On this date in WWF history: The Rock vs Stone Cold in one of the greatest dueling promos of all time

by Jesse Holland on Nov 12, 2011 10:00 AM EST in History

What's the difference between a 13-minute match and a 13-minute promo? There are no rest holds in a promo. So imagine how good you have to be to flap your gums for that long and not bore the audience or viewers at home.

Then try doing it in tune with someone else.

A dueling promo, much like a pro wrestling match, is as good or bad as the talent behind it. So what should you expect when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin go head-to-head on the November 12, 2001, edition of Monday Night RAW?

The video above speaks for itself.

I'm not a big fan of today's shoot-style promo, or the constant interruptions, or the look-how-serious-we-are shtick. This is pro wrestling, chew the goddamn scenery once in awhile.

Anyone out there disagree?

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Comments

AWESOME!

Follow @kjbrophy

by The Legend on Nov 12, 2011 10:37 AM EST reply actions

How much of this

letting two fan favourites chew the scenery for 13 minutes (and sing Margaritaville!) had to do with the tragic and, at the time somewhat scary and mysterious, crashing of American Airlines flight 587 earlier that day in Queens NY?

It seemed like fanservice to me at the time. The best possible kind.

Who wants to save the world? That's what misers do...

by theloupgaroukid on Nov 12, 2011 11:14 AM EST reply actions

That was epic. Reminiscing about when the WWE was good is always cool.

by E-ROC on Nov 12, 2011 12:00 PM EST reply actions

I'd take two hours of this over most of what they offer today

you sss sss ssuuuumbitch

Maslow's theory of higher needs does not apply to Patrick Willis. He only has two needs: tackling people and finding people to tackle.

by 49erLou on Nov 12, 2011 12:33 PM EST reply actions

Sss sss ssuuuuuumbitch was hilarious.

I liked whooooooowhaaaaa whooowwhaaaa

by E-ROC on Nov 12, 2011 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Best mic presence of all time vs. the best character of all time. Never before never again? That wasn’t Survivor Series 2011, that was Rock/Austin 1998-2003. Thanks for reminding us of this awesome segment JEsse!

by NikhilBaliga on Nov 12, 2011 1:07 PM EST reply actions

You know these guys are immaculate when they don’t break even once the entire time. I would have been laughing my ass off.

by 8bitDan on Nov 12, 2011 1:25 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Great find Jesse.

“You called this a beer belly. A beer belly. A beer belly. That aint no beer belly, that’s a fuel tank for a whoop ass machine”

"I want to feel Nick Diaz’ finger in me. To feel his load blow all over my face would make life complete for me – Then I’ll spit it back into BJ’s mouth and we can all have a sexy party"

by *Californication* on Nov 12, 2011 1:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Such a fucking awesome line.

Stone Cold is the best of all time.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Nov 12, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

That line made the promo!

Here’s an idea for the WWE Network: air these post shows promos where they goof off for the audience!

Like this bit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rEVY0dZwVk

by Mr. Sunny Days on Nov 12, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

That brings back some great memories.

Much thanks.

by GunShark on Nov 13, 2011 2:23 AM EST reply actions

The more things change...

Great clip of once in a lifetime talents. I hope these “greatest feuds” DVDs get around to Rock-Austin soon, and that they make it a multi-disc set to include a ton of promo work.

But it also reminds me that, for all the bitchin’ and moanin’ Internet fans do about WWE blowing angles like the Nexus or Summer of Punk II, it’s nothing new. The WCW invasion should have been the hottest angle of all time, the culmination of the Monday Night Wars – and it turned into a bunch of WWF/E guys feuding with each other, with a SCSA heel turn that nobody was buying.

by s1rude on Nov 13, 2011 9:37 AM EST reply actions