For almost 40 years in WWE, while there have always been larger-than-life stars during any era, there has typically been one who stands above all. Not necessarily in terms of skill, but when it comes to presence and drawing ability for the company. Whether that star is Hulk Hogan, John Cena, or, as much as you might try to deny it, Roman Reigns.

The Difference Between The Rock And Stone Cold

There's arguably one era during which that was an exception, though. The Attitude Era. Not because there wasn't a WWE Superstar on the same level as Hogan was or Cena would be, but because there were two. The Rock and Stone Cold. Very different wrestlers who brought various things to the table, and Mick Foley recently spoke about a key difference between them he once discussed with Triple H.

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“I asked Hunter one time, just out of the blue, I didn't lead him in any direction. I said, 'Hunter, you've worked with Steve and Rock, what's the biggest difference between them?',” Foley said while recalling the tale on Foley Is Pod. “He goes 'Steve's punches hurt like hell and Rock's don't hurt at all' and I said 'exactly!'.”

It's All In The Punches

That might sound like an almost nothing difference on its own, but it came when Foley was discussing getting over the finish line and the different ways there are to get there. He even compares it to wearing a fake beard when dressed as Santa or growing a real one. Whichever way you do it, you're still Santa. In terms of Rock and Austin, despite their punches hurting and not hurting, and everything else different about them, they still became two of the biggest stars in WWE history.

Triple H's punch comparison may also explain why The Rock has had more success in Hollywood than his old rival, at least in part. Austin has landed a few movie and TV roles, but not on the same level as The Rock. The People's Champ was clearly training to throw a punch that didn't land from the very start of his career, even without the Hollywood vision he would quickly manifest. Austin was all about making his matches look as real as possible, even if it hurt in the process.