The Rock reached the pinnacle of the company at , winning his first WWF Championship through a "Deadly Game" tournament. This victory was a shock double-turn: he joined Vince McMahon’s Corporation , becoming the "Corporate Champion" and the perfect foil to the rebellious " Stone Cold" Steve Austin .
: The Rock and Austin defined the era, headlining WrestleMania XV (1999) after Austin personally pushed to work with him, recognizing their unique chemistry. wwf rock
After an injury sidelined him, Johnson returned in 1997 with a completely different attitude. He joined the and began referring to himself in the third person as "The Rock." He leaned into the audience's hatred, developing a razor-sharp wit and legendary catchphrases (e.g., "If you smell what The Rock is cooking!"). By 1998, his charisma was so undeniable that he became a major star, eventually leading to his own themed pay-per-view, WWF Rock Bottom: In Your House . 3. The "Corporate Champion" and Rivalry with Austin The Rock reached the pinnacle of the company