Stone Cold Joins Forces With Vince McMahon (2001)

The WWE’s Attitude Era was built on the understanding that Vince McMahon hated Stone Cold Steve Austin and vice versa. They were arch nemeses like Batman and the Joker, forever intertwined in mutual disdain… until WrestleMania X7.

Stone Cold challenged The Rock for the WWF title in Houston, Texas, the Rattlesnake’s home state. A brutal battle ensued, with the superstars bloodying each other with weapons and landing finishing maneuver after finishing maneuver.

Late into the match, McMahon strutted down to ringside, and pulled Rock off of Austin as the Brahma Bull went for a cover following a Rock Bottom.

No one knew why.

Shortly thereafter, Austin called for Vince to bring him a chair, which he proceeded to repeatedly nail The Rock with. It took several chair shots and false finishes for Stone Cold to pin the champ, until the evil deed was finally done.

As The Chairman and Austin shook hands, WWF commentator Jim Ross was beside himself, delivering a handful of trademark “GOD ALMIGHTY’s” and “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD’s,” while berating Austin for “shaking hands with Satan.”

It was truly a jaw dropping surreal moment that only an unexpected turn could deliver.