October 9, 2000 — WWF Raw Is War. After nearly a year of mystery, Commissioner Mick Foley finally named the man who ran down “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in a parking lot. Nobody saw it coming.
The Setup
Rewind to Survivor Series 1999. Before the show even started, a car sped through the backstage area and ran over Steve Austin, sidelining the biggest star in the business with a storyline injury (and buying the real-life Austin time off for neck surgery). For eleven months, the question hung over the WWF: who was driving?
Theories ran wild. The investigation became one of the most-watched slow burns of the Attitude Era, with Commissioner Mick Foley playing detective week after week.
The Reveal
On the October 9, 2000 episode of Raw, Foley cornered the culprit at last. The driver stepped forward — and it was Rikishi, the dancing, shades-wearing fan favorite.
Then came the line that instantly entered wrestling lore: “I did it for The Rock.”
Rikishi’s explanation was pure wrestling logic. He claimed Austin was holding back his Samoan cousin, The Rock, keeping him from his rightful spot at the top. So he took Austin out. The Rock — who had spent months searching for the attacker — was horrified. The betrayal turned Rikishi heel overnight and launched a blood feud between the two cousins.
Why It Still Matters
This is the Attitude Era whodunit done right: a mystery with a real payoff, a swerve nobody predicted, and a catchphrase that fans still quote a quarter-century later. It also marked the moment Rikishi went from beloved midcard act to main-event heel — proof that one promo can completely rewrite a career.
Say it with us: “I did it for The Rock.”
Sources: contemporary WWF broadcasts; timeline via TJR Wrestling and Gerweck.net “On This Day” archives.
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