The Austin Era-Part 3-2001 through 2003 Quiz

Answer: Third

Austin won the "Royal Rumble" for the third time, and as a result he earned the right to face The Rock at "Wrestlemania X-7." Austin is the only three time "Royal Rumble" winner in the event's sixteen year history; he also won it in 1997 and 1998. Austin is also one of only three men to win the "Royal Rumble" in consecutive years joining Hulk Hogan (1990 and 1991 winner) and Shawn Michaels (1995 and 1996 winner).

Answer: It had 3 different matches in one

Triple H was behind the whole plan to run down Austin at the "Survivor Series" back in 1999 even though Rikishi was behind the wheel. The first fall was a regular wrestling match. The second fall was a Street Fight. The third fall was a Cage Match Here is the outcome of each of the falls.
Winner of first fall (Steve Austin)
Winner of the second fall (Triple H)
Winner of third and final fall (Triple H)

On a side note the match is part of the Steve Austin "What?" DVD as a bonus match. It was considered one of the best matches of 2001.

Answer: Vince McMahon

Late in the match Vince gave Austin a chair and Austin hit the Rock multiple times with it. After he pinned him he shook hands with McMahon as a shocked crowd looked on.

Answer: Four

Austin's first partner was Shawn Michaels. They won the titles in May of 1997, when they defeated Owen Hart and the British Bulldog after Michaels hit the Bulldog with his "Sweet Chin Music" and Austin pinned him. After they won the titles Austin said "I did it by myself," and this didn't make Michaels very happy and because of what Austin said, they were always arguing.

At the "King Of The Ring," they had a one on one match, and it was ruled a no contest when things got out of control. They would end up vacating the Tag Team Titles.

His next partner was Dude Love. Let me give you a rundown of how this happened. Mankind wanted to be Austin's partner and he did everything he could to win him over. He saved him from attacks and even had a sign with him that said "Pick Me Steve." After saving him from another attack Austin shook his hand, but Mankind wanted a hug so Austin gave him a hug and then gave him a "Stone Cold Stunner." The next week Austin said he didn't need a partner and went out to face the WWF Tag Team Champions (Bulldog and Owen) alone. Austin got in trouble and Dude Love came down to join the match.

They would end up winning the Tag Team Titles, but had to forfeit them, when Austin got hurt at "Summerslam." Austin and Dude Love had two one on one matches. In the first one, Austin got disqualified but held on to the WWF Heavyweight Championship. In the second one, Vince McMahon was the referee. Dude Love tried to hit Austin with a chair, but Austin moved out of the way and McMahon got hit with it instead. Austin gave Dude a "Stone Cold Stunner." He then took McMahon's hand and forced him to make a three count with it; both of these matches happened in 1998. His next partner was The Undertaker. They won the Tag Team Titles from Kane and Mankind in July of 1998, but lost them in August back to Kane and Mankind. At "Summerslam," Austin and Undertaker had a match for the WWF Heavyweight Championship. It was a successful title defense for Austin. As for Austin and Triple H they lost the titles to Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit on May 21st. Triple H would tear his quad in this match and be out of action for about eight months.

Answer: Raw

That Thursday on "Smackdown," they had a rematch, which ended in Austin walking away with the championship...on a side note, Austin lists the "Smackdown" match as one of his favorites. At the "King of the Ring," Austin defended the title in a Triple Threat Match against Jericho and Benoit. Once again, Austin walked away with the championship.

Not long after this, Benoit would have neck surgery that would keep him out of action until sometime in the middle of 2002.

Answer: Kurt Angle

Angle won the match by disqualification. After a reign of almost six months, Austin finally lost the title to Angle on September 23rd. Angle, who won a Gold Medal in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, won the title less than two weeks after the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center on September 11th. Austin won the title for the sixth and final time on October 8th.

Answer: Five

Here are the members of those teams. The Alliance (Austin, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon, and Kurt Angle). Team WWF (The Rock, Kane, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and The Big Show). The Rock and Austin where the last two men in the ring. Kurt Angle ran down to the ring, interfered in the match, and helped secure the win for Team WWF.

Answer: Chris Jericho

Jericho would lose the title to Triple H at "Wrestlemania X-8" on March 17, 2002.

Answer: Scott Hall

Kevin Nash came down to the ring and tried to help Hall, but Austin fought him off and gave him a "Stone Cold Stunner." He then gave Hall a "Stunner" to pick up the win.

Answer: Raw

On April Fools Day, Vince McMahon who was the owner of "Smackdown" and Ric Flair, who was the owner of "Raw" came down to the ring with exclusive contracts for their respective brands. Austin came down to the ring and listened as the two men tried to convince Austin to sign with them.

It looked like he was going to sign with McMahon, but Austin said "April Fools" and gave McMahon a "Stone Cold Stunner." He then took out a pen and signed with "Raw". Flair got excited and kept saying "Stone Cold is on Raw! Whooo!" Austin gave Flair a beer and wanted Flair to toast him, but Flair kept running his mouth about Austin being on "Raw". Finally, Austin got tired of Flair trying to upstage him gave him a "Stone Cold Stunner." For the next couple of weeks Flair went out of his way to be nice to him, but Austin didn't give him the same respect. Finally, Flair had enough and turned on him during a tag team match with members of the nWo. Flair said Austin had to face himself and The Big Show at the next Pay Per View in a Handicap Match. Somehow, Austin beat the odds and won the match, but the next night Flair told Austin he was "benched."

Answer: Ric Flair

Just prior to his walkout Austin was on the internet show "Byte This." In the interview he said that he was not happy with the creative direction of the WWE nor that of his wrestling persona. On June 3rd, he faced and defeated Ric Flair in the main event of "Raw." The next week "Raw" live from Atlanta, Georgia; and Austin was slated to face Brock Lesnar but he got on a plane. Jim Ross called Austin on his cell phone and tried to talk Austin into getting off the plane, but Austin said that he made up his mind and flew back home to Texas. On "Confidential," a story was done on Austin's walkout.

In the story Vince McMahon said that the door was not open for Austin to return. The following Monday, McMahon came out and gave a very heartfelt speech thanking Austin for all he had done for the WWE and the fans. Austin was not seen or heard from for the rest of 2002 and it looked like the career of one of the greatest superstars in WWE history was over. On July 15th, McMahon named Eric Bischoff as the General Manager of "Raw." In early 2003, McMahon showed up on "Raw" to tell Bischoff that he needed to grab "Raw" "By the throat," and gave him thirty days to turn things around.

The next week, Bischoff said there was only one man who could turn things around, and that the that was Stone Cold Steve Austin. To entice Austin to come back, Bischoff invited Austin to "No Way Out," and played a video for Austin. Set to the tune of "My Sacrifice" by Creed, the video showed highlights of him in action as he talked about how much he loved the fans and the wrestling business. Bischoff went to Texas to find Austin the next week. His first stop was Austin's house, and a friend of Austin's told him that Austin was at a bar. Bischoff went to the bar but Austin was not there and people told him that he was at another bar. Bischoff went to the other bar but Austin wasn't there either and a guy there told Bischoff that if he didn't sign Austin he would be fired. Bischoff got mad at the guy and attacked him. The next week Bischoff told Jim Ross that he didn't think Ross did enough to help him sign Austin and "fired" him. Ross was in the parking lot on his cellphone trying to get in contact with Austin. At the end of the show McMahon came to the ring and told Bischoff to join him. McMahon asked Bischoff if he signed Austin. Bischoff said no and McMahon "fired" him. He then asked the new General Manager to come out, but Jim Ross came out instead and told McMahon that Austin would be at "No Way Out." McMahon rehired Bischoff on the condition that Bischoff kiss McMahon's backside. Bischoff couldn't bring himself to do it, so McMahon said that Bischoff would be facing Austin at "No Way Out." Austin defeated Bischoff and won the match. As a side note, it was Eric Bischoff, who fired Austin from WCW in 1995, saying Austin did not have what it takes to be a crowd pleaser and main eventer. I guess he proved him wrong.

Answer: The Rock Concert

Eric Bischoff banned Austin from the building at the start of "Raw." Austin chose to sit in his truck in the parking lot. Bischoff sent Chief Morley out to oversee the instalment of some speakers so Austin could hear the Rock's Concert. The Rock came to the ring with a Willie Nelson autographed guitar and sang insulting (but very funny) songs about Sacramento ("Raw" was live from there), the Sacramento Kings, and Austin. All of a sudden Austin's music hit and his truck pulled up in the isle way, but it was not Austin driving the truck.

It was The Hurricane, who defeated the Rock the previous week when Austin distracted him. The Rock had The Hurricane arrested and continued singing. What he didn't know was that Austin was hiding in the back of the truck. Austin ran to the ring, attacked The Rock, and stomped on his guitar.

The Rock and Austin would have a match at "Wrestlemania XIX."

Answer: Rock

The Rock finally got a win over Austin at "Wrestlemania" after losing their first two matches (XV and X-7).

Answer: "You're fired!"

Austin came out and said he wanted a rematch with The Rock. Bischoff came out and said that he would not be wrestling anyone anytime soon. Bischoff then read a copy of a medical report concerning Austin's neck problems. In the report Austin's doctor said he could not clear him to wrestle. Bischoff then "fired" Austin.

At the end of April Linda McMahon, named Austin as the Co-General Manager of "Raw."

Answer: All of these

Austin got right to work pulling the Intercontinental Title out of a briefcase and and setting up a Battle Royal for the title at "Judgment Day." Christian would win it. He then rehired Jim Ross who quit because he was tired of Bischoff. Bischoff didn't like the fact that Austin had done this and they argued about it. It was finally agreed upon that Jerry Lawler would wrestle Chief Morley. If Lawler won Ross would get his job back. It looked bleak when Morley set Lawler up for the "Money Shot," but Ross pushed him of the top rope. Lawler then went to the top and came down with a fist drop for the win. At the end of Austin's first night as Co-General Manager Of "Raw," Austin held a beer bash with about fifty people including Goldberg.

Thanks for taking my series of quizzes about Austin, and I hope you enjoyed them.