Take us back to 2001.
While one of my all-time favorite WWE history moments is Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan’s “He’s Got A Headlock On My Heart” skit for her variety show, that hardly counts as it was not featured during the hit entrainment wrestling show.
However, another excellent country music WWE crossover comes from 2001 when Steve Austin and Dwayne Johnson were viral enemies in the ring.
Known in the early 2000s as “The Texas Rattlesnake” and “The People’s Champion,” the two staged some of the most popular stand-offs in WWE history and hosted some of the best country music sing-offs. Each time they stepped into the ring, the two partook in a country music shoot-out, each singing threats through popular country songs like hits from Tanya Tucker, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers, and more.
One of their most famed moments came from 2001 when the two riled up the crowd for WWE Raw with one of these legendary moments. The Rock entered the ring still upset that Stone Cold double-crossed him with the help of McMahon to steal his WrestleMania title earlier in the year, while the two were throwing insults back and forth to each other at the beginning of the viral moment before Stone Cold suggests that they turn to song to soothe the tense moment.
Stone Cold busts out into a few lines of Tanya Tucker’s famed “Delta Dawn” before The Rock cuts him off, insulting him.
“You’re from Texas, you like that country music?”
The Rock then breaks into singing Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler,” leaning into the line “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em/ Know when to fold ’em,” insulating that it’s time for Stone Cold to call it quits.
Before the two wrap up the bit and go into wrestling, they pose a duet together, performing a modified version of Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.” The modifications to the lyrics of the island-inspired song bring it back to their WWE storyline.
“Wastin’ away again in MargaritavilleSearchin’ for my lost shaker of salt…”
Stone Cold sings:
“Some people claim that there’s a Rocky to blame…”
The Rock responds:
“But I know it was all Stone Cold’s fault!”
Right after that line, The Rock slams Stone Cold to the ground with his signature finishing move, “The Rock Bottom.” In all honesty, that’s the moment I check out. I could listen to these two sing country music all night long…
The WWE and country music make for quite the pair. I wouldn’t be upset if this bit resurged during Monday Night Raw…
Before you go, if you haven’t seen the Dolly Parton clip I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, check that out.
