2. WrestleMania 17 - The Ultimate Betrayal
It's often said that the heel should never go over in the main event of WrestleMania, but - when done right - an unsatisfying ending can be just as exciting. The Rock and Austin's second 'Mania face-off was built masterfully, featuring a great deal of respect, tension, and the greatest hype video in WWE history. The crowd were especially hot, as it took place in Stone Cold's home state of Texas, with the Rattlesnake playing the role of a desperate challenger willing to do anything to capture the belt. Nobody could have foreseen quite how desperate, however. The match was a furious classic, with momentum swinging between the two icons constantly. Then, strangely, Vince McMahon strode to ringside, still exhausted and beaten from his earlier street fight with Shane. In a shocking, landscape-changing moment, he interfered on Austin's behalf and helped the Rattlesnake defeat the Rock. It was an unthinkable betrayal on Austin's part, the ultimate anti-authority figure selling his soul to the boss for a title reign. Many pinpoint this moment as the end of the Attitude Era, and it was certainly an ending befitting the period - shocking, bloody, and utterly compelling.