If you conjure up a picture of the Attitude Era in your mind, it will have Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock at the front and center. The duo was instrumental in the success of the late 90s era of WWE. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s rivalry with The Rock is etched in every wrestling fan’s memory, as they met three times at WrestleMania. However, you may not know that Steve Austin had a major life scare before his final match with The Great One.
A day before Steve Austin geared up to face The Rock at WrestleMania 19, he thought he was having a heart attack. Subsequently, he was rushed to a hospital. Austin is no stranger to injuries that happen between the ropes, but this one had him genuinely scared for his life.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was lying in the hospital bed night before he faced The Rock
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Recalling the daunting experience in his book, ‘The Stone Cold Truth’, Austin detailed what he went through. The day before WrestleMania 19, Austin woke up feeling pain in his chest. Ignoring the pain, The Texas Rattlesnake went to the gym and worked out with Kevin Nash. It wasn’t until the cardio session that Austin’s body showed signs that something was wrong.
While he rested his foot on the bike pedal, it started twitching involuntarily. When Austin directed Nash’s attention to his foot, the latter said, “Jesus Christ!” However, the duo didn’t think much of it and made their way back to their hotel.
And that is when it hit Austin. After getting out of the elevator, Austin felt his heart throbbing in a way that was unusual. At first, the former World Champion took deep breaths to minimize the intensity of his heartbeat but to no avail. At this point, Austin was convinced that it wasn’t an anxiety attack.
“My heartbeat might be doing 160 or 180 beats per minute. It just feels like my heart’s going to jump out of my chest. I’ve been fatigued in matches before, totally out of gas and winded, but this is scaring the hell out of me. I’m sure I’m having a heart attack,” wrote Austin.
He further called the front desk for help but they put him on hold. Austin got off the phone and called back again, this time alerting them that he is having a heart attack. He recalled,“I got an emergency. This is Steve Austin and there’s something wrong with me. I need some help. I think I’m having a heart attack.”
Finally, WWE officials and doctors came to Austin’s aid, taking him to a hospital. Naturally, Austin’s condition had Vince McMahon solicitous about him and so, he spent the entire night at the hospital. Looking back, Austin wrote in his book- “So here I am, lying in the hospital in Seattle with tubes and wires hooked up to me, the night before I’m supposed to face The Rock at WrestleMania XIX. It doesn’t even seem real.”
The fact that his retirement match was just around 24 hours away seemed unreal to Austin. In his own words, it was like a “bad dream”. Austin also pointed out that he was given five IV bags of fluids due to dehydration. Drinking too many energy drinks and coffee the previous day was what led to dehydration.
Stone Cold Steve Austin got back on his feet and faced The Rock at the Grandest Stage
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While Austin was in the ambulance, he was worried about his big night with The Rock. At the same time, he was in doubt that he’d even be alive. Despite being taken to the hospital, Steve Austin substantiated why he is called the toughest SOB in the business. While fans remained unbeknownst to what happened the previous day, Austin wrestled his match full tilt at WrestleMania.
It took three Rock Bottoms for The Great One to finally pick up the win via pinfall. In the ring, The Rock and Austin shared an emotional moment where The Rock whispered to him- ‘I Thank you so much for everything that you’ve done for me. While it was Austin’s retirement match, he shocked his fans by returning to the ring last year.
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Almost two decades later, Steve Austin made his in-ring return at WrestleMania 38. The 58-year-old wrestling legend took on Kevin Owens in a riveting match, picking up the win. Not just that, he also dished out stunners to Vince McMahon, Patt McAfee, and Austin Theory, just like old times.
