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1998-1999
1998-1999
After WrestleMania XIV, Michaels was forced into retirement due to a back injury
sustained at the 1998 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, and Triple H took over the
leadership position in DX. He introduced the returning X-Pac the night after
WrestleMania and joined forces with the New Age Outlaws, the team of "Bad Ass"
Billy Gunn and "Road Dogg" Jesse James. Triple H led the "DX Army" throughout
1998; this was the first time he had performed as a face in the WWF, and he
quickly became one of its most popular wrestlers. It was also during this time
that Triple H began feuding with the leader of the Nation of Domination and
rising WWF heel, The Rock. This rivalry eventually led to a feud over The Rock's
Intercontinental Championship. Triple H defeated The Rock in a ladder match at
Summer Slam 1998 to capture the title. He did not hold the title long, however,
as he was sidelined with a knee injury. When The Rock won the WWF Championship
at the Survivor Series 1998, the rivalry between the two continued, but became
more of a gang war as DX fought Vince McMahon's Corporation stable, of which
Rock was the main star.
Triple H received a shot at the WWF Championship on the January 25, 1999 edition
of RAW in an "I Quit" match against The Rock, but was forced to quit or see his
aide Chyna chokeslammed by Kane. Chyna attacked Triple H after the match and
joined the Corporation, betraying him. At WrestleMania XV Triple H wrestled as a
face for what would be the last time in several months when he beat Kane with
the aid of Chyna, who was thought to have rejoined DX. Later on in the night, he
betrayed his long-time friend and fellow DX member X-Pac by helping heel Shane
McMahon retain the European Championship, thus turning heel and taking Chyna
with him. This decision earned him the hatred of many fans, and helped push
Triple H further in the direction of the WWF Championship. Triple H then joined
the Corporation, briefly placing him on the same side as The Rock. Unable to get
along, The Rock turned on the Corporation and took Triple H's place as a face,
quickly rising to further stardom. After Triple H's heel turn in early 1999, he
moved away from his "DX" look, taping his fists for matches, sporting new and
shorter wrestling trunks, and a shorter hairstyle. His image and his personality
changed as he fought to earn a WWF title shot. After numerous failed attempts at
winning the championship, Triple H and Mankind challenged WWF Champion Stone
Cold Steve Austin at Summer Slam 1999 in a triple threat match. In a contest
which featured Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee, Mankind
won the match by pinning Austin, becoming a three-time WWF champion. The
following night on RAW, Triple H defeated Mankind to win his first WWF
Championship.
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