Would Austin vs Hogan Have Out-Done Rock vs Hogan?

Publish date: 2024-05-04
The definitive answer is NO, and to be honest anybody that argues otherwise is lying to themselves and/or misremembering history. I don't mean to sound like my opinion is the only one that's right, but in this case, it's a clear cut answer. I bring facts to both support this and disregard the alternative choice.

The most important thing here is to properly understand the question. We're talking about WrestleMania 18 and only WrestleMania 18 here. This is 2002. You have to realize that Rock was a SIGNIFICANTLY bigger star than Austin at this point in time. This was one year after Austin's heel turn against the Rock and the ill fated power trip with Triple H and Vince. This was on the heels of the Invasion angle, during which Austin was first alligned with Vince and Angle and later turned on the WW(F/E) and started leading the alliance - again, as a heel. Simply put, Stone Cold Steve Austin was no longer The Rattlesnake. He was still cool, but he was human. He was making Angle look good, laying down for Jericho, and giving way to Triple H in the royal rumble.

Meanwhile, The Rock was at his peak. After the Austin heel turn, Rock left to film his first movie, gaining him some mainstream attention. Then he returned more hyped than ever, was the face of the company all summer(again, Austin was a heel), carrying the show as he fought off The Alliance - and pinning Austin in the middle of the ring to end The Invasion. Then he beat The Undertaker at No Way Out before starting his fued with Hogan.

So, we give the easy edge to Rock in raw popularity and drawing power. If you were talking about who was more popular or who would have the bigger match in their prime, that's a hell of a debate. At WrestleMania 18, in 2002, it's not even close. Now, if you care about wrestling ability, that's even less close. Austin was a year away from retirement because he physically couldn't wrestle anymore and wouldn't have been able to produce anything remotely similiar to what Rock did with Hogan. The guy above me said Hogan-Austin would've been the Star of the Past vs. the Star of now. That's a great point - Hogan-Rock was the the Star of the Past vs. the Star of now. That's what made it great. Austin-Hogan would've been the Star of the Past vs. the Star of the Older Past. While good, it doesn't have the same feel to it.

And just to reiterate, Austin had spent the better part of the last year as a heel! How in the world can people say he wouldn't have been booed like Rock? That's crazy to me. Honestly, if Hogan-Austin would've been the match, I bet they would've had Austin be the heel and Hogan the face going into the match, so Austin definitely would've got all the boos.

In summary, the answer is no, and frankly this is an indisputable fact for the reasons I listed above. Sorry, but it's true.

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