Who was better: Rock or Austin

[Bad News Gertner]

Overall, who was better. Tough question. Looking at the complete package: wrestling ability, drawing power, mic skills, accomplishments, crossover appeal, legacy. Whowas better: Rock or Austin?

[The Condor]

It's early, I'm tired and do not feel like elaborating with a Noid post. Therefore, it is Austin, in my humble opinion.

[BILLO]

I'm gonna sit on the fence. Can't pick one.

[MoFo]

Rock beats him in all catagories in OP.

Maybe on a par with each other in drawing power and legacy.

[seapig4]

I'd say Austin but it really is a toss up, I'd say Austin has the edge in wrestling ability, I'll give Rock the crossover appeal, mic skills are about equal, drawing power is probably equal. Accomplishments and legacy I'd probably say Austin but some of that is because he was the tits as stunning Steve Austin whereas Rocky Maivia was shitty.

[road doggy dogg]

I think Austin truly had the bigger "impact" on the wrestling industry. During the sport's popularity during the Hogan era, wrestling was largely seen as a pretty campy, niche market that wasn't really entirely accepted mainstream. The Attitude era, with Austin in particular, really gave the industry a much-needed rub in the everyday working man's vernacular. No longer was it just some dudes in tights fighting pretend bad guys; now it was the proverbial blue-collared everyman voicing his dissent against "the man" (Vince). Austin made wrestling appealing to an entirely new demographic. Rock was certainly a large part of the Attitude era's success and popularity, but he merely built upon the upsurge in popularity whereas Austin was the catalyst that created it.

In terms of pure wrestling ability, I have to give Austin the edge here. Rock has definitely worked at his craft and improved over the years, to his credit, but Austin to me was slightly more technical. And IMO Austin/Bret at WM13 is better than any match Rock has ever done. I think Austin was a better storyteller in-ring than Rock.

It just "feels" like Austin has had more iconic moments. Rock definitely had some memorable times himself, the whole Rock/Mankind feud is one of my personal all-time favourites. But the monster trucks, zamboni, beer baths, Austin/McMahon feud... I mean, it's hard to think of 21st century wrestling without an iconic image of Austin providing the backdrop.

And, more of a personal preference, I just thought Austin's catchphrases were "better" than Rock's. I think Rock had much more natural charisma, but I think Austin "did more with less", so to speak. It's debatable if that's actually a knock against Rock or not, but I felt myself enjoying Austin's catchphrases more than Rock's.

Crossover appeal, I think Rock wins that one pretty handily.

I think Austin was more of the pioneer, and Rock did much more to sustain and continue that growth. Both were crucial in the rise of wrestling's prominece over the past 15 years, but at different phases, I guess.

OH and one last point. Stone Cold Stunner >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Rock Bottom

[Shisen Kopf]

STONE COLD, STONE COLD, STONE COLD...brrr, got my AC set too high. The Rock is the right answer.

[Ultra Mantis]

What?

[Dude Marsh]

Austin. I don't see why people say The Rock is superior when it comes to talking. They just have different styles. Austin sound more real, in my opinion. Austin was a better wrestler. I would say The Rock is a better seller than Austin, and has a better crossover appeal. But overall, I'm going with Austin.

[dronepool]

*Jim Ross screaming his ass off*

STONE COLD, STONE COLD, STONE COLD!

[HTrain90]

Not only is Austin better than The Rock, but Austin is the GOAT. He is the biggest draw the business has ever seen, and will ever see. No one will ever make WWE mainstream the way Stone Cold. His character was perfect for the times.

I will say, however, that a piece of Austin's greatness is the supporting cast he had. It would be impossible to keep him as hot as he was for as long as he was without consistently feeding him great, balanced feuds. From Bret Hart to Vince McMahon to Mick Foley to Undertaker to Rock to Triple H, Austin always had a great worker who made him look like a million bucks. So it's hard to separate Austin from The Rock, because they were both so instrumental in the WWE's ascendance in the Attitude Era.

That said, the answer is Stone Cold Steve Austin. The greatest monetary draw the business has ever seen.

[The Whole F'n Show]

I really enjoyed all aspects of both of them, and still think the Rock was better on the mic, but overall, as far as draw and the complete character I will pick Stone Cold every time. And that's the bottom line.:lol:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I want to go with Stone Cold Steve Austin, don't really feel like I have much new to add, but just want to stress that I always thought he was just a little bit cooler than The Rock. Austin was grit whereas The Rock was all flash and flare to me.

[Fignuts]

Rock's schtick can get stale and boring after a while. Austin was always entertaining. In fact I can't think of one single instance where I went "Man I'm really getting tired of this Austin guy."

[Lock Jaw]

I disliked Austin for the majority of his run (with the exception of being a heel vs Bret, and being a heel McMahon-Hugger), whereas I enjoyed The Rock for the majority of his run (but found him really boring when I was tired of him).

[slik]

Austin.

It's a very, very close choice but had Austin not become what he did and the Attitude era not been born, The Rock would've possibly stayed Blue Chipper Rocky Maivia.

[DrCrawford]

Austin

[Skippord]

Austin, all day every day

[ron the dial]

i still wear a stone cold shirt that i got in 8th grade. has to be austin.

[CSL]

wrestling ability: Austin

drawing power: Austin in wrestling, Rock IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE NOW

mic skills: dead heat (although this would depend on what kind of a promo you like)

accomplishments: Austin

crossover appeal: Rock

legacy: Austin

I guess Austin judging by that and I prefer Austin (wrestling wise) but they're so close/forever intertwined/both so ridiculously special etc that I couldn't really clear cut pick one of them. If I had to have one or the others career however, it would be Rock.

[Emperor Smeat]

Austin but the overall difference between the two is close. Him being the "main" guy of the Attitude Era is what puts him on the top.

Austin was better overall for wrestling skills but Rock was better as a seller.

Rock was better overall for mic skills but Austin was better using them to make feuds feel more personal.

Legacy wise, they are pretty even overall with Austin having a bigger status for wrestling accomplishments and the Rock for crossover appeal.

[DaVe]

Austin.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Austin Aries is WAY better than Man Mountain Rock.

[Asmo]

Austin. No two ways about it.

[whiteyford]

Austin, easily.

[Bad News Gertner]

Rock.

[bigmac]

Austin for me. As much as i liked the Rock i always found Austin more entertaining.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

I think if I were to watch them both now, I'd probably go with Austin because he's got more of an "adult" feel to him, but when I watched at the time, I think I preferred The Rock.

[#1-norm-fan]

Definitely Austin for me. As a character, he's right up there near Rock but he trumps Rock in wrestling ability. Just look at his WCW career and then how he completely changed his style in WWE. It's like two totally different guys and both were awesome in different ways. It seemed like whatever Austin needed to do for whatever the business called for at the time he did it effortlessly. He was just a natural.

[MoFo]

How wus Austin even a technical rassler?

kickpunchkickpunchkickpunchpunchpunchpunch
Lou Thesz Press
punchpunchpunchpunchkickpunchpunchpunch
mudhole stomps
Kick
Stunner!

Brawler not technical rassler.

[MoFo]

Also, Rock's memorial service for austin after he chucked him off the bridge > any Austin promo.

[DAMN iNATOR]

*Jim Ross screaming his ass off*

STONE COLD, STONE COLD, STONE COLD!

http://youtu.be/xZqAOiUZ3xY

[DAMN iNATOR]

But to answer the question, I give it to Rock. But only by the slimmest of margins.

[#1-norm-fan]

How wus Austin even a technical rassler?

kickpunchkickpunchkickpunchpunchpunchpunch
Lou Thesz Press
punchpunchpunchpunchkickpunchpunchpunch
mudhole stomps
Kick
Stunner!

Brawler not technical rassler.

He was not a brawler in WCW or his early WWF days.

[#1-norm-fan]

And when he did become more of a brawler, he happened to be a damn good one.

[DaVe]

http://youtu.be/xZqAOiUZ3xY

MY GOD. that was 10 straight minutes of insanity

[Curd]

Austin, because he and Shawn Michaels helped bring a bloodier atmosphere to WWE which put it closer to MMA in terms of visceral appeal.

[dronepool]

http://youtu.be/xZqAOiUZ3xY

Is that bad that every time I think of JR I think of him yelling STONE COLD! STONE COLD!

[Skippord]

i still wear a stone cold shirt that i got in 8th grade. has to be austin.
Keeping it tight

[DAMN iNATOR]

Is that bad that every time I think of JR I think of him yelling STONE COLD! STONE COLD!

Nah, it's the first thing that pops into my head too, followed closely by him berating Eric Bischoff for reading Austin's sealed medical records and removing him from the roster and then the next week he basically calls Bischoff a piece of shit, tells him fuck you I quit.