Alongside Hulk Hogan and The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is one of WWE's most legendary superstars. His rise to fame during the Attitude Era led to an immense amount of popular interest in professional wrestling. Austin's rebellious attitude, coupled with his take-no-prisoners wrestling style, led to some memorable encounters at Wrestlemania.
Stone Cold Steve Austin competed in seven Wrestlemanias throughout his career, three of which he headlined in the main event. Several of these confrontations are some of Austin's most celebrated matches. Although the beer-swilling rebel has been retired for quite a while now, his legacy lives on in these matches from the "Showcase of the Immortals."
7 Savio Vega – Wrestlemania 12
Stone Cold's first appearance at Wrestlemania is also his most forgettable. In 1996, Austin was a heel; his gimmick was that of a protege of the villainous Ted DiBiase. Austin's first opponent at a Wrestlemania event was Savio Vega, a man who the Rattlesnake would feud with in the subsequent months.
The match itself is nothing special, although Austin and Vega put on a good show for about ten minutes. The rivalry between Austin and Vega continued in two additional pay-per-view rematches, the most notable of which was a Strap Match at In Your House: Beware of Dog. Out of all Stone Cold's Wrestlemania appearances, this was by far the weakest.
6 Scott Hall – Wrestlemania 18
Another somewhat underwhelming Steve Austin performance at Wrestlemania occurred in 2002. At the time, Stone Cold and The Rock were feuding with the members of the reformed nWo, which consisted of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash. Austin and Scott Hall locked horns at Wrestlemania 18.
Like the previous entry, the match isn't particularly memorable, lasting for barely ten minutes. However, the match is notable for at least one rather humorous incident. When Austin delivered his patented Stone Cold Stunner to Scott Hall, the latter massively oversells the move, launching himself several feet into the air before being defeated.
5 Bret Hart – Wrestlemania 13
Wrestlemania 13 proved to be a pivotal event in Austin's career. Although the pay-per-view itself is a little underwhelming, the match between Steve Austin and Bret Hart was not. The two men were in the midst of a bitter rivalry that had been boiling for several months. Accounts were to be settled at Wrestlemania 13 in a Submission match.
The contest is exciting from start to finish. Bret Hart's clean technical style contrasts sharply with Austin's more rough-and-tumble offense. The ending to the match is also suitably dramatic. Hart placed Austin in the sharpshooter, but instead of tapping out, the latter refused to give up and passed out as blood streamed down his face. Austin's defiance, even though he was still a heel, resonated with fans and began to solidify his emerging persona as an anti-hero.
4 Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania 14
By 1998, Austin's star in the company was clearly on the rise. Stone Cold emerged victorious at the Royal Rumble, earning himself a shot at the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 14. The deck was stacked against the Rattlesnake, though. The WWE champ, Shawn Michaels, was supported by his DX stablemates (Triple H and Chyna) along with the "Special Enforcer" Mike Tyson.
Both HBK and Steve Austin delivered an action-packed performance despite Shawn Michaels suffering from a painful back injury at the time. The ending to the match is pure excitement. Stone Cold blocked HBK's Sweet Chin Music twice before delivering a Stunner. With the referee incapacitated, Mike Tyson jumped into the ring and counted the victory for Austin. The commentator Jim Ross captured the spirit of the moment best when he exclaimed, "The Austin era has begun!"
3 The Rock – Wrestlemania 15
After Stone Cold won the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 14, one of the greatest rivalries in pro wrestling's history commenced. Austin settled into a long and entertaining feud with Mr. McMahon, the owner of the company. McMahon disapproved of Austin as champion and set out to make life unbearable for the Rattlesnake.
At Wrestlemania 15, Stone Cold headlined the main event alongside The Rock, who had become the champion and was backed by Mr. McMahon. The match itself was an adrenaline-fueled contest that spilled outside the ring and back again. Despite receiving help from Mr. McMahon, Austin delivered a Stone Cold Stunner on The Rock for the win.
2 The Rock – Wrestlemania 17
The epic Wrestlemania rematch between The Rock and Steve Austin would occur in 2001. Austin emerged victorious in that year's Royal Rumble match, which set him on a collision course with his old rival in the main event at Wrestlemania 17. The stipulation was a No-Disqualification match for the WWE Championship.
In a repeat of their earlier encounter, Austin and The Rock tore the house down. The ending proved even more dramatic. In a move that shocked everyone watching, Austin joined forces with his longtime nemesis, Mr. McMahon. Stone Cold pummeled The Rock with a steel chair before securing the victory. Afterward, McMahon and Austin celebrated with beer as the stunned audience looked on in horror.
1 The Rock – Wrestlemania 19
The Wrestlemania rivalry between Stone Cold and The Rock constitutes a trilogy. Austin had emerged victorious in the two previous encounters at Wrestlemanias 15 and 17. The Rock wanted one last shot at Austin at the "Grandest Stage Of Them All." The final contest between these two rivals was set for Wrestlemania 19.
The match was yet another example of pro wrestling at its best. Knowing the history between these two competitors made the drama even more palpable. Both individuals stole each other's finishing moves, but neither still could gain an advantage. Finally, it took The Rock three Rock Bottoms to subdue Austin; the Rattlesnake had finally been defeated by the "Great One" at Wrestlemania.