The Corporation (professional wrestling)
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The Corporation | |
---|---|
Stable | |
Members | See below |
Name(s) | The Corporation Team Corporate The Corporate Team |
Debut | November 16, 1998[1] |
Disbanded | April 29, 1999 |
Years active | 1998–1999 |
The Corporation was a heel stable in the late 1990s in the Attitude Era in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE).
It was led by the
History
The group was put together and led by
The group became notorious for using their political stroke in the company to give the group vast degrees of advantages in matches. Corporation members were known to adopt "cleaned-up businessmen" modifications to their individual characters. For example, The Rock's "People's Champion" modus operandi changed, as he became known as "The Corporate Champion" and the "People's Elbow" became "The Corporate Elbow" during his tenure in the stable. The group subsequently became the most dominant stable in the company by the end of 1998, with Corporate members The Rock, Ken Shamrock, and Big Boss Man holding the WWF, Intercontinental, and Hardcore Championships respectively. Shamrock and Boss Man were briefly double champions as well during this time, as they held the WWF Tag Team Championship.
The group proceeded to terrorize the rest of the WWF roster as well, freely using their political strokes and corporate agenda to put down their authority on other wrestlers. Besides Steve Austin, who was their main adversary, the popular faction of rebels D-Generation X (DX) butted heads with the stable over principles with DX leader Triple H challenging The Rock for the WWF Championship, but often losing due to screwing on the part of The Corporation. The stable also found themselves under attack by Mankind, who was still bitter at Mr. McMahon for screwing him out of the WWF title at Survivor Series by having the bell rung when The Rock put the Sharpshooter on him immediately despite not tapping (recreating the previous year's Montreal Screwjob).
Though the group remained on top of the federation heading into 1999, members began to dwindle throughout the year. Then-commissioner Shawn Michaels was the first, having viciously being attacked by the group in a parking lot once it became clear he began to make decisions that did not cater to their interests. In reality, Michaels needed to have back surgery and the attack was to write him off television.[3] Michaels was originally given the vacant commissioner position left by founding Corporation member Slaughter to use his powers on their behalf. Kane's membership was unsteady from the start as he was only a member because the McMahons threatened to send him back to the insane asylum if he did not cooperate with them. Kane officially left the group after WrestleMania XV when Chyna, who was coerced into leaving DX, turned on him during his match with Triple H, who in turn betrayed his DX brethren when he assisted Shane in his European Championship defense against X-Pac and joined forces with the Corporation.
When they entered a feud with
With their dwindling numbers, they merged with the Ministry of Darkness to create
The Union
The Union (aka Union of People You Oughta Respect, Son, or
The four Union members were not alone as they feuded with the Corporate Ministry. The ousted chairman Vince McMahon briefly led the Union into battle, and superstars such as
On May 31, Mankind received several sledgehammer blows to the knee in a hardcore match against Triple H.[5] In reality, Mick Foley had needed knee surgery due to injuries suffered months earlier at Survivor Series[6] and St. Valentine's Day Massacre.[7] He would be unable to wrestle until August 1999. The following week, Mr. McMahon revealed himself as the "higher power" which The Undertaker had been taking orders from the entire time he was in command of the Ministry of Darkness, and later the Corporate Ministry. With their lead wrestler injured and their enemy evolved into a different group, the Union quietly disbanded.
Members
Member | Joined | Left |
---|---|---|
Mr. McMahon (Co-leader) | November 16, 1998 | April 12, 1999 |
Shane McMahon (Co-leader) | November 16, 1998 | April 29, 1999 |
Big Boss Man | November 16, 1998 | April 29, 1999 |
The Rock | November 16, 1998 | April 26, 1999 |
Ken Shamrock | November 16, 1998 | April 12, 1999 |
Pat Patterson
|
November 16, 1998 | April 12, 1999 |
Gerald Brisco | November 16, 1998 | April 12, 1999 |
Sgt. Slaughter | November 16, 1998 | December 14, 1998 |
Shawn Michaels | November 23, 1998 | December 28, 1998 |
Test | December 14, 1998 | April 26, 1999 |
Kane | December 21, 1998 | March 28, 1999 |
Chyna | January 25, 1999 | April 29, 1999 |
Big Show | February 14, 1999 | March 28, 1999 |
Triple H | March 28, 1999 | April 29, 1999 |
Timeline
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Feud of the Year (1998, 1999) – Mr. McMahon (vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin)
- Match of the Year (1999) – The Rock (vs. Mankind)
- Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1999) – The Rock
- Rookie of the Year (1999)1 – Shane McMahon
- World Wrestling Federation
- WWF Championship (3 times) – The Rock
- WWF European Championship (1 time) – Shane McMahon
- WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time) – Big Boss Man
- WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time) – Ken Shamrock
- WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock
- Royal Rumble (1999) – Mr. McMahon
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Booker (1998, 1999) – Mr. McMahon
- Best Gimmick (1999) – The Rock
- Best on Interviews (1999) – The Rock
- Best Non-Wrestler (1999) – Mr. McMahon
- Feud of the Year (1998, 1999) – Mr. McMahon (vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin)
- Most Charismatic (1999) – The Rock
- Most Improved (1998) – The Rock
- Promoter of the Year (1998) – Mr. McMahon
1 ^ McMahon refused the award, stating: "These are for the boys, not me".
See also
References
- ^ a b "WWE Raw - Show #097". TV.com. November 16, 1998.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ https://www.f4wonline.com/news/january-25-1999-wrestling-observer-newsletter-shawn-michaels-has-potential-career-ending-back
- ^ "Over the Edge 1999 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
- ISBN 0-06-039300-9.
- ISBN 978-0-06-039299-4.
- ISBN 0-06-039300-9.
External links
- WWE.com (official website of World Wrestling Entertainment)
- Mr. Vince McMahon's WWE profile
- Shawn Michaels' WWE profile
- Triple H's WWE profile
- The Rock's WWE Alumni profile
- Kane's WWE profile
- Sgt. Slaughter's WWE Hall of Fame profile
- Pat Patterson's WWE Hall of Fame profile
- Gerald Brisco's WWE Hall of Fame profile