2. Austin Sells His Soul - WrestleMania XVII, 2001
These days, the Attitude Era is romanticised more than ever by the WWE - and with good reason. The company's explosive boom period saw industry-defining stars such as Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H rise to prominence, forever changing the face of wrestling. The start of the era is hotly disputed among wrestling fans, but few are split on the moment of its demise. WrestleMania 17 played host to one of the biggest main events in wrestling history, as Royal Rumble winner Stone Cold looked to defeat The Rock for the WWF Championship. It was a clash of the two biggest stars of the Attitude Era, and both men delivered by putting on a classic encounter. However, the match is remembered not for its quality, but its shocking conclusion. Still dressed in his wrestling gear from an earlier bout with son Shane, Vince McMahon strutted down to the ring and interfered on his nemesis' behalf, handing Stone Cold a chair and allowing him to pulverise The Rock into unconsciousness. Having made the pinfall, Austin rose and shockingly shook hands with the boss, an unthinkable act for such an anti-authority figure. The Rattlesnake's heel turn decisively brought an end to one of the most electrifying periods in wrestling history, and simultaneously became one of the most infamous WrestleMania moments ever.
