#3. Corporations Taking Over

Heading into Survivor Series of 1998 there were intriguing elements at play as Stone Cold Steve Austin had been screwed of his WWE championship. A tournament to determine the new champion was set up for the event, to act as a masquerade for the coronation of a corporate champion by Vince McMahon.
The belief being this champion would be the deranged but somewhat gentile Mankind. It was not to happen.
John Cena's last PPV's name revealed by Kurt Angle? More details HERE
At the same time, there is The Rock, after toiling as a white meat babyface and turning this around to dial up the Rock persona. The Brahma Bull finally had the audience in the palm of his hands. They were voraciously by his side, making him the perfect People's champion to bring down the machine.
The belief is that a physical specimen sought by the company would be the best bet against it. It was not to happen.
What did happen was a double turn paying homage to the unfortunate screwjob incident a year prior, as Vince McMahon crowned Rock the champion and kicked Mrs. Foley's baby boy out. This allowed the Rock to flourish just a while longer in the charismatic heel role, before truly breaking out at the height of the Attitude Era.