Top 15 SummerSlam Sizzlers Part One

It will be here before you know it! WWE’s got their big annual summertime tradition coming up in the form of SummerSlam.

Since its inception, SummerSlam has generally been regarded as the second biggest PPV of WWE’s fiscal year. Storylines begin, climax, and end all during this time. In the background, strange one-off occurrences can also make their presences known.  Some of these accentuating angles may not seem big at first, but time can definitely measure the staying power.

By this definition, a ‘sizzler’ could very well be a synonym for ‘attribute’. In this countdown, you will see major revelations, reveals, flashes, screwjobs, etcetera, that have made SummerSlam the hottest ticket for PPV subscribers since the inaugural event in 1988.

Without further ado, time to put the meat of the article on the grill and let it… sizzle.

_________________________________________________

 

15. Team WWE Got It’s Seventh Man Fit to be Tied…-SummerSlam 2010

The irony is overwhelming in the year 2013.

 

Wow, three years ago already? For a lot of us fans, this seemed like only yesterday!

As a good chunk of this audience recalls, one of the most shocking debuts in WWE history definitely belongs to the renegade group known as The Nexus. Consisting of all the NXT rookies from the first season (Wade Barrett, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater, David Otunga, Justin Gabriel, Skip Sheffield (aka Ryback), and Darren Young), their signature plan of attack would be to surround the ring, then scavenger the prey like savages.

Now notice how I “forgot” to type in someone’s else in the above description.

That last man in the equation was Daniel Bryan.

Bryan, whose real name is Bryan Danielson, was an indie darling before coming to the WWE, and also by far the most experienced wrestler the group had. On the NXT show however, he was made to look like the never-say-die guy who lost all the time.

That had no affect on Bryan going into the Nexus debut.

All eight of these rookies on June the 7th made their menacing alliance in an orchestrated, albeit unpredictable attack on John Cena. From the ramp and the audience themselves, these band of misfits suddenly looked like they were a force to be reckoned with.

A force… that literally destroyed the RAW set!

In the fracas, Bryan got to ring announcer Justin Roberts. Bryan used Roberts’ own tie to choke the bastard purple.

This caused Bryan to be “fired” from the WWE.

In an unwritten rule, apparently no chokes can be used in a WWE match. When this rule was enacted, the author doesn’t know. There were aspirations from other forces to be at hand too, but their impression wouldn’t last too long here.

By the time SummerSlam rolled around, Team Nexus (which practically was the aforementioned group with Bryan) versus Team WWE was practically announced as the main event for the show. While Nexus had seven of their guys, WWE still needed one more.

While several men, including Money in the Bank holder The Miz, applied, only one man was selected.

Say hello to the Benedict Arnold of NXT himself, Daniel Bryan!

The Los Angeles crowd were in Staples (yeah, sorry for the pun) over the choice. It was ironic given the affiliations, and yet all so satisfying because we all thought Bryan was gone from the WWE never to be heard from again. Bryan would ultimately make Darren Young tap, but also get eliminated by Wade Barrett (thanks in no small part to Miz).

To think: John Cena picked Daniel Bryan to be on their team in 2010. Now in 2013, Cena picked Bryan to be his opponent for the WWE Championship. This could be HUGE come August the 18th, but for right now, let’s celebrate the shock that was the seventh man being Daniel Bryan.

In addition, I give you the infamous ‘butthole’ promo from Arn Anderson during this time period:

14. The Winds of Change- SummerSlam 2002

 

(Author’s Note: Please read that title in Wade Barrett’s voice. It’s all part of the “bigga pitcha”, one that is never understood nor explained…)

On one corner, is devastation defined. A big brutish dude that stands 6’4”, 295 pounds, has a great mouthpiece in Paul Heyman, and that doesn’t even begin to describe strength feats that read out of a Paul Bunyan playbook. NCAA Champion and soon-to-be UFC fighter, this guy can destroy anyone!

In the other corner, is the definition of a great champion. The pride of Miami, Florida at 275 pounds. A football star turned into hereditary WWE star. A third-generation wrestler, he defied the odds of nearly being let go into becoming arguably the most successful man inside and outside the ring.

You’re damn right Brock and Rock had a lot of hype!

Brock Lesnar earned his championship opportunity by beating Rob Van Dam in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament. A tournament whose stipulation was that the winner earns an Undisputed WWE Championship match at the SummerSlam PPV. Brock’s torrid rapture through the WWE claimed that milestone only a mere three months after he debuted.

The Rock on the other hand was well… The Rock. After filming for several months, Rocky came back in-ring at Vengeance. He defeated The Undertaker and Kurt Angle to win ‘Taker’s Undisputed title.

Naturally, the stage was set: The rookie vs. the veteran. Youth vs. experience. Strength vs. agility.

The match was a grueling testament to both men. In addition was a raucous crowd of Long Islanders, who had switched their alliances during the match.

Between the crowd flipping and the inevitable, Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed Championship, and a trip to the great unknown.

It was quite a trip to see Lesnar win the title so fast and so convincingly. However, he would have to carry that momentum into the months ahead. Brock did an admirable job, setting up a face turn and more WWE title runs ahead of him.

He also paved the way for such men as Edge, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, amongst others, to creep up through the woodwork. The SMACKDOWN roster was the workhorse brand of the WWE, and with Lesnar as its main associate, the future looked very bright indeed.

13. Undertaker URNED That Turn!- SummerSlam 1996

 

As mentioned above, new storyline twists can certainly begin at the summertime tradition. This shocking betrayal is no exception.

For the most part, Undertaker has had feuds that came and went with no real continuity. With the exception of perhaps Yokozuna and the Million Dollar Corporation, Undertaker’s six-year run in the WWE by this point seemed unfestered by a continuous pest.

That was until Mankind showed up.

Mankind debuted the night after WrestleMania XII. He won his match with Sparky Plugg Bob Holly, and then attacked ‘Taker later in the main event.

This led to a King of the Ring singles match. It also led to something truly unprecedented. Undertaker, a character whose only times of loss came with humongous shenanigans, lost clean as a sheet, VIA SUBMISSION, to Mankind.

In a mini-feud with Goldust, ‘Taker came out on the losing end of a match at International Incident. Not because he lost (technically won via DQ), but it was due to Mankind pulling ‘Taker underneath the ring. After ‘Taker gets his wits about him, he starts beating up Mankind back to the locker room, THEN A BOILER ROOM!

So alas we are given a Boiler Room Brawl for SummerSlam.

In the mix lies Paul Bearer. A man who even with all this bad news going for ‘Taker is steadfast by his side, ready to take the hits when needed.

Only at SummerSlam, it was Paul who provided the hit of his own.

After a lengthy brawl in the boiler room, Mankind and Undertaker went back to the ring. The stip was that the winner had to get the urn from Paul Bearer.

Seemed natural for ‘Taker to win, right?

Nope!

‘Taker kneeled trying to get the urn, but instead was jumped by Mankind. Bearer laughed in the corner as the Mandible Claw once again choked the dead out of the Dead Man. Mankind, like a member of gang, held Undertaker like prey, waiting for more slaps and berating from the heinously fat human being. If PB is a human being…

For now, it shattered the relationship of two men who were deemed un-separable. Undertaker got his power from the urn, but now that device lies within Bearer, and new alias Mankind. This feud would continue with a Buried Alive match, a Survivor Series match where Bearer was suspended above a ring, and then a No Holds Barred match on RAW to cap 1996.

And this all happened before Hell in the Cell!

Long story short: it was a memorable turn. Unexpected and shocking, it played to a dark tune that would later be a great diversifier in the to-come Attitude Era.

12. Goldberg Loses The Game- SummerSlam 2003

 

It was clobbering time for Goldberg!

Triple H, the evil leader of Evolution, has had a stranglehold on the WHC dating back to Armageddon, December of last year.

Hunter had overcome every obstacle before him. Scott Steiner. Booker T. Kevin Nash. Shawn Michaels (again). Rob Van Dam. Kane (whom had to unmask). The list was full of talented and boisterous superstars who all fell to The Game one time or another.

Except Goldberg hadn’t really encountered HHH yet.

Sure there was a confrontation, or a match announcement, but no big deal.

Until the Elimination Chamber.

What saved Triple H initially was getting kicked right in the fucking face by Shawn Michaels. Yes, Trips was talking trash in the pod, the timer ran out, and HBK waited to deliver that present right to his kisser. It was glorious!

Goldberg not too long thereafter came in and dominated everything that moved with the subtlety of a Acela train!

Now it was down to the Goldberg and Triple H show-down!

Goldberg seemed to have his way early. He kicked the plexiglass of Triple H’s domain like Jack Nicholson with an axe. Soon thereafter, Goldberg raked Triple H’s bloody forehead against the chain of the Chamber.

Triple H would have divine intervention by the name of Ric Flair.

Flair was able to get a sledgehammer in-between cracks of the Chamber. It was a well-devised ploy by the Nature Boy.

As Goldberg ran for the spear, he intercepted the sledge instead of Trips’ body, This allowed a weak Triple H to get the pin and the win.

In most video games, the penalty for game over is by starting all the way back either at the beginning of the game or that particular level. For the bald-headed monster, it was a beat-down.

A bloody roar of a beatdown!

Trips and Flair were joined by Randy Orton, whom ironically ate a Goldberg Spear earlier in the match.

Some slaps, some punches, and some ever-lasting sledgie shots. All in a days work for the dealers.

This pissed a lot of internet fans when this happened. Primarily because the original outcome should have been Goldberg beating Triple H to become champion.

In a singles match!

Triple H legitimately had a torn groin muscle at this point. He was wearing those long pants for a reason kids, and he still had to consummate a marriage a couple of months later! Goldberg was also injured, hampered by shoulder problems for the last couple of months.

From what this author deducts, SummerSlam could have been a disaster if both of the main headliners were injured and unable to go 100%. In its wake lied a perfect excuse to add four other guys and make this a Chamber match. Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, and Randy Orton were added in what was essentially a disguise. A disguise to the bigger picture ahead, which at Unforgiven, finally gave us the one-on-one with Goldberg/HHH that everyone wanted.

Knowing that, it’s almost safe to say that it was the best of all worlds. WWE wasn’t playing the predictable card. The villain came out really heinous here, and it made the paying audience willing to see his execution the next month. Not only did Goldberg’s slay (as opposed to Santa’s Slay) play an important role in that time period, but it would make Goldberg’s success all the much more sweeter.

Let’s also not forget that it also made the single-brand PPV’s the thing to watch due to that foresight.

Here’s an added video of Chris Jericho dying for his sins:

OUCH!

11. Liz Flashes Her Mega Bucks- SummerSlam 1988

Now for something a little more innocent. If a woman flashing her covered undercarriage is considered that…

At the inaugural SummerSlam, the main event consisted of The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage) versus The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase & Andre the Giant). The WWE Championship was not up for grabs, but pride certainly was.

Let’s also add in a special referee, Jesse Ventura, who had dollars slipped into his pocket by DiBiase to ensure the match was rigged! This was before the days of…

The powers that be were certainly aligning to make sure this match was going to be memorable!

But not in the way you expected.

Later on in the contest, Savage tried to drop the elbow on Andre. Sadly for the Macho Man, he took a size 20 boot to the kisser and flew out of the ring like a Frisbee! Hogan tried to use DiBiase’s own finisher, the Million Dollar Dream, against him. Before it took real effect, Andre attacked Hogan from behind. Andre’s headbutts to Hogan’s neck sent Hulk packing to the ringside area.

Both the Mega Powers are down! Jesse tried to start a count, but Elizabeth was standing on the ring apron. So were the managers of the Mega Bucks, Virgil and Bobby Heenan!

In an act of defiance, Liz ripped off the skirt of her dress to show red undies!

This stopped EVERYTHING in its tracks!

At least just long enough to where Hogan and Savage can do a power shake and recover!

Hogan comes back in and Andre goes for him. What Andre doesn’t see is Savage flying with an axe handle to the back! Andre lumbers out the ring while DiBiase gets the crap beat out of him. Hogan slammed DiBiase, Savage dropped the flying elbow, then Hogan capped it off with the leg drop. Hogan made the pin, but Savage forcibly threw down Ventura’s hand to the canvas for a ‘3’.

Before you go asking yourself why I included this on the list, consider the following:

In 1988, women were merely footnotes in wrestling. They were either wrestling in macabre matches, or they were valets. Rarely did they speak, and rarely did they do anything of significance. Sure Cyndi Lauper made things exciting a few years before with the Rock n’ Wrestling stuff, but no actual woman on the wrestler had the power to fully convince an audience of their endeavors.

Elizabeth was a ground-breaking woman in this regard. Either a heel or a face supporting Randy, her doting eyes at ringside could tell a story like almost no one else. She was classy, dignified, and also irresistible. Men wanted to be with her, and women wanted to be her.

Which leads to this.

This was the one time where she intentionally objectified herself in the open so she could help her men overcome the battle at hand. It made a regular match memorable certainly, but this was also unheard of!

This took place years before women wore intentionally skimpy clothing to elicit a pop from the crowd. Hell, I think some men forget Lita was a legit good wrestler. All they remember is whatever color strap of thong she was wearing that week.

Sure Kaitlyn might have popped a nipple on RAW a while back, or Sable had hands painted onto her breasts, but don’t forget how they all started. It was a result of desperation tactics from the person you’d least expect.

Freaking Hulk also managed to throw that piece of cloth into the audience! Spunk bunk indeedth!

_________________________________________________

 

In the next installment of ‘Sizzlers’: A dose of Attitude, but not in the way you expect. It was the beginning of a run, and the start of the end for one superstar in particular. The most hilarious unprofessional overselling of all time is discussed. This and more in the next post!

_______________________________________________

 

Quick trivia tidbit: What do the first installments of WrestleMania, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam all have in common? Other than Hulk Hogan being WWE Champion, it should be noted that the WWE Championship was not up for grabs in any of these events!!! At ‘Mania and SummerSlam, Hogan was in big-time tag team matches. Survivor Series is self-explanatory as he was the captain of his team. At the inaugural Rumble, Hogan had a contract signing with Andre the Giant for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but did not wrestle!

Technorati Tags: wwe,wwf,summerslam,wrestlemania,royal rumble,survivor series,daniel bryan,john cena,chris jericho,edge,bret hart,r-truth,john morrison,the nexus,wade barrett,heath slater,michael tarver,justin gabriel,skip sheffield,david otunga,darren young,brock lesnar,paul heyman,the rock,undertaker,kurt angle,mankind,paul bearer,boiler room brawl,elimination chamber,kevin nash,randy orton,goldberg,shawn michaels sledgehammer,handcuffs,chain,steel,in your house,goldust,jesse ventura,hulk hogan,randy savage,elizabeth,ted dibiase,andre the giant,bobby heenan,virgil,panties,thong,dress,skirt,lita,kaitlyn,sable,aj lee,diva,csi miami,sizzle,summer,ppv,bad booking,amazon,youtube

 

 

 

 

 

F-5 Fury Going Forward

(Author’s Note: As I type this, it is officially Memorial Day here in the United States. Just want to thank all of the members of our defensive forces in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice. Without them, as well as our living veterans, this blog post amongst many others wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for defending our freedoms!)

Hey everybody!

It’s been a little while since I’ve written a piece for the blog, and there’s a good reason. A myriad of health problems stemming from a faulty appendix kept me from being a normal human being for a while.

Now that I summarized two months of my life in a single paragraph, time to get back to business!

Extreme Rules took place a little over a week ago on pay-per-view. As a show itself, I personally found it somewhat as take it or leave it on a match quality standpoint. In terms of booking decisions though, this show seemed well executed with one major flaw.

Let’s get the flaw right out of the way first. That is the No-Contest in the WWE Championship match between Ryback and John Cena. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if it were a different stipulation. But, and I mean BUT, THIS WAS A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! The count of ten ends the match, no matter who is down.

The Royal Rumble of 2004 saw Triple H and Shawn Michaels just about kill each other in a Last Man Standing war. Shawn superkicked The Game, and both men fell. Earl Hebner counted to ten, thus resulting in a draw with Triple H retaining the World Heavyweight Championship.

For WWE’s sake, what was so hard about a double-countout? It makes Cena’s legit injury look even more legitimate while Ryback doesn’t look like he jobbed again. I understand the whole concept of crashing through the stage, but Batista & Undertaker did that before to a double-countout. This could have easily worked, and the angle wouldn’t need to be changed.

WWE really needs to be thankful that they were able to further the feud with continuity, because that NC in a LMS match is a bullshit way to go. Thankfully it won’t be a crippling issue as the months go forward.

Now to the positives, and there were two major ones.

First off, need to tip my hat to The Shield.

This unique trio has opened my eyes. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns have all exhibited tremendous ability in the ring. Better than that, the WWE has booked them to be almost indestructible. Dean owns the United States belt after he pinned Kofi Kingston, while Rollins/Reigns owning the Tag Team belts after they ruled supreme over Team Hell No. Their matches at Extreme Rules were amongst the best on the card, and with time will bring justice to the main event. I can’t wait until one of these guys gets the WWE Championship. With Money in the Bank coming around, it may be sooner than later.

Now to the title portion of the program.

Brock Lesnar and Triple H took their long-running feud inside of a shiny new cage to end the show. Over the course of a year, these two have beaten the living crap out of each other. Whether it’d be Brock breaking Trips’ arm multiple times, or Triple H knocking out Lesnar cold at WrestleMania, the climax would inevitably hit soon. Soon being Extreme Rules.

I’ll admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of this match going in. I haven’t seen ‘Mania yet, but I did watch SummerSlam. That match felt pitifully slow, and when Brock put Triple H in his Kimura, it felt like as if all of us were gonna tap out to boredom.

However, this cage match had just enough to keep it going forward.

For example, I liked how Triple H went after Brock’s knee. Lesnar sold it like a monster was wounded mortally! Also, I liked how Paul Heyman (a main instigator of this whole angle) got his licked in, plus got his ass kicked. Heyman was never one to shy away from getting into the fray, and he didn’t disappoint here. Plus I liked how Triple H played by his figurative sword but would ultimately die by it too.

The ending may have been somewhat weak, but I didn’t mind the outcome. Brock Lesnar winning was the only realistic way to go. Brock losing would have been like Lesnar turning into the 2013 version of Brian Pillman: the world’s richest jobber. While jobbing doesn’t always have a bad connotation, it can definitely leave the wrong impression in certain situations. Fortunately, WWE did the right thing and let Brock go over massive.

_________________________________________________

 

From here, Brock can only feud with one man.

A man whose penchant is to elicit strong hometown reactions, and a man whose manager (plus Curtis Axel) will inevitably turn on him with a broken arm in tow. 

Don’t forget people… PAYBACKS ARE GONNA BE A BITCH!

Technorati Tags: wwe,wwf,brock lesnar,f-5,triple h,paul heyman,wrestlemania,extreme rules,summerslam,payback,money in the bank,the shield,dean ambrose,seth rollins,roman reigns,tag team championship,united states championship,wwe championship,john cena,ryback,shawn michaels,royal rumble,cm punk,batman

Madison Square Garden Moments Part One

To truly understand the existential importance of Madison Square Garden to present day WWE, you must go back to the era of the territories.

In 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance formed. It pretty much aligned all the major promotions within the United States together. While there were regional bookers who had their own clientele of talent, they all had to share one recognized World Champion.

This seemed dandy until two major federations broke away later on.

One of them would be Verne Gagne and the Minnesota-based AWA (American Wrestling Association).

The other would be Vincent J. McMahon and the WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation).

McMahon, the father of Vincent Kennedy McMahon, would run shop in the Northeast. For all the towns and all the venues, only one place would hold the major cards and feud-enders: Madison Square Garden.

Located in New York City on 34th & 6th, MSG held the trials and tribulations of many a superstar over the years.

It’s history is so vast that a singular count-down list of moments would do this invaluable establishment injustice.

In this piece, we’re gonna look at just a few of MSG’s greatest contributions to WWE’s history.

One of the reasons why MSG is so important is because it can link the lineage of WWE with mentions of Bruno Sammartino and John Cena in the same breath. The Garden has always been a hotbed for wrestling, and this is one small article to prove it.

So here we are, a sampling of what MSG so great. (Note: These are not in chronological order!)

_________________________________________________

Hulk Hogan Defeats The Iron Sheik to Win the WWE Championship. January 23rd, 1984.

Consider this the moment that changed it all!

Hulk Hogan, once banished from the WWE for attempting to become a movie star, became the top man partially thanks to a change in management.

The elder McMahon stepped down from power, and his successor to the throne was son Vince Kennedy. Vince’s vision was succinctly different than his father’s, which would ultimately involve carving the business up for himself.

That’s another story for another day.

Instead, let’s go back to that cold January night.

The Sheik won the title only a month before due to the forfeit of Bob Backlund via that man’s manager Arnold Skaaland. This evil Iranian was the epitome of evil. His Camel Clutch was a death spell for all victims, including the once-superhuman Backlund. Bob’s five-year title run as champion was effectively ended by that hold.

Backlund was out for revenge, but he would need help.

Cue Hogan!

Hogan’s first WWWF stint a few years before was relatively fruitless. While the big guy was managed by Freddie Blassie, this heel monster was kind-of forgettable.

Hogan was approached about an offer for Rocky III. The elder McMahon told Hogan it’s either the movie or the business. Hulk chose Rocky, and Vince Sr. fired him on the spot.

After the movie was done shooting, Hogan showed up in the AWA. He was initially brought in as a heel, but the crowd could not get enough of him. Not only did he eventually turn face, but he was the most credible threat to Nick Bockwinkel’s kingpin status as AWA Champion.

Hogan was gaining credibility and experience every time he stepped into the ring. While the belt always eluded him, it was only a matter of time before he would get it.

Then the son called.

Vincent Kennedy offered Hogan a can’t miss opportunity. It was so grand that Hogan even skipped his remaining AWA commitments in order to jump ship. The ramifications of THAT will be discussed another day.

So Hogan came to the WWE. With a fire in his gut and an eye of the tiger, Hulk eyed Sheik and the title.

Alia iacta est. The die is cast. January the 23rd 1984 would be the date everyone circled on their calendar.

The match itself was pretty quick. Hogan primarily dominated his smaller opponent, but the evil-doer would turn momentum. Hogan was down in the despised Clutch, and the fans were rumbling for his comeback!

Hogan answered and in spades. He would drop the leg, and get the 1-2-3!

In a shade under seven minutes, Hulk Hogan became WWE Champion for the first time. It was an emotional affair backstage, capped off with Andre the Giant pouring champagne down the backside of the champion.

For the next four years, Hulkamania would indeed be running wild. This match was like Snow White with Disney: the one that started it all!

_________________________________________________

AUSTIN STUNS MCMAHON! Monday Night RAW. September 22nd, 1997

 

WWE’s RAW had been on the air for over four years by this point. For all the accolades the show would have by now, the surprising fact here is that it was RAW’s first trip to MSG.

Do not get confused between this and with the original home of RAW, the Manhattan Center. They are very close to one another, but the arenas could not be any more different.

Back to MSG. The Monday Night Wars are in full swing, and WCW was in full kick-assery mode. The new World order was running strong, and the Cruiserweights were supplementing that with great matches in the undercard.

WWE was just beginning to inject some ‘Attitude’ into the formula in desperation.

Steve Austin was really starting to come up through the ranks of the WWE. A neck injury stalled his wrestling momentum, but not the brash personality.

In the month prior to this, Austin laid out every announcer and authority figure with the Stone Cold Stunner.

But one.

You see, Austin didn’t have many friends on the roster (kayfabe), and his biggest enemies were that of the Hart Foundation. At this point in time, specifically Owen.

Owen’s botched piledriver sent Austin to the hospital with a neck injury that would keep Austin out of the ring for a while, and ultimately would lead to surgery.

In the events leading up to the show, Owen had a restraining order filed against Austin. Essentially, Austin would be arrested if he tried to touch Owen.

So after Owen’s victory over Brian Pillman in the Intercontinental Championship tournament, he dedicated the match to loving brother Bret.

Then he got jumped.

Austin pounced, but NYPD’s finest were right in line to arrest him. Vince McMahon got off the announce table to cool the proceedings.

Vince scolded Austin, but not in the way he would later on in future. He understood Austin was hurt and upset, but he shouldn’t break the law and hurt himself further.

Austin acknowledges the care he has received, but he tells McMahon to go kiss his ASS.

STUNNER!

It was a very poorly executed Stunner, and it can be attributed to Vince’s goofy selling. Austin was arrested, and hauled off to jail. I wonder if perhaps it was the same jail the Mountie got anally raped in during Summerslam 1991?

Whatever the case was, it was effective, and it might have been a turning point in the Wars.

Not only was it a great MSG moment, but it will rank up there in WWE moments as well.

_________________________________________________

John Cena Returns! Royal Rumble. January 27th, 2008

 

Transforming into something more current.

John Cena’s Superman-like WWE Championship run in 2007 came to an abrupt end. While attempting to give a basic hip toss to Mr. Kennedy on RAW, Cena tore his right pectoral muscle. Like a soldier he finished the match, and was even subject to a beat-down from Randy Orton. Orton and Cena should have clashed at No Mercy that month for the title in a Last Man Standing affair.

Cena’s recovery time was slated to be six to twelve months. From that point, WrestleMania may not have even been an option.

However, he shocked the world…

More on that in a minute.

The 2008 edition of the Royal Rumble was an entertaining one indeed.

Michael Buffer introduced the first two combatants. First was The Undertaker, the defending winner of the Rumble. Second was the HEARTBREAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KIDDDDDDDDDDD! Shawn Michaels literally had his name exaggerated like that, and sought revenge on the man who eliminated him from the Rumble last year. Essentially, the last two men to enter the Rumble the year previous are the first two men to enter this year.

Michaels and ‘Taker dominated the first half of the Rumble. Eventually both would be eliminated as Michaels would eliminate Undertaker, and Mr. Kennedy would nearly simultaneously throw Shawn over. 

Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka would go nose to nose and brawl. This would stop everything DEAD COLD in the ring!

When Triple H came out, he started to whoop some ass. He was the odds on favorite seeing as how he had to overcome the odds to even enter this match.

#30 was coming out. While there was no one announced for it, the general consensus is that it would be some sort of mid-card filler.

3…

2…

1…

HOLY FUCKING DOG SHIT IT’S JOHN CENA!

The response to this was epic. He came back more than two months earlier than projected! Cena started mowing down the competition to a mixture of appreciation and depreciation.

H and Cena were the last two eligible. Cena was able to hurl The Game over the top, and claim his prize: a trip to WrestleMania!

For an era where the internet is the greatest tool in spoilers, this surprise was guarded better than almost any in that time frame. Cena legitimately surprised the Madison Square Garden crowd, who in themselves are no spring chickens.

_________________________________________________

Shawn Michaels Flies! WrestleMania X. March 20th, 1994

The setup for the match was perfect. Shawn Michaels, then Intercontinental Champion, was suspended by the WWE for testing positive on a drug test. On television, this was covered up by saying Michaels failed to appear for company duty.

In the wake of it all, a new champion was crowned via a one-two punch, a battle royal in which the last two men standing would compete one-on-one. Razor Ramon was the baddest guy with the baddest gold by the time it was all said and done.

Shawn appears a short time later… WITH AN INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BELT?

In real life, Shawn kept the belt after he was suspended. Vince turned this into a positive by saying the WWE never asked for it back.

Fans were confused yet interested. The battle to determine it all was WrestleMania X, the ladder match!

While it was a ladder contest, the match didn’t really go deep into the ladders immediately. Some nice wrestling kicked it off, with Diesel (Shawn’s bodyguard at the time) earned an ejection after cold-cocking Ramon with a right hand! “YOU SEE SOMETHIN’?” Apparently John Cena did in his sleep!

Both men eventually would taste the steel.

Shawn would eventually climb that ladder, and in a single moment, cemented his status as amongst the elite in the WWE.

The splash made the people gasp in awe, and it made Shawn Michaels a major power broker for life afterwards.

Ramon would win the match, but as noted, Shawn was the real winner. The next three matches Shawn would have at ‘Mania would all be WWE Championship matches for the Heartbreak Kid.

Not bad for a guy who literally made an ass of himself.

_________________________________________________

This concludes part one! What moments will I pick for next time? You’ll find out in a New York City minute!

Technorati Tags: wwe,wwf,wwe championship,blog,youtube,bad booking,johnson transcript,marks,vince mcmahon,territory,hulk hogan,iron sheik,steve austin,john cena,triple h,shawn michaels,razor ramon,ladder,royal rumble,wrestlemania,raw,monday night war,attitude era

If you like what you see, please support these two organizations: MARKS, and the newly fledgling The Johnson Transcript. Both are awesome reads by writers who have been wrestling fans for the majority of their lives!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bad Booking's Top Ten List of 'Attitude' Matches

It's been a while since I've been in the saddle making regular posts.

It's been even longer since I've made lists.

Time to make another one!

While I have done lists covering decades, I haven't made one that was dedicated to a particular era of the WWE.

That's about to change.

To celebrate the new WWE Home Video release of the Attitude Era, here we have a new list celebrating this storied time.

Just like how the Attitude Era shook up sports-entertainment, this seemingly normal countdown will have a twist. One of nearing Vince Russo-like proportions.

You see, this list isn't just about match quality, or what reviewers would say, “THAT'S A FIVE-STAR CLASSIC!”

In addition, the matches selected have to feel like they could have only been done in this period of time. The period where the crowds were consistently insane, the characters were across-the-board memorable, and the storylines had plot devices that left fans scratching their heads. Take that as both a positive and a negative. Most importantly, they are synonymous with how ‘business’ was done back in those times. 

Also, the matches have to take place in the era. For the sake of all argument, this period will be defined as starting on March 10^th, 1997, the date where the whole RAW show had a major overhaul following a particularly disastrous episode the week before, and ending on April 1^st, 2001, which of course was when WrestleMania X-Seven occurred.

Let's not waste any more time. If you're not down with that, I have two words for ya...

_________________________________________________

10. Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship: Sycho Sid © vs. Bret Hart, WWE RAW (3/17/97)

This first entry is like that song from the classic 1966 movie “Sound of Music”.

We will start from the very beginning. A very good place to start!

This is only the second episode of RAW since the major overhaul. Right away, the tone set for ‘Attitude’ was reached right here.

At the start of the show, it was noted this match may or may not be for the title. Gorilla Monsoon stated that since Hart didn’t receive his proper rematch for the title yet, it had to be done before Undertaker would get his shot.

Let me break it down: Shawn Michaels vacated his WWE Championship after he lost smile. I still call bullshit. The following pay-per-view event had a Final Four match, which was born out of the controversial finish from the Royal Rumble match the month before. Originally a #1 contender match for the title at WrestleMania, it was now a WWE Championship match. Bret Hart became WWE Champion after lasting against Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Vader. Sycho Sid, who originally was the #1 contender for the title, fought Hart for the title the night after the PPV. He won after Austin beat the crap out of Hart. So here we are on the 17th of March, and we got a conundrum. Two matches on the WrestleMania 13 card depend on the outcome of this match: will the title either go to the Bret Hart and Steve Austin submission battle, or will it go to the battle of the monsters Undertaker and Sid?

For match quality, this was not amongst Bret Hart’s best work. It was probably amongst Sid’s best, but that’s like saying your dog’s shit smelled less than your neighbor’s.

As for the finish, it was nuts. Undertaker and Austin were creating all sorts of hell ringside. ‘Taker had the last say when he slammed the cage door right into Hart’s face, and that allowed Sid, Undertaker’s opponent for ‘Mania, to retain the WWE Championship. Austin looked on DEJECTED at this result.

Bret was more than dejected, and therefore he took the microphone.

What followed was an expletive-filled promo that defies the entity of time. Because RAW was live at that point, it was completely uncensored. The emotion was certainly ‘raw’, and was full of ‘attitude’ Bret Hart never had the balls to show before.

To make this even more explosive, all four men fought with each other. Shawn Michaels even made an appearance with a steel chair! Jim Ross was getting so hoarse in his voice you thought it was the big night itself!

This character bitterness would lead to one of the greatest matches in history, where Hart would make a bloody Austin pass out in pain at WrestleMania. Undertaker would ultimately win the title from Sid that same event. Ironically, the man who slammed the door into Hart’s face would ultimately have the last laugh and the title.

DVD’s: WWE The Best of RAW 15th Anniversary (note: the link takes you to an Evan Bourne shirt, but trust me: it’s for the DVD)

9. No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship: The Rock © vs. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, WrestleMania X-Seven

This is one of the only lists you’ll see where the beginning and the end are piled one right on top of the other.

This is also one of the only lists where you’ll see this matchup rank so low in the overall running.

If anything, this is probably the greatest title match in ‘Mania history!

The whole match felt like a goodbye kiss to the Attitude Era. It was non-stop in its brawling. It was non-stop in its brutality. The blood flowed early and often. To conclude, it even had a shocking ending Russo would have shit his pants over!

Even so, there were some reservations about the conclusion.

Directly after this match, for all intents and purposes, the inVasion happened. That will go down as one of the darker times in WWE history.

Also, no one wanted to see Austin turn heel. While it was Steve’s desire to do so, the television revolving around this wasn’t the best stuff of Austin’s career. I will say that the comedy stuff with Angle was deep-fried gold however.

To conclude, this match is like Billy Joel’s “Famous Last Words”. There may be words some other day, but for this time period, it’s time to say goodbye. Don’t go away yet, we still have eight spots to go on the countdown!

DVD’s: The History of the WWE Championship, Stone Cold Steve Austin - What?, The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time 

8. Steel Cage Match: Vince McMahon vs. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1999)

The introduction to this match is as hilariously confusing as the contest itself.

Vince McMahon won the 1999 Royal Rumble. It took a lot of ‘Corporate’ help, mainly The Rock, but the boss was able to go coast to coast in getting the win.

The night after on RAW, Vince was going to relinquish his title shot to help further The Rock. Or so he thought.

Cut to Steve Austin via Titantron in San Antonio. He looks plastered off his ass, which quite frankly is pretty much barred today. He says he’s going to WrestleMania, which stifles the Corporate team.

Cue in Shawn Michaels, the ever-present WWE Commissioner. Even at home!

Michaels states in the WWE rulebook that because McMahon forfeits his title shot, Austin is able to take that shot because he came in second.

Austin is up for a challenge, self-imposed: At the next event, he wants Vince’s ass in a cage. If Austin wins, he gets the title shot. If Vince wins, then, well, uh, I think the title shot goes to the Corporation or something like that.

The first nine minute or so of this match occur outside the cage, before the match even starts! Of course, the big bump with McMahon going through the table occurs. Vince legitimately broke his tailbone on the fall, and whether that affected the rest of the match I didn’t notice.

Once inside the cage, Austin is like the proverbial shark in the water. He makes McMahon bleed, and beats the holy high hell out of him.

McMahon has a ruse though.

Popping up from a hole in the ring comes Paul Wight. You might remember this guy as a 7’ ignoramus from WCW just the week before! Wight throws Austin against the cage, but it accidentally opens and gives the Rattlesnake the win!

This match is primarily on here because of the shocking way Paul Wight debuted. Most people dropped their jaws to the floor when they saw this monster, mainly because of the fact that Wight was on WCW just a few days before as The Giant. The debut felt like a more physical version of when Lex Luger appeared in WCW after just appearing with the WWE the night before. Since the internet was not as prevalent then as it is now, debuts like that legitimately shocked people, and that’s why this match is on the list.

DVD’s: McMahon, The Greatest Cage Matches of All Time

7. Three Stages of Hell: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin vs. Triple H, No Way Out 2001

 

Triple H and Steve Austin had an on-again, off-again feud since about 1996. Whether it was singles, DX, or even had a corporate undertone, these two were at each other’s throats!

The latter-half of 1999 saw Austin chase Triple H for the WWE Championship. During the Survivor Series PPV, which was supposed to have seen the holiest of all Attitude matches (Austin/Rock/HHH), Austin was run down in the parking lot. It turned out Rikishi was the driver, but Triple H was the impetus behind it.

These two men are indestructible. Austin survives getting run over. Triple H survived a crash landing of twenty feet to the ground upside down in a car. The two were even at the brim of destruction inside of a six-man Hell in the Cell match!

For all the unforgiving acts of brutality displayed, it all had to come to an end.

Thus enter Vince and the 3 Stages of Hell.

The match itself is simple yet complex. It’s a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, with each fall depicting a different stipulation. Fall one was a regular singles match. Fall two was a Street Fight. Finally, fall three (if necessary) was to be contested inside of a steel cage.

What followed is a match that, well, there is a reason why I thought it was 2001 Match of the Year. Keep in mind that year had some GREAT matches.

However, even in the aura of Attitude, this shines high.

The long-arching storyline, topped with a match for the ages is something you’ll rarely see today. Even more so, there are rarely any blood feuds that fully envelop a fan’s interest from start to finish.

That one was definitely it!

DVDs: Stone Cold Steve Austin - What?, The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H - That Damn Good (The original pay per view sadly is only available on VHS in the United States. Europeans are lucky enough to have it in their Tagged Classics series.)

6. Street Fight Match for the WWE Championship: Triple H © vs. Cactus Jack, Royal Rumble 2000

 

I have mentioned this match on frequently on this blog.

It’s 2000 Match of the Year.

Hell, I even did an in-depth review on the contest itself.

So why mention it again?

Mainly this match reeks of ‘Attitude’.

Both men were in prime physical form for the match. Foley actually took time off from the road to exercise and rehab, to make his already mythical Cactus Jack character seem more of a monster. Triple H was probably at his very best here, using his vast technical/brawling skills to their absolute zenith.

As for the feel of the match, it is about as close to a Death Match from Japan as you’ll ever get to in the WWE. To say it’s brutal is an understatement, and emotional even more so. Both men put their heart and soul into it, and the story told in bloodshed is more convincing than any story in a Twilight novel.

This match couldn’t have been done a few years before this, and it can’t be done now. Sure Foley would have these type matches with Edge and Randy Orton during the middle portion of the decade, but they still have to bow down to this one.

DVD’s: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses, Triple H - The Game, Triple H - That Damn Good, Royal Rumble 2000, Royal Rumble, The Complete Anthology

5. Ladder Match to conclude the T.I.T Invitational: Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz, No Mercy 1999

 

Where this match ranks on the countdown might very well catch people off guard.

Literal five-star classics are ranked lower than this, and quite frankly this match feels tame in comparison to what was to come.

To quote The Hurricane, “WAZZ UP WIT DAT?”

As noted from the top of the article, this countdown isn’t just about match quality. It also has to be one with the era, and its impact has to be vast.

Therefore, this match earns its spot on the countdown right here.

While ladder matches had been done in the WWE prior to 1999, hell there were even a couple that year, this match was special.

There were no titles on the line, but it was for the managerial service of one busty Terri Runnels. $100,000 dollars doesn’t sound bad either, but it might very well be out of Goldust’s alimony checks. More importantly, there were four men in the ring whose careers were at that important “make it or break it” crossroads.

Like George Newman staring into a burning burger patty from UHF, the four men battling it out had imagination!

They put their bodies, their souls, their careers, and their lives on the line. Up to this point, double-team ladder maneuvers hadn’t been done in the United States professional wrestling mainstream. Daredevil moves that could have been individual high spots in other matches instead became glue to the overall flow.

These teams and their daredevil antics are one of the bountiful reasons why The Attitude Era became one of the greatest times in wrestling history. Every ladder match (including TLC’s) that followed owes some of their greatness to this match.

DVD’s: Hardy Boyz - Leap of Faith, The Ladder Match, Edge - A Decade of Decadence

4. WWE Championship: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin © vs. Dude Love. Over the Edge 1998

Talk about your jack of all trades matches.

This one is the epitome.

Stone Cold had been the target of Vince McMahon and The Corporation since probably mankind existed.

Well, not that Mick Foley ‘mankind’.

As a matter of fact, Mankind was tag team partners and champions with Austin the year before. Both men had been viewed as disposable by WCW. Boy wasn’t that a mistake!

When Austin and McMahon were due to have their big-time match in April of 1998 on RAW, one character stopped the madness with his quirky albeit lovable theme music.

Enter Dude Love.

It looked like he was going to attack McMahon, knowing that Love was always a babyface. Instead, he stuck his Mandible Claw inside AUSTIN! This aligned Love with the evil empire of McMahon, the Death Star of the WWE.

Love even got a corporate makeover. He had his teeth done, got himself a blue blazer (not Owen Hart as “The Blue Blazer”), and even shaved! This man was grooving big time, HAVE MERCY!

Pat Patterson, who had been doing ring introductions on this night in Milwaukee, intentionally didn’t do Austin’s opening. He felt Austin was a “beer-swilling fool, a loud-mouthed punk… and a BUM!” Glass shattered and that’s all what was needed.

To add even more intrigue, HERE COMES UNDERTAKER! He was legitimately sidelined with a broken foot, but he had an important role in the match anyway.

Oh, I forgot. I goofed. This was my 1998 Match of the Year!

Simply, this match had a great mix of technical wrestling, brawling, weapons, blood, and tomfoolery. Dude Love tried to win multiple times, but Undertaker sent McMahon’s minions straight to hell via some rough table chokeslam spots! Austin wins, and everyone is happy.

Attitude this was, and magic that may never be created again. The storyline on paper looked like the basic good guy and bad guy premise, but the characters portrayed mixed with an electric atmosphere made this match seemingly unforgettable.

DVD’s: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling (Hardcore Edition), Mick Foley: Hard Knocks & Cheap Pops, Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time

3. WWE Championship: Bret Hart © vs. Shawn Michaels, Survivor Series 1997

 

“Whoa Bad Booking. You just made a Montreal Screwjob post, and now you’re making this #2 on a ATTITUDE ERA MATCH COUNTDOWN?!?!?!? You’re one stupid son-of-a-bitch!”

Actually sir, let me explain myself.

Yes, I just made that post not too long ago, and quite frankly the material is still fresh in my mind. Hell, I even popped in the Hart/Michaels Rivalry Blu-ray the night I posted that sucker, so the stuff remained even more relevant in my mind.

The ramifications associated with this match however make it practically one with the Attitude.

Let’s start with one thing perfectly clear: Shawn Michaels was fully able to get away with consecrating a Canadian flag, while Chris Jericho well over a decade later was almost arrested for making fun of a Brazilian flag.

To prove my point even further, let’s mark this as the night kayfabe was stabbed forty times in a Canadian Forum with “And you also Vince” as the last words uttered by in-prime Bret Hart.

While I explain it more in depth in the article, I will note this: the fact such a fourth-wall breaking moment occurred, in ANY ERA, makes it something memorable. It can’t be replicated with any hint of authenticity, and Cornette’s Seven Year Rule is obliterated.

The legacy this match left behind, with legitimate raw bitterness, makes it a lock at this podium position.

DVD’s: The Best of WWE Confidential, Vol. 1, Greatest Rivalries - Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray exclusive match)

 

2. WWE Championship: Triple H (c) vs. The Rock, Backlash 2000

THIS should have main evented WrestleMania 2000!

The Rock and Triple H have practically grown up together in the WWE. Hell, Triple H was technically in Rock’s first WWE match as a Survivor Series team member!

Through their early singles runs they battled.

Through their faction wars they battled it out.

Rock was a Corporate entity, and Triple H had to overcome the odds.

Now Triple H is the Corporate entity, and Rock has to now overcome those same odds.

Only this time, the coveted WWE Championship is on the line.

Triple H has some LOADED backup. You could say its… FULLY LOADED. There’s his wife Stephanie. His father-in-law Vince. Brother-in-law Shane, who was also picked as the referee. Hell, even the Stooges Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco had a hand in on the action as well!

There is another wildcard in the mix, but more on him in a moment.

The grand majority of the match, Triple H is seemingly using the numbers game to his advantage. Even when not on the offense, Rock is always getting heckled by the referee and outside distraction. At one point, everyone and their mothers (well, maybe not the mother) come down to kick Rock’s head in.

Glass shatters!

What the fuck?

Yep, it’s Stone Cold!

A week after blowing up the DX Express, Austin is armed with a chair. FREE SHOTS FOR EVERYONE! Hell, he even got in a few headshots, which in today’s environment will net you a $2,000 fine per shot! After this goes down, Linda McMahon (see, the mother did something good) comes down with campaign advisor Senior Referee Earl Hebner to bring order back into the match. The Rock finally puts away The Game, and gets the title!

Austin greets Rock with a stare post-match, but ultimately toasts the title with a beer. #9 would happen nearly a year later.

For such a match, this feels right at home on the list. Mainly that ‘Corporate’ aspect where in an era where there were more shades of grey than softcore porn, everyone agreed these were selfish and greedy bad guys ready to get taken down. While the Attitude Era had lots of different original aspects of sports entertainment, the basics are always welcomed as well. It was just that this basic story was about as high as this era was going to go, all things considered.

DVD’s: The Rock: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment

1. Hell in the Cell: Undertaker vs. Mankind, King of the Ring 1998

 

When I compiled the list for this countdown, there were dozens of matches ready for action. Amongst the 30+ entries for this entry, only one spot was claimed off the bat.

#1 and this Hell in the Cell was that spot.

This is the only match on the list whose notoriety reached well beyond the realm of sports-entertainment. Hogan and Andre from WrestleMania III may very well be the only match whose mainstream popularity overrides this one.

Like some other matches on this list, Hell in the Cell has been covered multiple times in different fashions.

Also like the other matches mentioned, there is another angle that could be taken on this, so here we go.

It was right around this time period where Undertaker’s character seemingly started to change. His benevolence was quickly turning into grey matter. He beat up heels and faces all along with amazing crowd reactions. Hell, Undertaker cut a in-character shoot promo in SWEATPANTS! The only character that had this luxury in recent times was Kane earlier this year in those therapy segments.

Mick Foley had quite the build himself. He was fired by Vince McMahon for not getting the job done at Over the Edge, but was quickly hired back after causing hell at the behest of Austin and Undertaker. He regularly threw himself out there waiting for that next big bump.

As noted in the OTE entry, Undertaker was still suffering with a broken foot. Mainly, the in-ring segments non-PPV were limited to chokeslams coupled with man-on-the-street beatdowns (like beating up Paul Bearer at his house).

The big day ensues, and we all know what happens. The match is essentially one big “HOLY SHIT” moment, where one big bump happens right after an another. Broken bones and stitches along the way!

Really quickly, it is easy why this match is #1 on an Attitude Era countdown. It’s relentlessly brutal, had a great story, wonderful crowd involvement, and further more, both men garnered more respect after the match. Further more, it couldn’t have been done in eras past, and the era we are currently in now. It’s a product of its time that still holds up.

DVD’s: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling (Hardcore Edition), Tombstone - The History of the Undertaker, Hell in a Cell - The Greatest Hell in a Cell Matches of All Time, The Best of King of the Ring

_________________________________________________

CONCLUSION

This list took a lot of priming and debating.

The matches selected in this countdown had to feel like they could have only been done in this period of time. The period where the crowds were consistently insane, the characters were across-the-board memorable, and the storylines were full of wild twists and turns. Plus their lasting impact had to be measurable from the product that has followed since.

It was the era where the WWE came from damnation to vindication, securing a television audience that would override the challenge of the WCW juggernaut. While times may have changed, it’s never a bad thing to look back at the good times.

They will happen again…

_________________________________________________

P.S: If you like what you see here, please check out another site my posts frequently appear on: MARKS. They’re a great bunch of guys (and a few ladies), and they’re as passionate about the product as any fans today.

Please help the blog and purchase from my Amazon links! Happy Thanksgiving! If you want to read something I don’t normally delve on, look at Alton Brown and his Good Eats special from 1999!

Technorati Tags: wwe,wwf,wwe championship. blog,amazon,youtube,bad booking,dvd,blu-ray,hell in the cell,ladder,street fight,three stages of hell,expletive,attitude era,blood,guts,sweat,tears,good eats,edge,christian,hardy boys,triple h,steve austin,bret hart,shawn michaels,undertaker,mick foley,mankind,cactus jack,dude love,paul bearer,kane,vince mcmahon,the rock,the corporation,d-generation x,nation of domination