Long before The Rock referred to himself as the People's Champion, Diamond Dallas Page was standing up in the face of a brutal onslaught by the New World Order in the name of the WCW fans. Donning a t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, Page was of the people, by the people and rapidly became one of the most popular stars in all of professional wrestling as a result. His Diamond Cutter finishing move could be executed from any position in the ring, making the finishes of his match both unexpected and exciting to watch. The people ate up the charismatic New Jersey native and appreciated the hard work he put in to become as good as he eventually did. He may never have had the opportunity to become a fan-favorite had he not become engaged in a story with the NWO's Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in late 1996. The surging star was racking up wins and making a name for himself on the undercard when he was offered a spot in the faction by his longtime friends. Page, loyal to the company that gave him a chance to be a wrestler despite being well into his 30s, dropped Hall with a Diamond Cutter to one of the loudest ovations in WCW history. That moment instantly elevated Page into fan consciousness and his matches with Randy Savage in the spring and summer of 1997 helped secure him a spot as one of the top stars in the company. In one short year, he had gone from being an also-ran to proving that he could deliver in high-pressure situations against the most iconic stars the industry had ever seen. One of the most recognizable stars at a time when WCW's popularity was at its zenith, Page became a household name and one of the most marketable performers in the industry. His diamond symbol became a pop culture phenomenon as rapper Jay Z began using it and Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson threw it up regularly following big plays and touchdowns. A hard-edged, hard-working babyface from the Jersey shore who had no business making it as late as he did in his career, he was an inspiration for fans everywhere.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
