WWE: The Rock’s Best Matches, Ranked

Highlights

• The Rock’s matches against The Sultan, Mankind, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and Triple H were some of his best in WWE.
• The Rock’s match against John Cena at WrestleMania 23 was a celebrated encounter in wrestling history.
• The Rock’s legendary feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin culminated in an epic match at WrestleMania 17.

The WWE is the birthplace of many superstars who put on a show every week in nearly every country around the world with immeasurable excitement and action. The names that erupt from World Wrestling Entertainment go on to be legends in their field to millions of fans that tune in to watch their favorite superstar go head to head in the ring. However, there is no other wrestler to rise through the ranks and become the most electrifying man in sports entertainment: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

The Rock has had an unforgettable career both in and outside the ring, but during his time as the people’s champ, he captured the hearts of the entire WWE fandom and proved he was the best. The Rock faced off against some of the biggest names in the sport and never left less than one hundred percent in the ring, taunting his opponents to just bring. While some of the most exciting moments for The Rock happen on the big screen now with the Fast and Furious franchise along with high-octane action movies, The Rock’s presence will never be forgotten in the WWE. Here are some of the Rock’s best matches in WWE.

8 The Rock Vs. The Sultan

CagedMatch Rating: 3.2

• A Team Up Of Father And Son
• WrestleMania 13

The Rock is thought of as Mr. Wrestlemania and is a tremendous force when walking down the ramp during any event. However, the Rock was not always the powerhouse headliner, and at his first Wrestlemania debut, he was quite the underdog.

Facing off against the Sultan Solofa Fatu, also known as Rakishi, both men put on a big show for the crowd. The Rock was bested in this match, but what elevated the match to a spectacular showing was that The Rock’s father came to his aid as the Sultan and the Iron Sheik assaulted the Rock after the match ended. Together, father and son beat back their abusers and stood triumphantly in the middle of the ring.

7 The Rock Vs. Mankind

CagedMatch Rating: 7.7

• Both Stars Pushed To Their Limit
• RAW is WAR #293

The Rock’s talent transcends the rules of World Wrestling Entertainment as he can go from crowd favorite to monumental heel in the blink of an eye. One of the most memorable arcs of the Rock’s career is his corporate champion persona that looked down on the fans, his opponents, and the entire WWE roster from tinted sunglasses. This arc sparked a rivalry between a long-time friend, Mankind, which came to a head in a bloody title match at Survivor Series pay-per-view.

6 The Rock Vs. The Undertaker

CagedMatch Rating: 6.25

• Rakishi Sabotages Two Of The Greats
• RAW is WAR #280

At the height of Rocky-mania and the peak of the attitude era of WWE, fans were always treated to extraordinary main events, even at regular showings. On a late night on Raw is War, the Rock faced off against the Undertaker and blew the roof off of the event hall.

At the time, the Rock was drawing his Bronco bull persona, and the phenom was riding Harley’s as the American Badass moniker. The two juggernauts gave each other their best, with both a chokeslam and a People’s Elbow landing clean, but an intervention between a third party would send the night into disarray.

5 The Rock Vs. Kurt Angle

CagedMatch Rating: 7.7

• The People’s Champs Bests The Olympic Athlete
• Now Way Out (2001)

One Of The Most Technical Matches In The Rocks Career was against the Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle. A heated rivalry had finally come to a close for the WWE Championship at the No Way Out pay preview.

What started with a cold and intense stare-down quickly rose to a slobber knocker of a contest between two spectacular performers. Kurt Angle matched the Rock blow for blow but ultimately was bested by the People’s Champ.

4 The Rock Vs. Triple H Featuring Sean Michaels

CagedMatch Rating: 5.3

• The Rock Faces Insurmountable Odds
• SmackDown #2

Perhaps the only other name in the wrestling world that carries as much weight as the Rock, Triple H has proven for more than thirty years that he is one, if not the best, in the ring, on the emic, and in the WWE locker room.

On several occasions, the fan-favorite Triple H has shifted the entire foundation of the WWE by himself. With a special Guest referee, the Rock stepped into the ring against the cerebral assassin and took on the entire corporate ladder from D-Generation X to Vince McMahon himself.

3 The Rock Vs. John Cena Wrestlemania 23

CagedMatch Rating: 7.7

• Ruthless Aggression Meets The Attitude Era
• WrestleMania 23

John Cena is one of the most iconic wrestlers in WWE and has proven time and time again that he is unstoppable when he gets into the ring. But to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Rock quickly stepped in to cut Cena’s reign short. The two would meet on the grandest stage of them all and have one of the most celebrated matches in Wrestlemania history.

The Rock and John Cena both shed blood, sweat, and tears until the final moments when the Great One stood victorious. The two would meet once again for a rematch, but it did not quite add up to the experience of their first encounter.

2 The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hogan

CagedMatch Rating: 6.1

• Hulkamania And The Great One Blow The Roof Off The Arena
• WrestleMania 18

In a match made in heaven, two of the most synonymous names in wrestling would meet head-to-head in the ring for the first time ever. Wrestlemania 18 was one of the most polarizing events in WWE’s history and captured lightning in a bottle with every match scheduled that night.

However, when the Rock and NWO era Hogan met face to face, the energy inside the building could not be contained. In spectacular fashion, the Rock gave everything he had in the tank and showed his true athleticism but could not overcome the sensation of Hulkamania.

1 The Rock Vs. Stone Cold

CagedMatch Rating: 9.3

• One Of The Greatest Matches Between The Greatest Superstars In The WWE
• WrestleMania 17

When fans talk about the history of the WWE, there are a short few that are brought up constantly as iconic moments that stand above the rest. Mankind falling from the steel cage and Edge and Mick Folly’s hardcore match, to name a few, stand as moments made in history. Another of these moments is the bitter rivalry between Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock.

No competition between two wrestlers has ever measured up since these two men met in the ring at Wrestlemania 19, bringing their year-long feud to a climax that pushed both men to their absolute limit. The Rock proved himself the most electrifying man in sports entertainment in one night and cemented himself and his legacy forever.