Why 1997 Was The Greatest Year In Wrestling History

10. The Rise Of The Real People's Champ

Before The Rock took the moniker on as his own, WCW had organically grown their own People's Champion in the form of Diamond Dallas Page.

From a manager and sometimes commentator, DDP famously only began his formal in-ring wrestling training at the age of 35. To his immense credit, Page would go on to make himself one of main attractions of WCW during the company's most popular years - with him becoming a three-time World Heavyweight Champion along the way.

For DDP, his star really began to seriously shine in 1997.

That year started off hot for the Master of the Diamond Cutter, with Page being one of the few to turn down an approach from the New World Order. Not just that, but, in a memorable segment, DDP would drop both Kevin Nash and Scott Hall with Diamond Cutters in the ultimate F-U at January '97's Souled Out PPV.

In that one moment, Page suddenly become a major babyface on the rise - and DDP's ascension was really kicked into another gear when he began feuding with the nWo's 'Macho Man' Randy Savage.

Page and Savage would exchange wins in a lengthy rivalry through 1997 - a rivalry that won the PWI Feud of the Year - and this would even lead to DDP butting heads with nWo leader 'Hollywood' Hogan.

It would take DDP until 1999 to win WCW's biggest prize, but 1997 was the most important, impressive year of Page's career.