11 Surprising WWE Heel Turns You Never Saw Coming
2. The Rock On The People (1998)
A spectacular swerve in an era overspilling with them, The Rock's first of seven ascents to the summit of Sports Entertainment came at the climax of the superbly scripted Survivor Series 1998 'Deadly Game' tournament.
Vince Russo is culpable for much of the period's very worst moments - particularly those that didn't age well over two weeks let alone two decades - but The Rock's shocking success at the Thanksgiving supercard that year can comfortably be considered his magnum opus as a Sports Entertainment scribe.
Ostensibly a rival of Vince McMahon alongside fellow monster babyface Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rock appeared to be leaping over the various traps laid by the boss earlier in the night, with his progress through the 14-man single elimination event surpassing 'The Rattlesnake's semi final exit.
As it transpired, his trajectory was carefully curated by the malevolent CEO himself. With hidden Corporate help in all of his tournament encounters with The Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock and The Undertaker, Rock took home the title after locking the Sharpshooter on Mankind in a finale aping the prior year's Montreal Screwjob. The fix was in yet again, but was this time thankfully little more than an exercise in picture perfect pro wrestling.