWF-D-Generation X] Steve Austin vs The Rock

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

The first big match between these two. Good video package to start things off. Austin drives to the ring in a truck. This is all about everyone in The Nation taking bumps all over the truck without Austin ever really getting out of his vest. Austin is clearly still not 100% (and maybe wouldn't be until 2001) so his matches are a lot more gimmicky at this stage. I'm surprised at how much Austin sold for Rock, considering their respective places on the card at this point. Austin accidentally stuns the referee and then pins him in a spot I don't quite understand. He wasn't blinded. Another referee is down to count the fall and Austin retains the title.

[Kevin Ridge]

Having the Nation out there did give Rock the advantage to get the better of Austin for the time he did. Stunner on DLo on top of the pickup truck was a memorable spot. Not a long match but action packed. Austin doesn’t even take his jacket off until the match is over. No crowd reaction for Rock’s two people’s elbows.

[Zenjo]

The Rock at this stage was no match for Stone Cold. Even the entire Nation was no match for Austin who destroyed all four of them without taking his jacket off.

[soup23]

Not much of a match at all but the D-Lo stunner is iconic and they did what they could working around Austin's physical limitations. Rocky doing the Peoples elbow to no response is weird to see in retrospect. He was still learning the ropes here but this match and angle did show promise.

[PeteF3]

Rock refers to himself as the "People's Champ" in the pre-match promo, perhaps for the first time. Austin takes a few very safe bumps but this is a match clearly designed to cover for him. Rock does one People's Elbow and attempts another, to NO reaction. Very much a preview of the WWF main event style to come in 1998 and '99. Enjoyable but too brief to really be called a good match.

[Exposer]

The video package is great. Austin comes out in his truck. This has the famous spot where D-Lo takes a back drop out of the ring & onto the hood of the truck. Pretty great spot. Austin stuns him on top of the truck to a massive pop. Fun brawling early & we get more of Austin fighting off The Nation. Faarooq & Kama take bumps into the truck as well. Rock gets some time to shine on offense & even hits the People's Elbow (before it's called that). He goes for it a second time & misses. Austin goes for the stunner, but he sees Kama on the apron & knocks him off. Austin stuns the referee thinking it's The Rock. Brass knucks are given to Rock & he trys a swing but Austin blocks it & hits the stunner. A second ref runs in to make the 3 count. Fun match. Austin only took one bump here, but they've done an excellent job of protecting him in these matches & still making them interesting.