10 WWE PPVs That Changed EVERYTHING
7. Survivor Series 1997
As tedious and overdone as the topic has become, it's impossible to have a discussion on transformational WWE events without mentioning the Montreal Screwjob. Sorry...
There's an argument to be made that Survivor Series '97 is the most important WWE show of the past few decades. An industry-wide transition towards edgier, adult-oriented content meant Vince McMahon's promotion would've likely moved away from their old, cartoonish style regardless, but his and Shawn Michaels' screwing of Bret Hart was the Attitude Era's catalyst. Afterwards, WWE took its controversy and used it as a springboard for the most successful period in company history. If they hadn't, the company would have perished in the Monday Night Wars, because the New Generation was dying, and WCW, for all their faults, had actually captured a style of programming relevant to the audience's needs.
Vince leaned into his 'evil boss' persona afterwards, crafting the Mr. McMahon character that would eventually make him one of the most important and toxic on-air personalities in WWE history. 'Important' because Attitude couldn't have taken off without Austin vs. McMahon, but 'toxic' because the character's success effectively doomed us to decades of copycats, with the 'Heel Authority Figure' now among WWE's most tedious tropes.