The Rock remembers Stone Cold's emotional farewell at WrestleMania XIX

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson opened his heart in a conversation with Mark Kerr for Sports Illustrated, recalling one of the most symbolic moments in WWE history: the night Stone Cold Steve Austin bid farewell to the ring at WrestleMania XIX.

Johnson revealed that Austin was not obligated to lose that match, but he did so anyway, following the tradition of putting over the next figure before leaving. For The Rock, it was a gesture of respect that marked his career forever.

That was his last match. I had the honor of being in the ring with him at that moment. The right thing to do when you leave is to lose and pass the torch. And he didn't have to do it. He was the biggest wrestling star, but he did it. He put me over.

The encounter ended with The Rock delivering three Rock Bottoms. As he covered Austin for the three count, Johnson leaned in towards Austin and they shared a private moment: "I told him 'I love you, brother,' and he replied 'I love you too'".

The Rock also revealed that the historic rivalry they both starred in at WrestleMania was not a corporate idea, but a personal decision by Austin. "I wasn't in a position to ask for it. It was he who went to Vince McMahon and said: 'I want to headline WrestleMania with The Rock'", he explained.

A moment that marked an era

Although Austin surprised fans by returning in 2022 for a match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, the 2003 match in Seattle continues to be remembered as the most iconic closure of his original career. For many, that moment symbolizes the brotherhood and respect between two of the greatest legends in the industry.

The duel between Stone Cold and The Rock at WrestleMania XIX was the third and final installment of their trilogy on the grandest stage of all. With both already turned into global icons, the match transcended the result: it became a shared legacy that still excites fans today and solidified Johnson as the heir of the Attitude era.