The Rise Of Triple H | Wrestling Timelines

April 27, 1998 - Invasion

DX Tank
WWE

Triple H turns babyface as the leader of D-Generation X.

The faction is liquid late ‘90s: a gang of shock jocks who pop the young males who make up the new, massive mainstream audience by telling all and sundry to fellate them. The “Suck it!” catchphrase is a cultural phenomenon.

Underscoring their credentials as lads who don’t actually give a sh*t about doing what they are told, the new DX - Triple H, X-Pac, the New Age Outlaws and Chyna - “invade” WCW. They don’t do it on a tank, contrary to WWE folklore, but they actually do rock up to the Norfolk Scope, site of Nitro, and convince the fans to tell the WWF fans on USA that WCW sucks.

This is the pro wrestling equivalent of a sports star celebrating in front of rival fans, and it’s all the more intoxicating because the WWF has barely acknowledged WCW’s existence. The last time they did it, via the defensive Billionaire Ted skits mocking the ageing Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, it was a source of regret and embarrassment. Now, with the momentum shifting in the Monday Night Wars, the WWF is the disruptor.

Triple H is still more than capable of dragging out long, silent matches, but increasingly, it doesn’t matter - at a certain level, anyway. It’s 1998.

Dick jokes go over workrate in a squash match.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!