10 Most Shocking Wrestling Betrayals

2. DX Degenerates

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WWE Network

By 1999, heel turns occurred with mind-numbing frequency - but Triple H's dissolution of D Generation X resonated more than most because the faction he joined, the Corporation, was antithetical to it. That, and in the sort of convoluted storytelling typical of the time, Chyna had already rejoined DX less than an hour before it disbanded. Ah, Vince Russo, to whom the response to a swerve was another swerve.

As X-Pac valiantly fought off both Test and Shane McMahon in pursuit of the latter's European Title, Triple H slithered into the ring and dropped him with a Pedigree as Chyna assisted with the distraction. An out-of-his-depth Michael Cole, subbing in for Jim Ross, telegraphed the turn far too obviously by dangling his "We have a new champion!" red herring about eighty times.

On second thought, he's still doing that nearly twenty years later.

It was shocking for shocking's sake. Moreover, The Rock was already positioned as the company's top heel. Many thought he and Triple H would resume their 1998 rivalry, albeit with higher stakes. That didn't happen; they instead resumed it on opposing ends of the face/heel spectrum after veering across it wildly in the interim.

It's no wonder ratings were through the roof. You had to tune in just to make sense of it all.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!