Rivalry often leads to the greatest friendships. Whether you agree with it or not, Sylvester Stallone and his long-time rival-turned-friend, Arnold Schwarzenegger might perfectly identify with this saying. Apart from being two of the finest action heroes Hollywood has ever produced, the golden era boys were also the biggest rivals of each other.

From mocking each other in films to taking a jibe at each other in front of the media, they would leave no stone unturned to show the other down. Notably, it was only after working together on The Expendables 3 that the two probably looked beyond the competition between them. In a recent interview with ET Online, Stallone ruminated about his relationship with Schwarzenegger.

While reflecting on his rivalry with the 75-year-old Austrian actor—“I almost covet a good enemy. He really brings out the best of you,”—the Rocky actor also acknowledged that their rivalry made them work harder. “And then we eventually realized we’re pretty much cut from the same cloth,” further joking that Schwarzenegger’s cloth is more like “itchy wool,” and he is like “silk.” 

Their antagonism towards each other apparently stemmed from their very first meeting at the 1977 Golden Globe ceremony. This acted as a catalyst to the two-decade-old feud which saw its perish not before some 3-4 years earlier.

Into the decades-old frenemy-ship of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are household names and contemporaries, but they were also not friendly and definite rivals.. Vying for the title of the box office king of action movies, they have done everything from lying to the media about each other to mocking each other in films like Rocky and Twins. What started as their competitive drive and desire to one up the other quickly turned into a rivalry that was fueled by the media and their fans.

An incident during the filming of The Expendables marks the peak of the conflict between them. Notably, the 2010 movie has Stallone in the lead with Schwarzenegger making a cameo appearance. During the shoot, the two actors reportedly argued over a personal matter. When the incident made headlines, fans of both actors took sides, worsening the situation.

A close friendship has bloomed between them over the years amidst the rivalry. They have often made an appearance together at events and have publicly praised each other’s works. Schwarzenegger even supported Stallone during some of his difficult times, such as when his son died in 2012.

In recent years, the rivalry between Schwarzenegger and Stallone has had no basis since both actors have slowed down their action movie careers and have pursued other interests. You can see that in the way they appreciate and respect one another.

What do you think about Stallone’s comment on his rivalry with the Austrian Oak?