[1997-12-15-WWF-Raw] Steve Austin and The Rock

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Rock is getting more over by the week and has already developed into an excellent promo. Quite the turnaround in a short period of time. They set the first seeds for the Faarooq feud, when he tries to get in a line and Rock says "With all due respect, the champ is talking." He talks about Austin stealing the IC belt and demands that he come out now to return it. Austin tells Rock he's in over his head and Rock gives Austin one hour to come out with Rock's property. I like the seeds planted with Rock and Faarooq.

[Kevin Ridge]

Rock putting his claim against Honky as the greatest IC champion of all time. Rock cuts off Faarooq as he was trying to say something! Faarooq did not look happy. Rock wants his belt back from Austin. Steve has different plans.

[soup23]

Rock was great in his promo here and he does plant the seed for his dissension from the Nation. He gives Austin an hour to return his property. We know how well Austin follows rules.

[PeteF3]

Seeing the Rock start to coalesce into his more familiar form, week by week, is almost more fun than watching the rise of Stone Cold and the birth of the McMahon feud, since even at this point a lot of people were still skeptical of him. A few of the catchphrases are forming, the People's Eyebrow is now here, and he has some great bug-eyed responses to both the crowd chants and Austin's trash talk.

[Exposer]

The Nation come out & Rock demands that Austin return his IC Title to him. Faarooq tries to get a word in, but Rock says "With all due respect, the Champ is talking." Great moment that plants the seeds for the Rock-Faarooq feud. I loved Faarooq's reaction to that & his continued displeasure for the rest of the segment. Austin comes out & talks trash. Rock gives him one hour to the return the belt or The Nation are going to be on the hunt. Rock is a great promo by this point. Good segment.