10 Most Shocking WWE Survivor Series Moments
5. The Peoples Champion Becomes The Corporate Champion (1998)
While people criticize some of Vince Russos booking decisions in WCW & TNA, his finest work came in the form of the 1998 Survivor Series and the various twists and turns that made up a thrilling Deadly Games WWF Championship tournament.
After seeing Shane McMahon turn on Steve Austin and cost him his shot at championship gold, it came down to Vince McMahons corporate chosen one, Mankind, going up against the biggest rising star in the company at the time, The Rock. Throughout 1998, Dwayne Johnson had grown from mid card heel to being on the verge of becoming the companys next megastar.
In the weeks leading up to Survivor Series he was on par in popularity with Stone Cold himself, so it was pretty much a lock that hed be a huge babyface going forward.
Then, in the closing moments of the tournament finals, Rock applied Bret Harts sharpshooter to Foley and McMahon demanded the bell be rung as a homage to the previous years screwjob. Rock had joined the McMahons, becoming their Corporate Champion.
A stunned crowd turned into an angry mob and The Great One drank it in as he became the top villain in the company with the powerful owner right by his side.