11 Most Iconic Attitude Era Moments in WWE History [Ranked]

The WWE has skilled a few of the highest of highs and lowest of lows all through its storied historical past. An organization that has been the flagbearer for skilled wrestling for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, the WWE has remained on prime ever since, cementing themselves as the best sports activities leisure firm. With over 70 years price of moments within the historical past books, the WWE aren’t in need of a memorable second.

These moments have occurred sporadically over time, happening all through quite a few eras that the WWE has endured. From the Ruthless Aggression Period to the present Information Period, the WWE has offered followers with numerous thrilling moments in time, none extra so than the Perspective Period.

The Perspective Period was a interval that began in 1997 and ran till 2002. Birthed throughout the WWF’s rivalry with WCW, this period was created for the corporate to win the rankings conflict towards Ted Turner’s WCW. Upping all issues depth and violence, the WWE, or WWF as they have been on the time, made certain to blur the strains greater than ever. Attributable to this adult-orientated output, it meant the scope for storylines was limitless, and it led to quite a few moments which have stood the check of time. A five-year reign that’s nonetheless spoken about to at the present time, these are 11 of essentially the most iconic moments to happen throughout the Perspective Period.

11

Stephanie McMahon & Take a look at’s Wedding ceremony

An iconic interruption

Wedding ceremony segments and WWE go hand in hand, with quite a few hilarious moments occurring in these outlandishly carried out ceremonies. Recognized to by no means finish properly, it was the case throughout the wedding ceremony of Stephanie McMahon and Take a look at in 1999. A relationship with controversy surrounding it, Shane McMahon was so towards it that he carried out in a “Love Her or Go away Her” match at SummerSlam, in the end dropping and giving his blessing begrudgingly.

Because the official ceremony commenced on Monday Night time Uncooked, Triple H interrupted and proceeded to air footage of him and Stephanie, who was handed out, leaving a white chapel simply days earlier than. Mayhem would ensue as Take a look at ran after the King of Kings, and Stephanie cried in her father’s arms. An iconic WWE wedding ceremony phase, it paved the best way for these to come back.

10

Mankind Wins WWE Championship

“That is gonna put some butts within the seats.”

One of many extra shocking heel turns to happen within the Perspective Period, The Rock’s inclusion in Vince McMahon’s heel group ‘The Company’ led to one of many best babyface victories in WWE historical past. Mankind was one in every of Mick Foley’s ‘Three Faces of Foley’ characters and was the one which the WWE Universe emotionally related to most. A sympathetic model of Cactus Jack, Mankind was the sufferer of the Rock’s heel flip in 1998.

Having been screwed by Vince McMahon throughout a title match, who ordered the bell to be rung early, granting The Rock the victory, Mankind would spend weeks being put down by The Company. That was till one pre-taped Uncooked in December, the place Mankind lastly bettered The Rock to grow to be WWF Champion, one of many best babyface victories within the firm’s historical past. With the present being pre-taped, phrase bought out on the end result, with WCW famously spoiling the outcome and sarcastically stating: ‘That is gonna put some butts within the seats’.

9

‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin Defeats Shawn Michaels

A passing of the torch second

A match that pitted the face of the Perspective Period towards the face of the New Era Period, ‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels’ encounter at WrestleMania XIV lived as much as the lofty expectations. The primary Mania of the Perspective Period, Austin bought to the occasion through a Royal Rumble win, while Shawn Michaels was his opponent of selection because the WWF Champion.

Mike Tyson’s on-screen presence was felt throughout the construct to this match, with soon-to-be-mentioned moments creating headlines all around the globe. Getting into the Showcase of the Immortals as Particular Ringside Enforcer, Tyson was ringside for a Mania traditional. Continuing to ship the three rely as Austin was handed the torch from Michaels to steer the Perspective Period, Tyson would then align with ‘Stone Chilly’ by knocking HBK out in hilarious trend.

8

The Debut of Y2J

One in all WWE’s best debuts

An period synonymous with iconic, no debut is as memorable as that of Chris Jericho. Having skilled life in WCW and New Japan Professional Wrestling, Y2J would make the WWE his residence in 1996. As the corporate have been constructing to the debut, a clock with ‘Countdown to the New Millenium’ would seem on the programming, with the WWE Universe blissfully unaware of what was to come back.

Lastly, working out of time in August, Jericho would debut on Uncooked while The Rock was reducing a promo. Famously shouting ‘Uncooked is Jericho’, he would discuss with himself as Y2J earlier than a confrontation between himself and the Brahma Bull ensued. Happening to have a Corridor of Fame-worthy profession within the firm, it began with one of many best debuts.

7

The Higher Energy is Revealed

Vince McMahon’s well-known line

After almost a yr’s price of constructing, the second that the Higher Energy for the Ministry of Darkness was revealed continues to be one of the crucial memorable moments in WWE historical past. A faction spearheaded by The Undertaker and Paul Bearer, the Ministry of Darkness would take goal at Kane and ‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin on their evil path of destruction.

With The Acolytes, The Brood, Viscera and Mideon within the group, it was revealed that there was a better energy ruling over the faction. Delaying the reveal, permitting them to attempt their greatest within the rankings conflict towards WCW, a hooded determine would lastly arrive at Uncooked in 1999, revealing himself to be Vince McMahon. Austin’s former rival, McMahon, uttered a legendary line throughout the iconic reveal.

6

Undertaker vs. Mankind

A Hell in a Cell for the ages

In an period with numerous iconic debuts and in-ring segments, one of many extra standout moments occurred within the ring throughout King of the Ring 1998. A Hell in a Cell bout that wants no introduction, Undertaker and Mankind’s hellacious encounter inside the metal fortress nonetheless has the WWE Universe’s admiration. Famously, Mankind, also referred to as Mick Foley, could be thrown off the cell earlier than by accident being slammed by way of the cell and consequently by way of the mat.

Two bumps which have gone down in historical past as being two of essentially the most vicious moments to happen in a WWE ring, the match itself was a memorable 17-minute encounter that cemented itself as the best Hell in a Cell match of all time.

5

‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin Turns Heel

The face of the Perspective Period did the unthinkable

To be a WWE Famous person is to undergo numerous evolutions of oneself. With most wrestlers experiencing quite a few runs as a face and a heel, the transition from one character state to a different can produce jaw-dropping moments. The Perspective Period, greatest summarised as ‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin being the anti-hero who wished to take down Vince McMahon, produced one of many best heel turns in firm historical past.

Attributable to Austin’s alignment with the WWE Universe, nobody might have predicted what was to come back at WrestleMania X-7. Headlining the occasion after a yr out, Austin’s desperation to be on prime as soon as once more noticed him flip heel, however doing so in the one means followers did not anticipate. As Vince McMahon, his fierce rival, made his means all the way down to the ring, Jim Ross would famously exclaim that Austin had sided with “Devil himself” because the duo laid into The Rock to the WWE Universe’s shock. A heel flip that in the end did not work out, the preliminary flip was jaw-dropping.

4

D-Era X Invades WCW Nitro

A phase that completely summarised DX

Shaped simply earlier than the Perspective Period, D-Era X, consisting of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna, X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws, was an entertaining faction that was additionally profitable within the ring. One of the crucial beloved factions in WWE historical past, a lot in order that they’ve a Corridor of Fame induction, one in every of their first escapades throughout the Perspective Period immediately had everybody in stitches.

Making themselves seen in a Tank-like Jeep, the group invaded their rival present, WCW Nitro, in a hilarious phase that took the real-life rankings rivalry and introduced it onto the display. A transfer that cemented the Perspective Period as a second in time with no guidelines, this phase has stood the check of time.

The construct to WrestleMania 14 was unforgettable

When Austin booked his ticket to WrestleMania 14, because of a victory on the Royal Rumble, his win noticed Mike Tyson sitting within the administrators’ field taking within the motion. There for a cause, the next night time on Uncooked produced a promo phase for the ages between Austin and Tyson.

Tyson, who had sided with Vince McMahon, was anticipated to seek out out his WrestleMania function, however Austin’s notorious glass break ruined proceedings, because the Rattlesnake proceeded to verbally rundown the boxer. After flipping his center finger on the Baddest Man on the Planet, a pull-apart brawl ensued, with mainstream media all around the world reporting on the second. A heated phase that made their embrace at WrestleMania 14 that a lot sweeter, Tyson’s efforts within the squared circle earned him a Corridor of Fame induction.

2

WWE Buys WCW

A historic buy

As talked about, the Perspective Period’s arrival was purely all the way down to the competitors dropped at the plate by Ted Turner’s WCW. A billionaire-backed wrestling product, WCW offered a risk that WWE had by no means felt earlier than and hasn’t felt since. The Monday Night time Battle, because it was labelled, pitted Uncooked and Nitro towards one another, with WCW famously beating WWE for 83 weeks straight.

In the end, cash talks, and in a simulcast present that aired on each TNT and TNN, Vince McMahon revealed he had bought his rival firm for an estimated $4.2 million, placing an finish to the extraordinary rivalry. It was later revealed, in storyline, that Shane McMahon had truly bought the corporate, not Vince, however the real-life matter of WCW’s sale was one of the crucial iconic moments of the Perspective Period.

1

Austin’s Iconic Beer Bathtub

A Uncooked phase for the ages

Unanimously agreed upon as being the best second of the Perspective Period and a second that completely encapsulates the chaos that was this second in time, Steve Austin’s Beer Bathtub on Monday Night time Uncooked is as iconic because it will get. In 1999, Austin was making ready to face The Rock at WrestleMania. Doing in order the WWE Universe’s favorite, his last act on Uncooked earlier than the match cemented himself as one of many best babyfaces in firm historical past.

Interrupting The Rock, Vince and Shane McMahon, Austin was standing upon a beer truck that was making its means down the doorway ramp. Stopping earlier than the ring, Austin, hose in hand, proceeded to drench his rival in beer, in addition to the McMahon’s. Remembered for Vince’s hilarious response, it’s the good microcosm of the Perspective Period’s programming.