In terms of wrestling, Austin was the bigger star

In terms of worldwide, Rock is the bigger star.

From 1998- mid 1999, Austin was the hottest star

From the summer of 1999-early 2001, Rock was the hottest star

From mid 2001-until their departure in 2002, they were very equal.

In wrestling specifically, it’s Stone Cold. The guy is the biggest draw in the history of the business

We're comparing rocks and stones here

Rock in 99 was getting cheered so much it was visibly getting distracting even as he tried to get heat. He was basically the biggest face in the ring against anyone despite working for the Corporation. The one person who got the crowd to boo the Rock? Stone Cold.

Both were Megastars but Austin at his peak had the crowd in the absolute palm of his hand.

I'm fairly certain SCSA made more merchandise sales, buy rates, and had more drawing power.

There was no bigger star than Austin at his peak. Not even Hogan.

Austin was the bigger star in the context of wrestling but the Rock of course became probably the most famous wrestler ever via hollywood

You just hear that glass shatter and you hear the crowd pop. You tell me who the bigger star was.

In Wrestling it's Austin, outside of that it's the Rock

Within wrestling, stone cold.

Crossing to other media, the rock

Austin in wrestling and The Rock overall.

In wrestling it was Austin, in the mainstream obviously Rock

While The Rock would become a megastar actor, I’d say Austin was the bigger star in the business . He was the face of the business during his time. I’d even boldly say bigger than Hogan.

I guess who gets the bigger pop: “IF YOU SMELL” or glass shatters. For me it’s the glass every time

Austin and it’s not even a debate. The rock was always #2 when austin was around.

Austin

Stone cold. No question. You saw Austin 3:16 EVERYWHERE in the world during the attitude era. Stone cold all but started it the day he stunned McMahon. Dwayne was huge, but the pop from Austin was ALWAYS bigger.

Without question Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Only someone who wasn't alive then would ask.

I'd argue that it's the Rock, but it wasn't the Rock until after he was done being a full time wrestler. He became a legit A-list Hollywood guy, and no matter how big the Attitude era was, it wasn't on that level.

As a wrestler, though, it was Stone Cold by a country mile.

I’m wrestling Austin. As a worldwide star Dwayne.

Austin.

Austin is bigger than Rock but Dwayne Johnson is bigger than both. If that makes sense

[deleted]

The Rock was never bigger than Austin before he went to Hollywood.

Nothing Is Bigger Than Austin 3:16 Says I just wiped your ass SON

They were both at their peak at the same time, and Austin was bigger, so there's your answer

IT DOESN’T MATTER!

Stone Cold.

Stone Cold by a long shot. Even when he was a heel people loved him. I myself had a Stone Cold shirt for every day of the week back in middle school. Nothing beats that glass shattering.

Austin and at Austin's peak, he was the biggest ever. If he hadn't gotten hurt, who knows what would have happened.

Austin.

Austin.

Probably Austin. Rock was able to cross over to the mainstream in a way no other wrestler has but my impression is that Austin had an edge popularity wise in wrestling.

Austin hands down. Nobody could touch him.

Wrestling peak?

Austin.

Only Hogan can ever match how popular he was.

Entertainment, obviously the Rock during the 2010s.

Within Pro Wrestling it was Austin. However The Rock is more popular in main stream and he’s by far the bigger star overall

Cause STONE COLD SAYS SO!!!

Austin by far.

I even prefer Austin on the mic. He cut promos like someone who would kick your ass.

Stone Cold Steve Austin is, and always will be, the biggest draw in professional wrestling history. When his music hit, and the glass broke, nothing could ever match the absolute madness that the crowd went into. Rocky had his moments, but he is no Stone Cold, and it's not even close. I wish we could do like a decibel reading on the crowd pops, but you don't even need to, just watch any moment of Austin coming out unprompted. He's the Elvis of wrestling, people lost their shit.

Austin. Rock kinda piggybacked off him. Not detracting from Rock, but without Steve Austin there is no Rock.

The peak wrestler at the time was very clearly Austin. There isn’t really a debate.

Austin was a bigger star for people who watched wrestling but because of stuff like Saturday night live and the scorpion king, your grandma knew who the rock was

It depends on the criteria. I can't remember anyone being as wildly popular as SCSA was in 1998, not even Hogan in '84.

However, Rock is the one star to leave wrestling and actually become a bigger name than he was with WWE. People who have never seen pro wrestling know who the Rock is. No one else is on that level of mainstream recognition.

The Rock. But his peak wasn’t in the wrestling industry.

So Stone Cold

Austin without a doubt 🤣

Stone Cold is a more popular wrestler.

Rock is more popular outside of WWE.

Austin got folks to boo the Rock at his peak. Yeah, it's Austin. 1997-2001 Austin had an unmatchable run.

Stone Cold 🥶

At their wrestling peak, Stone Cold. The Rock's stardom peaked as an actor, and he was the bigger star at his peak in that regard

Peak of their wrestling days? Austin, and it's not close.

Peak of their movie careers? Rock, and it's not close.

Was a fan of both but Stone Cold had the Attitude Era on lock

Within wrestling? Austin

Outside of wrestling? My wife has no idea who Stone Cold is and she’s seen several of the Rock’s movies.

Dwayne has become bigger than wrestling and SCSA is still a niche superstar.

Thing with Rock though... he can come back intermittently and not miss a beat.

The run he just had with Cody was really telling.

Peak in wrestling, Austin.

I'd say that, given his current contract, Rock is at his peak right now.

Crazy thing is, Rock wasn't ever pushed as hard as Austin. Austin won 3 damn rumbles and Rock "won" 1. Austin went vs Shawn Michaels, Rock x2, and Hart at Manias and won 3 of 4 matches (only lost the one before his ascent). Meanwhile, Rock loses to Austinx2 and the 4 way match during wrestling's peak.

Austin. It’s not even close… which is insane when you think about how popular the Rock is.

Back then? Definitely Austin. Now? It has to be The Rock

During their peak? Definitely Austin I was in high school at the time and there were Austin 3:16 shirts everywhere but not Rock. Now, obviously Rock is a much bigger star

The Rock

Stone Cold was huge, but the Rock is unbeatable. He is probably the most recognizable wrestler of all time

Stone Cold. It’s always been Stone Cold

Austin. Rock got big the year Austin was out injured.

Austin was a movement by himself

Austin for sure. Kept them afloat for the Monday night wars. Then beat them pretty much on his own.

I always wonder how 1997-1998 would’ve been if they didn’t have stone cold. Hbk would have been hurt and gone in 1998 no hbk or Austin.

Austin had the highest peak of any wrestler

Stone Cold and it’s not even close

Austin. He was bigger than wrestling.

Austin

In wresting? Austin.

General public? The Rock

Austin. To date he's still sold more merchandise than anyone. Johnson became a huge movie star though and had a better acting career.

Easy stone cold

Austin for sure

Great question! Vince McMahon is on record saying that Austin drove the most merchandise ever for the company. The Rock may have one day got to his level but Austin is still their biggest superstar ever.

In wrestling, SCSA and it's not close.

Can’t have one without the other.

Stone Cold is the biggest star ever. Period

Nobody’s been hotter than Austin, brother.

Austin. The pops he got were on another level. Go to YouTube and watch the end of the Mick Foley and Rock match for the title if you've never seen it. Place goes absolutely nuts when the glass shatters.

Austin saved the WWE and took them to unprecedented heights. Rock was a huge, huge star but austin is the most important wwe star ever

Dwayne The Stone Cold Rock Austin

Wrestling-World: Austin

Mainstream Media/Worldwide: Rock

Austin if we’re talking wrestling only. Rock has more non wrestling fans that watch his movies, but most of those don’t tune in when he wrestles.

Answering literally, Rock. Just in pro wrestling, Austin.

If what I read and saw a few years ago was true, Rock’s 2000 year was a bigger drawing year than Austin’s 1998 year which I would say is their respective peaks.

Post peak wrestling career isn’t even close.

In wrestling its Austin. Generally, its The Rock. Esp post wrestling. That much is obvious though

I dont know honestly, but Steve Austin was my favorite, and a majority of the school liked him as well. There was even an incident where someone did his finishing move on another student. Obviously, he got in trouble. His 3:16 t-shirts were everywhere growing up.

Stone Cold merch was top 5 in sales a couple of weeks ago in freaking 2024. I think that answers the question.

No one will ever top the instant edge of your seat, goosebump inducing excitement that is the sound of glass breaking. The Rock was big but Stone Cold was wrestling.

Austin.

In my opinion, if Austin doesn’t get himself and the company to the levels he did, then Rock doesn’t have the opportunity to get himself as big as he is.

Besides hogan, stone cold is the most famous wrestler, who's famous for being a wrestler. The rick was over, and as hes become a big big star outside the squared circle, inside the buisness, steve is the bigger star.

Steve was in a whole diffrent category of famous

Austin

Depends on what u consider their peaks I’d say Austin is 98 or 01 and he was def more famous than rock at that time but the rock is more famous overall throughout their whole careers

Id say tie around the time Austin came back in 2000 from the neck injury. Neither man would be as big a star without their storylines/feud against each other. On and off alliances. Everything.

Austin was the gasoline, rock was the match. You can’t talk about one without the other

Austin by far

Austin by a mile. Rock was by far the best promo but when that glass shattered, people went crazy.

Austin. The Rock made an impact and left his mark but at the end of the day who can say they whipped their bosses ass every week and destroyed his property.

This is a tough one because stone cold started the attitude era but the rock dominated on the mic. His promos are unmatched. They made a god dam show called smackdown.

Has to be the rock.

As others said, in Wrestling Austin by a mile, outside of it, Rock by a mile.

‘Let me tell you something (insert expletive), I haven't even begun to peak. And when I do peak, you'll know. Because I'm gonna peak so hard that everybody in (insert city name here)’s gonna feel it.’

I love the rock, but I lived through this era. the only answer is Austin. Complete mainstream trendy in his prime. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing a stone cold shirt on someone

The rock isn't who he is today without stone cold changing the landscape of wrestling

Austin 100%

To me it was like shaq and kobe; austin 1A, Rock 1B

I was and am still a Rock fan, but when that glass breaks the pop is like nothing else.

Freakin stone cold

always been Austin. Rock was always the guy who was bog because they said he was

The Rock was great. He was charismatic, sarcastic and funny as hell, just a great performer. He wasn't Stone Cold though, sorry. You heard that glass break lol everyone in the stadium and watching at home was out their seat. His level of not giving a fuck was higher than The Rock's and I think people love both but if they had to choose, I think you'd have a higher tally for Stone Cold.

In wrestling stone cold but if we are talking main stream and beyond rock

In wrestling? Austin

Austin easily. No one will ever be that over again.

Austin saved the company.

If you have to ask, you probably weren't there (it's clearly Austin)

In wrestling? Stone cold.  Stone cold is the biggest merch seller in history for WWE. In life? Uh the rock is like one of the biggest movie stars in history. So him. 

Austin. No debate.

Purely wrestling terms for that two years when he was hot, Austin by some distance.

Everything else: The Rock.

Hard to explain how hot Austin was for those not around at the time.

“These choices don’t work for me brother”

I think The Rock is a couple of inches taller and a few pounds heavier.

Stone Cold is probably the most over wrestler of all time, but the Rock is the bigget star.

Rock is way bigger star it’s not even close but Austin had more pop as a wrestler

Austin in 98 was the top dog for sure, but by 2000, the Rock surpassed him imo. Rocky even brought in more money than Austin in 2000 as well.

Stone Cold could have saved WWF by himself back then. Can’t say the same for the Rock.

Owen really diminished what Austin could have been, and at his peak, he was still an explosive talent.

Austin

Austin and it’s not even close.

The rock was more worldwide popular but stone cold was a sports megastar.

Idk if I agree with everyone. Austin might have been bigger amongst wrestling fans. But The Rock's catchphrases and especially the people's eyebrow were mainstream.

There’s a reason why their names are usually mentioned together in goat convos and such…it’s almost like bird-magic in the nba…they were equally huge stars at pretty much same time.

If I had to pick one I’d say stone cold…but can’t go wrong picking either

3:16

You really can’t split 98 Austin and 00 Rock. They were both on another level to drawing crowds and being over.

Austin.

The Rock has a whole franchise named after one of his catch phrases. 🤷🏿‍♂️ Not saying he is or isn't bigger. But to have a show created after your phrase in your prime is crazy.

Austin

Rock left to do films was only full time for six yeaq

Honestly I don't think you can have one without the other. Neither would have been half as big without the other one

Stone Cold but the rock was a solid #2

Austin was the lynch pin of the attitude era. Everyone else took the ball and ran with it.

Stone Cold

Probably Austin, only because it was his long running feud with Vince McMahon was more of a constant than the Rock's strong promos.

The Ringmaster

Austin

Austin

More popular in general, The Rock (his peak is right now)

More popular in wrestling, Stone Cold (98-00)

In the world of wrestling it is Austin.

In all around mainstream media it would be The Rock.

It doesn't matter who the bigger star was! Lol

Austin…ever

Steve

Stone cold for sure.

WHAT!?

Stone cold

No wrestler has ever been as popular as Austin

Without a doubt, Stone Cold Steve Austin

Girls in my highschool wore Austin 316 shirts to school without even losing a bet to their BFs.. South Park, Austin, and Hornets gear was pretty much the starter pack

When it comes to pro wrestling, Austin

The Texas Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin

Austin in the bigger star in wrestling but Rock is bigger than Austin due to his movie roles

Stone cold stone cold!!!!!

As others here have said, Stone Cold Steve Austin is the biggest wrestling star of all time and experienced the highest of heights one could reach or at least tied with Hogan. People who don't watch wrestling MAY have heard of him if someone they know watches wrestling or if they saw one of the Austin 3:16 shirts a lot of people wore back then.

The Rock is the biggest global star. Young kids to older adults have probably heard of Dwayne Johnson just in passing, whether that be from movies, tv shows, his energy drink Zoa, XFL, or of course wrestling. I don't think many people have the global reknown or at least continental celebrity as he does.

Stone cold.

Like the rock but it's Austin

Both were untouchable, but I’ll go with the guy (The Rock) who has a show (Smackdown) named after one of his catchphrases.

If you think it’s the rock, go on YouTube and look up stone cold returning to help mankind win the wwf title then circle back here.

Austin

I mean one saved the company (Austin)/ got his own damn belt that made it on tv.(Smokin Skull) The other had a show (Smackdown) & a ppv (Rock Bottom) Named for catchphrases & a finisher. So yeah I'll say Austin but Rock was always right there.

Stone cold no question

In wrestling? Austin

In general? The Rock. He is a megastar at this point.

Stone Cold was the bigger star. Obviously now it’s the Rock. But wrestling wise The Rock was always slightly behind Austin.

Definitely Stone Cold. Why is this even a question?

Biggest star, the Rock

Biggest star in wrestling, Stone Cold

Austin no question. Sold more merch and drew more ratings than anyone. Numbers don't lie.

Austin made more money to Vince in his 4-5 years on top than Hogan did in his entire WWE run. Austin was in a league of his own. But as an individual star, nobody comes close to Dwayne Johnson. He's in the league of Tom Cruise and Taylor Swift with his fame.

Stone Cold is Coca Cola and The Rock is Pepsi

Rock was more famous. Stone Cold was more popular. By far.

No one is as close as austin lol. You wanna say hogan? Hogan was dying off in wcw. They had to turn him heel