The Rock's Most Memorable Matches, Moments in WrestleMania History

Despite the fact he has shifted to acting full time, The Rock remains one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, and speculation arises every year as to whether he will be involved in WrestleMania.

While he hasn't wrestled in an advertised match since 2013, he has still found ways to make his presence felt at The Showcase of the Immortals.

He showed up at WrestleMania 31 to verbally dress down The Authority and pull Ronda Rousey out of the crowd, which led to the former UFC women's bantamweight champion locking Stephanie McMahon in a standing armbar and hip-tossing Triple H.

A year later, The Rock arrived with a flamethrower to set fire to a sign that spelled out his name. He then beat Erick Rowan in six seconds in an impromptu match.

The Rock has produced plenty of WrestleMania memories, with some of the biggest listed in this article.

WrestleMania 13: The Rock Makes His 'Mania Debut

On its own, The Rock's successful Intercontinental Championship defense against The Sultan is a forgettable match on a WrestleMania card that is largely remembered for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's refusal to submit before passing out in the Sharpshooter and nothing else.

But it's fun to look back at The Rock's WrestleMania debut and contrast Rocky Maivia with the crossover star The Rock became. WWE clearly had a high opinion of Dwayne Johnson, but nobody could have foreseen how he would emerge as one of the biggest attractions of his generation and help define one of WWE's most popular eras.

In the space of two years, The Rock went from beating the guy best known as Rikishi, who was managed by The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund, to tussling with Austin in the main event of WrestleMania.

WrestleMania XV: The Rock and Austin Meet for the 1st Time at WrestleMania

On any other PPV, this would have felt like a satisfying match.

At WrestleMania—and especially in their first 'Mania match together—the spotlight should have been on Austin and The Rock. Instead, WWE chairman Vince McMahon interfered and knocked out referee Earl Hebner. That led to special guest referee Mankind's appearance to count the final pinfall.

What made things worse was this closed out a PPV that included so many swerves it felt like an episode of Raw. The Big Show turned on McMahon. Chyna turned on The Corporation, only for Triple H to turn on D-Generation X in order join The Corporation alongside The Ninth Wonder of the World.

The Undertaker hanged The Big Boss Man after beating him in a Hell in a Cell match.

Overall, this didn't feel like WrestleMania, which hurt the aura around The Rock vs. Austin.

WrestleMania X-Seven: Stone Cold Makes a Deal with the Devil

Compare and contrast the main event of WrestleMania X-Seven with Austin and The Rock's encounter two years earlier.

They benefited from one of the strongest WrestleMania cards, and they told a great story in the ring. And this time, McMahon's involvement added to the drama rather than needlessly cluttering things up.

Austin made a deal with the devil and worked with McMahon because it's the only way he thought he could beat The Rock. It was a heel turn years in the making and one nobody expected.

The Rock came off looking like a heroic babyface who did his best in the face of insurmountable odds, while Austin showed he was willing to do whatever it took—even forging a pact with his sworn enemy—in pursuit of the WWE Championship.

WrestleMania X8: Icon vs. Icon

This match is a great example of how a hot crowd can elevate whatever is going on in the ring.

The fans in Toronto treated every second of The Rock's match with Hollywood Hulk Hogan like it was a big deal, and that came across to those watching on PPV.

It was also fun hearing the fans boo the babyface (The Rock) and cheer the heel (Hogan) and see the wrestlers respond to the shifting dynamic. WWE seldom lets its Superstars organically react to the crowd's response anymore.

Hogan, who was 50 at WrestleMania X8, and The Rock delivered the best possible match they could, and the constant buzz inside Rogers Centre added to the spectacle.

WrestleMania XIX: End of an Era

By the time WrestleMania XIX arrived, Austin was almost done as a wrestler. This remains the last time he wrestled an official match in WWE. The Rock was also shifting more toward his acting career and basically stayed around long enough to feud with Goldberg for Backlash, a month after WrestleMania.

WWE was shifting away from the Attitude Era in 2003—if not out of the phase altogether. This match symbolically brought that era to a close, as The Rock and Austin symbolized the period more than any other wrestlers.

It was great to see them get one more WrestleMania showcase together.

WrestleMania XXVII: The Rock Hosts WrestleMania

The crowd pop on Raw is all you need to hear to understand how surprising The Rock's return to WWE in 2011 was.

In retrospect, though, bringing him back in a non-wrestling role—especially one centered around WrestleMania—was a mistake by WWE. You can't have one of the biggest stars in wrestling history, who clearly remains in great shape, just being the host of WrestleMania. Everybody is going to want to see him wrestle.

WWE didn't help matters by inserting The Rock into Cena's feud with The Miz, which was the main event of WrestleMania XXVII.

Ultimately, that year's Show of Shows was a vehicle to build to WrestleMania XXVIII, which isn't how the biggest PPV of the year should be treated.

WrestleMania XXVIII: Once in a Lifetime

This was obviously the plan all along once The Rock returned to WWE, and it was only a matter of time before he would formally cross paths with John Cena.

Cena vs. The Rock didn't have the same energy as Rock vs. Hogan, which likely had a lot to do with WrestleMania XXVIII being at what is now Hard Rock Stadium. Open-air venues just don't create the same kind of noise as smaller arenas or even larger domes like Rogers Centre.

Lasting a little more than a half-hour, this match felt way too long as well. The Rock was wrestling for only the second time since 2004, so a lengthy, psychological battle is the last thing he and Cena should have been having.

The fact they wrestled at WrestleMania again a year later removes some of the aura that otherwise would have grown in the years after the Showcase of the Immortals in 2012.

WrestleMania 29: Once in a Lifetime (Again)

There have been plenty of proverbial torch-passing moments in WWE history, with some occurring at The Show of Shows. Randy Savage's title win at WrestleMania IV, and the Ultimate Warrior's victory over Hogan at WrestleMania VI are two of the more obvious examples.

This match was almost too overt an attempt by WWE to manufacture an important moment, and there wasn't a compelling enough story to make fans care about Cena's quest to avenge his defeat from the year before.

The WrestleMania 29 main event was a perfunctory exercise that seemingly had the sole purpose of showing more casual fans that Cena had inherited the throne The Rock left.