The Top 10 Moments in WWE Survivor Series History

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5. The Rock Joins The McMahon’s and Wins First WWE Championship: November 15, 1998

The year of 1998 saw The Rock soar to huge heights after struggling through his first year plus in the WWE.  After a successful Intercontinental Championship reign as the leader of the Nation of Domination in the summer of 1998, The Rock began his ascent as a top babyface in the WWE.

The Mr. McMahon vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin feud dominated the WWE following WrestleMania 14 and McMahon became obsessed with trying to get the WWE Championship off the Rattlesnake.  This led to a 14-man tournament to determine the WWE Champion at Survivor Series 1998.

The Rock got wins over the Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock, and The Undertaker to advance to the final round to battle Mankind after The Corporation screwed Austin in the semifinal round.  The new WWE Champion would be either The Rock or Mankind and the ending was arguably one of the most surprising twists in WWE history.

The Montreal Screwjob was reenacted a year later as Mr. McMahon, this time solely storyline based, screwed Mankind out of the WWE Championship after The Rock had Mankind in the sharpshooter, just as Shawn Michaels did to Bret Hart at Survivor Series 1997.  As everyone was shocked, The Rock then hugged Shane and Vince McMahon at the conclusion of the match, signaling his joining of The Corporation.

The Rock’s first WWE Championship win and heel turn was a shocking turn of events in 1998 and it lives on in the annals of not only Survivor Series history, but WWE history as well.