Jim Ross shoots on Stone Cold Steve Austin vs HHH

For over forty years Jim Ross has been the Voice of Wrestling. From starting as referee in the regional territories to becoming the Executive Vice President for WWE, nobody has a story quite like Jim Ross. From recruiting and hiring some of the biggest superstars in the industry to providing the soundtrack for the most important moments in wrestling history, “Good Ole JR” was there for it all. Join us every Thursday morning as Conrad Thompson grills JR like you’ve never heard before, uncut and uncensored!
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[@Lev-rl1bn]

Best rivalry and some of the best storylines… 👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️

[@Rschr101]

Austin should have went over here. He needed a big win on ppv and didnt get one until the Rumble. His return was so lackluster in 2000. Being the biggest star they had, Austin was able to rise above Stephanie's BRUTAL creative.

[@melvinbagby4221]

He might not have 'won' PPVs, but he was a holy terror on Raw and Smackdown in ring and in promos. There's whole channels with just those promos.

[@robgbaby]

I dont think anybody came out of this PPV thinking of Austin as anything but the 'winner' based on the finish.

[@Sachin_C10]

Legendary old WWF rivalry used to air on Star sports especially 1999-2001.

[@diondupreejr4941]

I love the ending of him dropping the car while triple h in the car i call it revenge for Austin

[@iztheillest]

What puzzles me is that why’d they have such an epic rivalry only to team up in 01?

[@TheDirtySouth404]

That Triple H PPV stat is very interesting

[@Rschr101]

*disturbing

[@TheDirtySouth404]

@@Rschr101 only because you probably don’t like HHH

[@lordvader450]

It wrong. He lost on ppv in 97, 98 and 99 and not just from the rock.

[@ajk]

@@lordvader450 It's true, in 99 alone, Chyna pinned him at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Austin pinned him in a Triple Threat at the UK No Mercy, and Big Show pinned him to win the title at Survivor Series, so that stat is 100% wrong, it happened 3 times that year. Didn't happen otherwise beyond the Rock, but it nonetheless did then.

[@markrobinson9394]

PPV stats really don't make a wrestler though. For example, Mankind never beat Rock for the title on PPV in 1998-99, yet he was always booked as the stronger of the two on the weekly shows. Thus, the two appeared as equals. In contrast, Rey Mysterio was winning his title matches on PPV in 2006, but his non-title losses and beatdowns on the weekly shows made him one of the weakest World Champions in WWE history. Despite all the PPV wins, Triple H wasn't booked like a star until July 1999. From there, he was one of the most protected Superstars in company history, all the way up until his injury in 2001.

[@crushthecrushermachinewwel6500]

Stone cold is bad ass

[@daysgonesequel]

Just FYI triple h did get pinned by big show at survivor series 1999 to lose the belt

[@ChaseBAmerica1st]

HHH thought he was bigger then Austin. He was basically Jeff jarrett

[@billybadass3056]

LMAO definitely not a fan of paul but don't do that to him XD....

[@MR.__G]

Jeff could never get you invested in a storyline like triple h could. He made us hate him as kids. That was great heel work on his end.

[@Thex-W.I.T.C.H.-xMaster]

Trips never put over anyone because he didn't have two. He was that damn good.

[@jermaineobrien6378]

He's the reason the ratings are down

[@markjefferson2434]

It just seems like HHH got there fast like overnight. Not that he didn’t deserve it; but the timing seemed premature at the time

[@tomwells8093]

Stat is wrong about Triple H not losing a PPV from 96-2001. HHH lost the title to The Rock at Backlash 2000 earlier in the year. Crowd was going mad because Stone Cold was there and Rock was finally a babyface winning the championship. Who writes these things and does anyone check it before quoting unresearched crap.

[@christiansoldier77]

Tom Wells He said except the Rock

[@christiansoldier77]

Rock vs HHH was better than Austin HHH

[@Lyfeastrey]

AEW IS JUST A STUNT SHOW THO

[@davidaames1624]

Everytime HHH 'jobbed' an angel got his wings😂😂😂😂😂

[@Drdoncombs]

I remember that Stunner into neckbreaker reversal. One of the best reversals I’ve ever seen till this day!

[@neckutter]

I loved the finish. I paid $ for a kick ass match and that’s what they gave me. I can see pinfalls all the time. I’m a TripleH mark tho

[@KingMasadaX]

Got us to imo the 2nd greatest WWF/E branded PPV event of all time imo, No Way Out 2001, so I don't care how many car spots there are I know where it leads, (greatest imo is WM 17, ECW One Night Stand '05 in my opinion is the second best in general)

[@AD-ur1fk]

Rumble 01, no way out 01, mania 17 are the greatest three straight ppvs ever

[@hellohell77]

I think that whole stat hhh didn't put anyone over on ppv since 96 was misleading and just luck. He wasn't pushed well in 96-early 97. And again through most of 99. He had great periods with dx in 98 but it was 2000 when he really took hold. And he won his 1st title BEFORE he started dating steph. I think all that hhh doesn't put anyone over and got pushes he didn't deserve was bullshit. Maybe 03-04 he was hard to handle but not before. He's one of the best heels ever. I wouldn't put him in the flair hogan rock Austin category but he's right below that. Maybe the piper, Foley, Jericho category of greatness. In an all timer he'd probably be in my top 20-25.

[@luistorres8005]

He won the title twice BEFORE he got with Steph in storyline, let alone in real life lol

[@Kingbossdon]

He is the best Heel ever in my eyes 👀 becuase he turned on everyone to get what he wanted and he told u he was gonna do it he turned on DX he turned on Shawn Michaels he turned on Kevin Nash he turned on Randy Orton. He turned on Ric Flair only person he didn't turn on was Batista he beat him to the punch

[@ZAY109]

HHH Haters are fucking idiots. He is one of the all time greats.

[@hellohell77]

@@ZAY109 well some do have good points. He was intolerable for most of the time from fall 02-spring 04 and again with the dx reunion crap in 06(although Michaels gets an assist there). But otherwise, I thought he did some good things. He was a good sidekick to Shawn in 97. Then he was the leader of dx in 98. He had good feuds with mankind and the rock in 00. Good comeback and start to the Michaels feud in 02. And he did put the invisible man and Batista over at consecutive wrestlemanias. Finally, although it took forever, his authority storyline with bryan danielson was good. He's been a part of a lot of cool moments. But, so have a lot of other greats. I'd say his coolest moments were dx invading nitro in 98, the royal rumble match against Cactus jack in 00(i can still hear the thud of him pedigreeing cactus jack onto those thumbtacks), his injury return in 02, and tapping out to the stfu in 06. Worst moments- the heel turn no one remembers at wm 15, actually beating Austin at no way out 01, wrestlemania 19 after making numerous racist remarks toward Booker, beating goldberg at ss 03 w/o using a wrestling move, and again anything involving the dx reunion crap in 06.

[@dantecarroll2435]

Stop it he’s nowhere near Chris Jericho level of talent Jericho is a great wrestler and a great athlete triple nose was always overrated

[@jeffreyklima7612]

I'm sorry, but Jr has become a complete mark

[@xxxjoker607]

He never took a fall from Austin accept no way out 2001 2 out 3 falls

[@dantecarroll2435]

Well austin beat him twice when he was still hunter Hearst Helmsley

[@xxxjoker607]

@@dantecarroll2435 I know but it was a shame he wouldn’t do a least one job for him he was jobbed out even do Austin was the man like hogan losing to macho all time

[@TheWolvesblood6]

Austin should have been book strong going into mania. Today Triple H would agree but not if he was the one losing going into mania blind and with a loss

[@robertnolden1641]

The whole idea was austin feeling nervous about still having it. That doubt is in head is what creates the opportunity for Vince to get In Austin's head and turn him heel

[@VERDICTInsanity]

I did always wonder how it was for the live crowd when wrestlers would work themselves into places that not everyone there live can see

[@diesel8447]

Around the 2:55 mark Jr stumped me completely. If he doesn't like it because of "non traditional wrestling content" why is he working for aew? The clown show of traditional wrestling content...

[@pascruel]

A steady paycheck. Belief in the INITIAL presentation of the product (before the clown show). Another chance to work with friends...Dusty's boys. Helping said friends potentially stick it to Vince. A contract. I know it was a rhetorical question, but honestly, I'm actually glad he said it. Shows he doesn't kowtow to everything they put out. He just has to put it over.

[@rickyaguilera2301]

They should have made a tv match either raw or smackdown hhh vs Austin one more time and Austin going over enough said but Austin should have won at no way out 2001 as well

[@stuartday1330]

So is Ross saying that Triple H not putting anyone over on a ppv since 96' was coincidental?

[@Armando316]

Austin should have gone over at No Way Out imo.

[@DOHCtorJ]

More ads please.

[@countdracula436]

JR is coping. The in-ring Triple H, and the locker room Triple H were DIRECTLY related. Triple H did work hard and take serious bumps but to deny that he was favored is either incompetence or outright denial.

[@Rschr101]

Eventually Hunter is going to be running that place full time. JR knows this and wants to keep his options open.

[@countdracula436]

@@Rschr101 very true, good point

[@labbaby189]

@@Rschr101 I heard JR tell a story where he was at a point he thought WWE would never hire him again because of something he said or did, then they rehire him some time after. JR is an old school cat, I wouldn't think he would be trying to save face for a company that he doesn't work for... especially if he already has a job.

[@Laid2Sleep]

He’s lying

[@rhyde]

This was an awesome match. Not sure why JR is even complaining about it. I disagree that fans want to see wrestling. I think most fans want to see ENTERTAINMENT, whether that’s wrestling or whatever else. This Austin HHH match at Survivor Series was very memorable.

[@darthsebio1726]

Thank god those aew stunt heavy shows have stopped👍😁

[@pc8679]

One of my all time favorite matches

[@Cre8Lounge]

I never saw it.

[@pc8679]

@@Cre8Lounge watch it if you can. You won't be disappointed

[@Kingbossdon]

@@pc8679 one of my favorites as well I love the ending Triple H saying holy shit classic 👌 to this day

[@Fred63205]

Win loss is what it is, but when you constantly lose like Foley did I as the fan I was could go for skipping the match entirely

[@moc9893]

I recorded this one I still have it today, back when I thought it was all real lol

[@TMBales]

I’m amazed at the criticism. This was perfect to set up the 2 of 3 falls before wm , where the loser here would win there , and vise versa

[@cathaldowdall7467]

the car thing turned me off wrestling

[@cathaldowdall7467]

SummerSlam (1997) Mankind defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (with Chyna) by escaping the cage

[@justina9137]

Austin don't do it ohhhh shiiiit

[@jessramirez1737]

During these days, Triple H was the guy who would wrestle the guy people paid to see. Like that Iron Man match against the Rock. He made sure to get 3 straight pinfalls against the Rock while Rock had to tie at 3 with a count out and a DQ. Then Triple H gets a submission. Bullshit.

[@PhilosophyofGoats]

JR... We come to see a Wrestling SHOW. Entertainment. Not a whole PPV of straight wrestling. Lol

[@kieranwillis395]

Sable also despised losing, she never lost on PPV and the next night on smackdown in 2004 pushed Torrie off her like a no sell

[@Murica08]

I don't think backstage stunt show finishes work on ppv. But they're great for weekly tv when you can finish with a dark match to send the crowd home happy.

[@Rogue615]

I only went to one live event a RAW in DC about 12 years ago and I honestly thought it looked my real in person than on TV. Also the ring announcer was pretty hot you dont see her on TV I dont think. I think you used to see the ring announcer in TV back in the day though

[@vincentpulizzijr]

Over 13 minutes of shooting arrows and keep getting it in the same spots.....

[@LordSesshomaru86]

Like the deliverance background

[@Alanthe918mobilemechanic]

U can look up win loss records for pro wrestling but it’s almost pointless

[@Alanthe918mobilemechanic]

Most guys have more loss then wins

[@patmc5474]

Smooth as silk counter to the stunner

[@4Horsemen4Life]

For as disappointing as this match may have been, 3 Stages Of Hell at No Way Out more than made up for it. A classic, brutal contest.

[@hellohell77]

Yeah, but Austin should have won. No brainer. He was going to face the rock in probably the biggest WWF match in 11 years. (The exact same date as wrestlemania 17, 11 years prior was hogan/warrior wm 6. Coincidentally, austin/rock in 01 was kind of like the attitude eras hogan/warrior match equivalent. Two biggest faces in a huge dome. Had that not been in Texas it probably would have been close to 50/50 Crowd support like it was for hogan/warrior).

[@ChadLouisNewton]

@@hellohell77 No he shouldn't have. If Austin beats HHH at No Way Out, he has no self doubt going into WM and can't justify the Heel Turn and selling his soul to Vince.

[@lordvader450]

Conrad needs to do more research. HHH lost ppv matches in 97, 98 and 99 to people other than the rock

[@guyincognito5706]

Lord Vader Isn’t the Internet great? Triple H’s sole PPV loss in 1997 was against The Rock, in 1998 lost matches as part of an 8-man match, a 6-man match, in 1999 lost to Kane at WM 15 via DQ, wasn’t involved in the decisions in triple-threats at No Mercy UK or SummerSlam, got screwed by Vince at Survivor Series, in 2000 didn’t get pinned in the 8-man at KOTR. That lines up exactly with what was said here. He didn’t put anyone over since 1996. He was either not involved in the decision, got screwed, or was DQ’d. He got out of doing the job for four years. Next time, you do more research.

[@renedl22]

Global Warning 2002

[@truthBtold1212]

I like JR, but get off triple h's nuts He was not a great heel. He was terrible for the business. He was terrible for the company. And he did nothing but hold the WWE down for years. By refusing to take a loss and keeping him in his stupid friends in main event matches. This was the era that ruined wrestling for me and I have not watched since

[@matthewalkman3735]

Thanks captain obvious JR always stating the obvious

[@SG-qx1fg]

Then don’t watch? Why be a dickhead

[@Wolversquall]

HHH was just a buffer between a rock vs Austin rivalry . He didn’t really pull his own weight against either of them . Just there so it’s wasn’t those two 24/7 and fans being dried out on it

[@MR.__G]

He was actually the perfect heel to both of them. No one would’ve made it look that real at that time. As great as the undertaker was his character was never built off doing whatever it takes to get what he wants. That’s what made the triple h character so great & convincing. It looked like he really hated Austin & Rock which was great storytelling. Even his feuds with mick & hbk were fantastic.

[@tomwells8093]

Triple H performed much better in the ring then either Rock or Austin. Who were average at best. His promo stuff wasn't as good obviously but he was decent. Played a very good bad guy which is exactly what WWF needed

[@ivanr6203]

Wasn't Austin out for a year who carried the company? Rock and HHH

[@chadgronsten9023]

It always seemed like HHH was pushed to hard. No one ever thinks of him as a top self material.

[@DmanDice]

Nope. No great name in wrestling thinks so. And no huge fan from the 90s.

[@chadgronsten9023]

His deal was nepotism. HHH isn’t a Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Austin, Lesnar, or Goldberg. He wasn’t ever as big the above mentioned. That being said still in impressive athlete in his day for sure.

[@DmanDice]

@@chadgronsten9023 I meant nope as in, no one thinks hes a top guy. I tried to agree confusingly. Yeah I agree with your second comment too. He has just enough plausible deniability to fool a lot of people though. He was a "company man" long before he made his Steph relationship public. You can tell when someone is "pushed" hard especially if its beyond their talent.

[@DmanDice]

@@chadgronsten9023 I admit Rock and Austin was "pushed" hard too. But they had talent. HHH always felt like he was riding someones coat tails and force fed to us.

[@chadgronsten9023]

For sure.

[@Dessan01]

I always though Austin HHH was a pretty boring match, but it was mainly down to Hunter.

[@GorditoCrunch343]

Their No Way Out 2001 match is a classic. They could have kept that feud going further, the build for it was excellent.

[@Rschr101]

Hunter had no charisma and basically walked thru all his matches.

[@danl2136]

@@GorditoCrunch343 They were booked to fued again but Triple H got his quad injury.

[@Kingbossdon]

@@GorditoCrunch343 i wish they would do a booking like that again the build up to that 3 stages of hell match was awesome 👌 Triple H Stone Cold 🥶 couldn't touch each other if they did Austin loses his Title Shot at Wrestlemaina-X17 and Triple H gets suspended for 6 months they need to bring this back with hated rivals do u know how much better it would be

[@nicholasbryant1753]

Like him or not, HHH was the best worker of that era.

[@sneezintits2354]

JBL!