Who REALLY Carried WWE Every Year (1985-2026)
28. 1999 (The Rock)
...someone else caught fire around the same time. If you smell what he's cookin'.
1999 was the year when The Rock came into his own as a star who could match 'Stone Cold'. His claims of being the most electrifying man in the industry were not wide of the mark, but they were unexpected due to the way people had booed Rocky out of buildings in 1997 and 1998. Now, his charisma and top notch performances had turned him into a made man. One of many in the WWF, as it turns out.
Looking back, some probably guessed that Rock would burst into life and crack the main event scene towards the end of 1997. His return, heel turn as part of the Nation Of Domination and Intercontinental Title feud with Steve ruled. Then, in '98, things only got progressively more impressive for 'The Great One'. He was fire on the mic and getter better as an actual wrestler to boot.
Admittedly, despite strong ratings and PPV buyrates, some of the 'Stone Cold' formula was fading by '99. Thus, he was forced to share the spotlight with The Rock, who was receiving some of the biggest crowd reactions on TV. The WWF even created a brand new weekly show, sSmackDown, that was his. That didn't just happen for anybody.
DX didn't get 'Suck It' on Thursdays, and Undertaker didn't host a show called 'Rest In Peace'. SmackDown will forever be tied to Rock, and it began in 1999. That was his year. 2000 would've belonged to him too if another old IC Title foe hadn't upped his game. So to speak.