3SummerSlam 1998
A definite turning point for The Rock. 1988 SummerSlam was held at the same place where Rocky Maivia made his debut. Madison Square Garden can be called his home, his turf. At the time he was a hated heel. The leader of The Nation didn’t make friends in the ring, but his persona mesmerized the audience. He was already one of the superstars of Attitude Era. The moves, the catchphrases, the charisma, he was already the one and only – The Rock.
He was going to the top as a performer, but he needed a big win in a huge event. In 1998 Johnson got precisely that. The match in question was the duel vs. Triple H. It was there that The Rock showed how cruel, merciless, and ruthless he can get. During the fight, People’s Champ was targeting Triple H’s injured knee, he used the ladder to inflict the damage, and the crowd loved it! He lost after Chyna interfered, but it was clear that The Rock was the man of the night. He showed everyone that he’s not the future of the company but its present.
