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During the mid-’90s, fans of the WWE were wanting a more edgy product. Smiling newcomer Rocky Miavia needed to find a foothold in the new WWE. The heel turn, and eventually becoming a member of the Nation of Domination was the catalyst to the character we know and love today. The Edgy young heel would amass wins and championships while in the group. The rocket ship that came after the group however would have never happened if it wasn’t for his time in the stable with Farooq and company.
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It Was Time For A Change
In February 1997 Rocky Maivia would beat Hunter Hurst Helmsley for the Intercontinental title. This match was a turning point for the Rock and also the WWE universe. The fans cheered the heel Helmsley through the entire match including his defeat. The WWE universe did not want a smiley baby-faced champion anymore. In April of that same year, Rocky would drop the IC title to Owen Hart and suffer an injury that would put him on the shelf and out of action for several months. During this time Rocky received a call from Jim Ross, suggesting the young star might benefit from a heel turn and possibly joining the Nation of Domination. Allowing him to be under the tutelage of previous world champion Ron Simmons, then known as Farooq, and begin the rise as a heel inside the company. The young Rocky jumped at the opportunity. So, with Rocky making his return during a match between Farooq and Chains, we saw the turn that left the wrestling world silenced.
After the Rock joined the Nation, the wrestling world got a different version of Rocky Maivia. He was becoming more confident in the ring and on the mic. This led him to challenge newly crowned IC champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. During this rivalry, the Rock used the Nation as a distraction stealing Austin’s IC title on an episode of Raw. The story continued with Austin getting it back and the two going head to head at the “In Your House: Degeneration X” PPV event. After a violent affair, a second referee was needed to count the final pinfall. The next night on Raw, Vince McMahon was demanding a rematch to determine a true IC champion. Austin refused as he saw he was primed for a world title push and forfeited the title to the Rock. Like that, The Rock was now a two-time IC champion. Austin would get the last laugh though, historically stealing the Rock’s title and throwing it over a bridge into the river.
The Rock Rose To Stardom And Became Leader Of The Nation
Now a two-time Intercontinental champion, a superstar on the mic and in the ring, the Rock was taking off, much to the dismay of the leader of the Nation of Domination and its members. In 1998 the Rock would have a moment in his career solidifying him as a generational talent and showcasing he was ready for the next step. In the Royal Rumble that year, Rocky defended his IC title successfully and entered the Rumble and number four and fought to be in the final two being eliminated by eventual winner Stone Cold Steve Austin.
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After the Royal Rumble, there were some cracks in the armor of the Nation of Domination. Farooq and the Rock had begun to argue on camera. This led to an “accident” on Raw right before WrestleMania 14 where the Rock hit Farooq with a chair by mistake. The following Sunday at WrestleMania during a vicious after-match attack by Ken Shamrock the Rock was defenseless and Farooq came out to the ring to help, he decided against it leaving the Rock alone and beaten, getting his revenge. The group would eventually turn on Farooq and side with the Rock, solidifying him as the leader of the Nation.
The Arrival Of The People's Champion
At SummerSlam 1998, the Rock and HHH would have the match that would let the world know they had arrived as mega superstars. The ladder match at SummerSlam is still regarded today as one of the best SummerSlam matches ever, and a showcase of the two men that would change their careers forever. The men that night knew they had to steal the show and that’s what they did. The Rock and HHH were both here and main event talents.
In September 1998, the remaining members of the Nation, although enjoying their new-found freedoms with their leader, felt that the Rock had become too big for the group. The remaining members turned on the Rock and shortly thereafter the eventual dissolution of the group happened.
The Rock and the Nation of Domination had served their purpose. Rocky Maivia went from a wrestler without a direction, to a member of a dominant faction, to the leader and eventual champion all a year and a half. In 1998 at the Survivor Series the Rock won his first WWE championship. The Rock was here to stay and had become one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport.
