1. The Austin Era Has Begun
WrestleMania XIV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlOyfqaMc-8 While the beginning of the Attitude Era is much debated (in my belief it was a gradual process which doesnt have a specific date) many will point to Stone Cold Steve Austin winning his first WWF Championship as the most significant moment of not only the Attitude Era, but of wrestling history. Austin stuck the Stunner on a soon-to-be-retired Shawn Michaels and with the absence of a referee, it was Mike Tyson who made the three count and raised the hand of Austin. When Austin won the belt the feud between him and McMahon was rolling and the crowd had finally seen their favourite win the major one. It was soon after this time that the Monday Night Wars began to favour the WWF and both Triple H and The Rock rose to become main event level superstars, in part due to their respective rivalries with Austin. Stone Colds immortal words Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass had started a process of bringing Attitude to the WWF at King of the Ring in 1996 and a little under two years later the company was rewarded with improving circumstances that were hugely influenced by Austin.