Image via Complex Original
Even though the WWE really took off in the 1980s, the following decade cannot be overlooked for the incredible characters, epic storylines, and memorable moments that played out every week right before our eyes. With SummerSlam at the Staples Center only a few hours away, we recap everything that was special about the World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1990s. From Stone Cold Steve Austin going from despised to loved at the hands of Bret Hart to Kane's debut and subsequential, er, undertakings with The Undertaker to Vince McMahon doing... well... whatever Vince McMahon does, we have encapsulated The Best of the WWE in the '90s in GIFs. Enjoy.
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Vince McMahon Being Vince McMahon
Hate on him all you want, but Vince McMahon made himself into a memorable character. While other high-ranking individuals in other sports stay as far away from the action as possible, Vince put himself right in the middle of it while also daring to create a hated persona in the process. While there are plenty of moments to choose from where McMahon is flaunting around and acting a fool, our favorite moments came when Vince was scared shitless. It was that vindictive point after all the times he pissed us off. Oh, it was so gratifying.
The Ministry of Darkness
If you were to poll a group of WWE fans about their favorite storyline, the one involving the Ministry of Darkness would probably get mentioned often. From the kidnapping of Stephanie McMahon to the hanging of the Big Bossman to the attempt to bury Stone Cold Steve Austin alive, the storyline had a little bit of everything. We couldn't wait to find out what wild and crazy thing was going to happen next.
The Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart Conflict
In the first Iron Man match, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart put on one hell of a show. With no submissions recorded after 60 minutes, the two of them went into overtime where they took another two minutes. Michaels eventually scored the first and only submission. Their conflict within the confines of the WWE was a small part of the conflict which existed between them off the camera. From derogatory personal comments made by one wrestler to the other to real fists being thrown, HBK and The Hitman grew to hate one another. While this may sound horrible, it actually made for great television. All that drama and you thought men aren't into soap operas...
Iron Mike
Unlike their tumultuous relationship with the UFC, WWE has been able to peacefully work alongside the sport of boxing. From time to time, Mike Tyson gave the show a little more, um, character. Who doesn't love Iron Mike?
Kane Makes His Debut
Where were you when Kane made his debut? While the question isn't up to par with other events in history, the moment is still a big deal in the eyes of WWE fans around the world. Why's that? Because, it was so fucking epic! During In Your House: Badd Blood in 1997, Kane walked towards the ring in a menacing pace with Paul Bearer in the background. Before meeting his brother, The Undertaker, face-to-face, Kane ripped the steel cage door on some true horror film shit. It was legit scary.
Mick Foley Takes One of His Many Epic Falls
Mick Foley. Mankind. Cactus Jack. Whatever name he went by, they all had something in common: no stranger to pain. In fact, he had eight concussions, second-degree burns, broken ribs five different times, a broken cheekbone, a torn abdominal and two-thirds of his right ear missing to vouch for it. Mick was awkward yet lovable. He risked his body night in and night out just to give us a great show. Salute.
Stone Cold Brings Out the Beer Truck
If Stone Cold Steve Austin is the reason you love an ice cold beer, we don't blame you. Stone Cold saluted his fans and enemies alike with the middle finger and smashed two beer cans together before downing them right before our eyes. Dammit, we were so impressionable back then. The WWE is all about the element of surprise and of course, the bigger, the better, which is what made the appearance of the beer truck so sick. Then, he dounced the McMahons and The Rock with the brew. That was just icing on the cake.
3. D-Generation X Is Born
Complete with the "Suck It" gesture and a DGAF attitude, D-Generation X became the anti-heroes of the WWE in the late '90s. Initially, led by the Triple H and Shawn Michaels, who originally went by the moniker "The Kliq," the duo recruited other wrestlers like X-Pac, Chyna, among others. If you were coming up when DX was in their prime, you most likely hit somebody with their signature taunt without knowing what the hell you were doing and thought nothing of it. Kinda flipped your world upside down when you actually found the literal translation, no?
Stone Cold Fights Through the Sharpshooter
When that Sharpshooter gets locked in, it's supposed to be damn near impossible to not tap out. But that all changed in a no disqualication match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart at WrestleMania XIII. With the submission firmly in place, Stone Cold fought off the submission and the blood in his eyes until he couldn't take anymore and passed out. The image of Austin's face fighting the pain was such a lasting visual that its probably still engrained in every WWE fan's head.
The Rock Happened
Before becoming the man nicknamed "The Rock," he was Rocky Maivia, the WWE's first third-generation wrestler. As Maivia, he found success, winning the Intercontinential title but the fans never really liked him. So, after the formation of The Nation of Domination, which included Faarooq, Kama and D'Lo Brown, Rocky came back as simply "The Rock." With the name change came a new attitude. You know you broke out the "it doesn't matter" set-up or the "shut your mouth" whenever possible. But did people like the new Rock? IT DOESN'T MATTER whether they liked him or not! Sorry, we couldn't resist it.