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- An early WWF title was not far behind as the WWF rookie upset Hunter at a house show to become the WWF Intercontinental Champion. This decision to place such a prestigious belt on a mere rookie did not sit well with the fans and the "Die, Rocky, die" and "Rocky sucks" chants.
- Angry at the fans for apparently rejecting his superstar status, Rocky joined the newly formed Nation of Domination and regained the Intercontinental Championship just one day after the December IYH when Steve Austin was forced to forfeit the title over to him at the whim of Vince McMahon. Rocky, who at this point started calling himself "The Rock", then began one of the most impressive IC Title runs in WWF history.
- Between Royal Rumble and SummerSlam 1998, The Rock elevated himself to the superstar level as he nearly won the Rumble (he entered at #5), took over the Nation, and entered into memorable feuds with Shamrock and Triple H and DX. The latter finally climaxed in an awesome, but brutal Ladder Match for the IC strap that ranks among the top ten matches of that event's history. The People's Champ was defeated to end the WWF's 7th longest IC Championship reign. With nothing left to prove in the IC division, The Rock set his sights on The Ultimate Prize: the WWF Championship.
- Captured the coveted Title when he won the Deadly Games tournament and revealed to the world that he had been working with Vince McMahon and his new Corporation for the past several months. As Vince's official Corporate Champion, The Rock was given one goal: He was not to let The Texas Rattlesnake within one mile of the championship.no matter what the cost.
- Until the inevitable confrontation at WrestleMania however, The Rock would have his hands full with a very angry Mankind, who had been screwed out of his chance at WWF gold in his Deadly Games Finals match with The Rock. Between Christmas and Valentine's Day, these two managed to do it all-from Ladder Matches to Last Man Standing to a new phenomenon called Halftime Heat. In less than two months the WWF Championship changed hands no less than four times between these two, with The Rock finally getting the upper hand the night after St. Valentine's Day Massacre. By this time the stage was set for perhaps one of the most anticipated match-ups in WrestleMania history: The Rock versus the Corporate nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
- In a match that didn't disappoint, The Rock just couldn't take two Stunners and lost the Title. Some would say, and I would agree, that the rematch at Backlash between these two was better than their match at The Greatest Extravaganza In History.
- Disgusted that their chosen champion couldn't get the job done, the newly crowned leader of the Corporate Team, Shane McMahon dropped The Rock like a bad habit, kicking him out of the Corporation, and giving his spot to Triple H and the Undertaker.
- Recently teamed up with his arch-rival, Mankind, to form the short-lived, but very successful Rock 'n' Sock Connection. Before both of their prides got in the way, the RnS become tag team champions three times in a period of a little over a month.
Current Status: Overhyped and Under WWF contract .
Comments: Probably one of the worst wrestlers to step foot in a WWF ring, but due to his outstanding mic skills has gotten him 2 ic titles, 3 WWF Championship titles, and a 3 time tag team champion.
© COPYRIGHT 2000 A Hastings.