Wrestling’s Greatest Factions of All Time

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3. D-Generation X (DX)

Members: Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna, X-Pac, Road Dogg and Billy Gunn

Years Active: 1997-2000, 2006-2010

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D-Generation X was formed in 1997 when Shawn Michaels was fighting Mankind in the main event of Raw is War. Triple H, Chyna and Rick Rude all came down to interfere on Michaels behalf.  Soon after Michaels named his new faction D-Generation X. The group used crude humor and potty jokes. They mocked ownership and constantly were at odds with WWE higher-ups such as Sgt. Slaughter.

During this time Michaels won both the WWE Championship and the European Championship. The group helped Michaels in his feud with both The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin. However, at WrestleMania XIV Michaels injured his back in the main event against Stone Cold Steve Austin. This caused Michaels to leave WWE, for the next four years.

The next night on Raw is War, Triple H came to the ring and dubbed himself the new leader of D-Generation X. He recruited his long time friend X-Pac and popular tag team The New Age Outlaws into his incarnation of the faction. Throughout 1998, Triple H’s version of DX became the most popular wrestling faction in the world. During this time Triple H won both the Intercontinental Championship and European Championship, The New Age Outlaws won the Tag Team Championship and X-Pac won the European Championship.

The group during this time had a long feud with fellow faction The Nation of Domination, led by The Rock. The two leaders of these factions feuded throughout the Spring and Summer of 1998. The feud culminated in Ladder Match between The Rock and Triple H at SummerSlam 1998 at Madison Square Garden, which Triple H won. The feud helped solidify Triple H and The Rock as the next two big stars in wrestling.

However in 1999, the lust of greed caused Triple H and Chyna to turn on their former DX brothers and they joined the Corporation. The group wold reunite in 2000 as a heel faction helping Triple H during his run as WWE champion but this was short-lived.

After being heated rivals from 2002-2005, Triple H and Shawn Michaels shockingly reunited as DX to help fight common enemy Vince McMahon in 2006. The group made McMahon’s life a living nightmare as they pulled practical jokes on him and used any chance they could to make his life miserable. Some of the stunts they pulled involved spray painting both Vince McMahon’s private jet and the WWE corporate office.

Michaels and Triple H would later win the WWE Tag Team Champions together for the first time in late 2009 defeating Jeri-Show. However, DX would split for good in 2010 when Shawn Michales lost to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI forcing him to retire.

DX’s legacy will be remembered as being one of the most important parts of The Attitude era. They broke the rules and had a good time doing so. Any obstacle, rule or opponent that stood in their they way they had just had just two words for you.

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