Chapter 2: "In that very ring."
The next Monday on Raw is War, Vince McMahon announced to the hoards of wrestling fans in the Madison Square Garden, the match that would put the World Wrestling Federation championship title on the line. As he announced the main event, the crowd broke out in crazy chaos.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Triple H.
With The Rock as special guest referee.
Stone Cold was completely shocked. He expected to take on Triple H for the belt…but not with The Rock as special guest referee. His defensive attitude took over. DTA. Don't trust anybody was Steve Austin's motto, but he had given The Rock leeway when it came to that. Him and Rocky went way back. He decided to talk it over with his buddy in the locker room.
"Rocky, you're going to give Helmsley the ol' one, two, three, right?"
Stone Cold was confident in his skills and he knew he could win the match fair and square. But he just had to make sure Rock knew the deal; there would be no more screw-ups.
"Make no mistake about it, Steve. The Rock will perform fair and square as he sees fit."
"Just makin' sure you know your role."
Austin laughed and took a sip from his beer. Not many people saw this easygoing side of him. The Rock was one of very few. He would be the last.
"The Rock knows his role for sure."
He smiled a false smile. Hidden behind it, was the devious plot that he couldn't wait to execute. McMahon was a genius. Rocky made sure to remind himself to thank his boss after the show. Or he could do it at the induction ceremony.
"Alright, see ya then."
Stone Cold left the locker room on good terms with The Rock. He was extremely confident that fate was on his side. He would soon learn how sadly mistaken he was.
The last match was minutes away from starting. The Rock stood outside of the entrance with Stone Cold Steve Austin, going over last minute details. Finally, all three men were ready to go out. Each wrestler took their positions as they waited for the ring announcer to begin calling out the match and then call them out individually along with their music.
"And tonight's special guest referee for the main event…weighing in at two hundred and seventy-five pounds from Miami, Florida—THE ROCK!"
"IF YA SMMMMEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLL…WHAT THE ROCK…IS COOKIN'!"
The Rock stepped out and walked down the ramp, wearing the traditional black and white striped shirt that all referees wear. Austin will be the one stunned by the end of the night. He climbed on the ropes and paused as he sniffed the air. The crowed went crazy.
"ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY!"
"Tonight's number one contender for the World Wrestling Federation Championship…weighing in at two hundred and fifty-two pounds from Victoria, Texas—STONE COLD STEEEVVVEEE AUUSSSSTTTIIIINNNN!"
PSH!
The familiar sound of broken glass followed by a guitar number boomed throughout the arena. The crowd was in frenzy as the Texas Rattlesnake stomped his way down the runway. Everyone was on their feet, cheering loudly for the man they hoped would reclaim the title.
"AUSTIN! AUSTIN! AUSTIN!"
Oh hell yeah! Ol' Stone Cold is gonna open a can of whoop-ass tonight!
"The World Wrestling Federation's Champion, making his way into the ring, weighing in at two hundred and forty-six pounds from Greenwich, Connecticut, the self-proclaimed game…TRIPLE H!"
"ONE, TWO…. IS THIS ON?"
Triple H strolled down the walkway, holding out his belt to antagonize the fans. Like Pavlov's experiment wit the dogs, they responded to the stimulus.
"ASSHOLE…ASSHOLE...ASSHOLE…" The crowd chanted.
You act like I'm supposed to give a crap of what you losers say! I AM THE GAME! Placing the belt on the announcer's table next to J.R. and Jerry "The King" Lawler, Triple H stepped into the ring and eyed his opponent warily.
The bell rang, signifying the beginning of the match.
It was a no-contest. How had Triple H held onto the belt for so long? Stone Cold wasted no time in taking down Triple H with a bone-crunching elbow. Austin kicked him in the corner, while the fans counted.
"ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE…"
Helmsley tried bouncing off the ropes. Stone Cold executed the Lou Thez press on him. The fans cheered in response. Stone Cold threw him out of the ring and fought his way into the crowd. Triple H was knocked against a security wall. Austin dragged him over to the ring and tossed him in. Helmsley attempted to get up as Steve kicked him back down and gave him two middle fingers. Triple H got frustrated and tossed a chair into the ring. He aimed for Stone Cold's weak knee with the steel chair, but The Rock grabbed it and tossed it aside. Stone Cold was secretly grateful for the move that the special guest referee had done to save him. Helmsley got in The Rock's face and screamed at him. Stone Cold distracted him: he tapped Triple H on the shoulder. Two fingers registered in the champion's vision and then he was kicked in the stomach. Stone Cold grabbed Triple H's neck and jumped. Stunner! The "Austin" chants in the arena were ear-splitting as Stone Cold pinned Triple H for the win. Time slowed down as he held Triple H's leg in the air.
This was it.
Rock had better not screw up. The Rock motioned for the microphone. He caught it, knelt down, and began tapping out Helmsley.
"ONE!" he smacked the mat.
"TWO!" he smacked the mat a second time
A dramatic pause as The Rock held out, his hand midway in the air.
Stone Cold Steve Austin glanced anxiously at The Rock; awaiting the final tap that would make him the World Wrestling Federation Champion.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ROCK COUNTS TO THREE!"
Stone Cold's face twisted with shock and anger as he released Helmsley's leg. His baby blue eyes turned icy as he bore the mask of rage. The Rock must be joking! What did the dumb son of a bitch think he was doing? This wasn't part of the storyline at all! The crowd reacted as the events played out.
"Ooooooohhhhh," the fans marveled in unison; they were shocked at the turn of events.
"What in the hell?" Even The King was surprised.
"Seems as if Rock is turning heel right here in front of us," J.R. drawled to his commentating partner.
Stone Cold got up quickly. The Rock reached for the steel chair and smacked him with it. Austin went down in a heap. The fans booed and hissed at him. He turned to Triple H and gave him some generous slams from the same steel chair. A raging Rattlesnake rose on his feet and faced The Rock. The Rock took careful aim with the steel chair. Grinning, he bashed Stone Cold several times in his weak leg. Chants of "Rocky sucks" spread throughout the arena.
"OH MY GOODNESS! KING, DIDYOU JUST SEE THAT!"
"Ahhh! No, what just happened!"
"THAT NO GOOD DIRTY SON OF A BITCH! HE JUST HAMMERED AUSTIN WITH THAT STEEL CHAIR!" J.R. screamed.
Austin grabbed his leg in pain. Helmsley lay sprawled out on the mat. The Rock came over and counted a fast tap on both wrestlers.
"One, two, three."
The Rock raced over to the announcer's table, seized the belt, and sprinted up the ramp without looking back once. The gold glistened in the bright lights as he ran out of the entrance and into the locker room.
Stone Cold left Triple H in the ring. He hopped over the ropes and chased after The Rock. Everything in his vision was a blur as he ran up the ring. He caught up to The Rock just in time. The new "champion" was placing the belt in his shoulder bag for safekeeping.
"What the hell was that all about!" An angry Rattlesnake was not a pretty one, to say the least.
"Hmmm, don't know. Do you want the belt?" The Brahma Bull asked, knowing the answer.
"Ya damn right I do, you lying son of a bitch! Give it to me!" Austin raged.
"Okay, 'cause you said so." The Rock mocked his ex-friend.
He reached for the heavyweight belt in his bag and hit Stone Cold in the face with it. The heavy gold slammed into Austin's forehead and he lay on the floor cursing under his breath. He rubbed a hand over his head to feel for any bloodshed.
"If you want the belt, then you come get the belt."
He held up the belt in the air and spat on the supposed-to-be champion. The Rock kicked him in the stomach and left him lying on the ground.
Seconds later, Stone Cold was on his feet as he ran out of the locker room searching for the traitor. He ran out to the parking lot as he figured that The Rock would try and take off as soon as possible. He looked just in time to see the door to a white Lincoln Continental limousine slam shut. Inside the safety of his limo, The Rock pressed a button and the window slid down. He slipped the coveted belt outside the window as if taunting Stone Cold. The gold flashed brightly for a quick second before he yanked it back in. The Rock lay against the plush seat and kissed the belt with passionate fever.
Stone Cold rushed towards the limo, ready to jump the driver if necessary to stop the vehicle. Too late. The limousine sped up and left the building. Stone Cold ran outside, the freezing wind stung his face.
"YOU PUNK-ASS! YOU JUST WAIT UNTIL THE TEXAS RATTLESNAKE MAKES HIS MOVE! PAY BACK WILL BE A BITCH, I GUARAN-DAMN-TEE YOU! YOU ROT IN HELL! YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
He screamed in vain into the night air as the limousine turned around a corner and vanished from his sight. He stormed back into the locker room. Never again. Never again would he trust anybody. Not even for a minute. DTA to the fullest. And the Brahma Bull had better know his damn role and be on the look out, as if his life depended on it. An enraged Rattlesnake was a venomous one and he always bit back. Nuff said.
Thus The Rock/Stone Cold Steve Austin feud was born….