10 Wrestling Grudges That Changed The Business
8. The Rock Vs Faarooq
It goes a little unreported that The Rock may not have become "the most electrifying man in all of entertainment" without the gracious showings of Nation Of Domination leader Faarooq during a key development checkpoint.
Rocky Maivia was every bit as good as every commentator told you, but he was every bit as green as he looked too. The backlash that followed forced through a heel turn, but it was only by gradually growing in confidence and growing out of the Nation did Rock race towards the top of the card quicker than anybody could have predicted. Just over a year on from his debut he was feuding over the Intercontinental Championship with Stone Cold Steve Austin, but 'The Rattlesnake's decision not to actually put him over for the belt was somewhat telling.
Faarooq had no such problem. Not only did Rock replace his former boss as the new "Ruler" of the group, but he beat him in matches and ritually humbled and humiliated him in side-splitting segments. Ron Simmons, gimmick or not, had pedigree and immense respect banked. He cashed it out for the good of getting 'The Great One' all the way over, and nothing could stop him afterwards.