The Rock Reveals Steve Austin Feud Was Cut Short, Sheamus Featured, More

- At WrestleMania XV in 1999, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin captured the WWE Championship from The Rock in a memorable “Attitude Era” encounter. While the rivalry continued at various points over the following four years, this program pitting babyface Austin against a heel Rock was originally scheduled to carry WWE throughout the year. However, it was discontinued at the following month’s pay-per-view event, with Rock losing a title rematch. “The Great One” turned face shortly thereafter, and the two didn’t feud again until 2001 for WrestleMania X-Seven (with both wrestlers entering the match as babyfaces).

Recalling the event in an interview published in the latest issue of WWE Magazine, Rock says, “Ironically, WrestleMania was supposed to be the beginning of The Rock-Austin rivalry, as far pay-per-view storylines, television, etc. was concerned. After WrestleMania, things just started to change. The fans were behind me.”

- In the “Where Are They Now?” files, Linda Miles, who was one of two female winners from the second season of WWE Tough Enough in 2002, now appears as a referee for NCAA women’s basketball. NCAA Assistant Director Matt Holmes revealed on Twitter this week that the former Rutgers player officiated a University of Indianapolis game on Thursday. Miles had a brief stint on the main WWE roster as Shaniqua, but was released in November 2004.

- In this week’s “WWE SmackDown Slam of the Week,” Sheamus looks to gain some momentum before Sunday’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber Match.