Steve Austin Says The Rock Knew WWE WrestleMania 19 Was To Be Stone Cold’s Last Match

Stone Cold Steve Austin recently made his first appearance on The Bump, WWE’s magazine style YouTube show, with The Rattlesnake talking about several memorable matches in his career.

After going into detail about working with Vince McMahon at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and the under-rated Three Stages of Hell match with Triple H at No Way Out 2001, attention switched to Austin’s WrestleMania 19 co-main event against The Rock.

The WWE Hall Of Famer was aware that the third WrestleMania outing between himself and 'The Great One' was going to be his final match, with Austin confirming that The Rock was also aware of Stone Cold's situation heading into the clash.

Austin told The Bump: “Nobody really knew this was going to be my last match; The Rock knew, and a couple of guys in management knew. I was going to go ride off into the sunset.

“I defeated The Rock two times prior at WrestleMania, and at WrestleMania 17, we rocked the house…I thought the match was good, but it could have been better.

“I love The Rock. Right there, that part in the ring, he pushes Earl Hebner out of the way and says, ‘Hey man, I appreciate everything you did for me. I just want you to know that I love you.’ I’m laying there with my eyes closed, and I said, ‘I love you, too.’ He meant it, and I meant it. Like we both said, we bring out the best in each other.”

Austin retired after the match, and has not wrestled a match since.

H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcription