WWE Attitude Era Mount Rushmore

Professional wrestling Mount Rushmore’s are a divisive topic, and none perhaps more than for WWE’s Attitude Era. We’ll take a look at the four names from WWE’s hottest and most important era that we believe deserve to be featured on the mountainside of this hypothetical wrestling monument. We’re sorry to the fans of some of the huge names that competed during WWE’s Attitude Era that missed out – there was simply not enough rock to carve out! We issue an apology to fans of The Undertaker, Kane, Too Cool, The Hardy Boyz, Kurt Angle, Triple H, Chyna, and several others who missed out.

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was the face of WWE in the Attitude Era, therefore there is no more obvious name for the Mount Rushmore of the Attitude Era. Out of pretty much everyone in WWE’s long and extensive history, Austin is someone who will be on 99% of Mount Rushmore’s for the entirety of WWE – not just the Attitude Era. Austin rose to prominence after arriving from WCW, at first making an impression as a heel before an iconic double turn at WrestleMania against Bret Hart. As the year progressed, Austin’s stock grew as a good guy, until he finally broke into the world title picture in 1997, winning the WWE Title at WrestleMania 14 from Shawn Michaels.

Austin was one of the first to bring the “attitude” to the Attitude Era with his anti-establishment persona, profanity, alcohol, and more, beating up the likes of Mr. McMahon while cracking open beers, destroying vehicles, hitting Stone Cold Stunners on anything that moves, and bringing an element of chaos to the WWE product. He was one of the driving forces behind WWE’s victory in the Monday Night Wars, and he was a constant part of the main event scene across all of WWE’s Attitude Era.

The Rock

The Rock was, in many ways, a polar opposite to Steve Austin in terms of personality, style, and lineage, but he still brought so much personality, profanity, charm, and fun nature to the Attitude Era, much like Austin did. The Rock was challenging for the top spot in WWE, often residing as the number one heel to Austin’s number one babyface, leading the line for several years in the main event scene.

In 1998, The Rock was selected as Mr. McMahon’s handpicked “Corporate Champion”, changing his fortunes around in WWE and making him a main eventer. The Rock’s work in the Attitude Era led to him eventually breaking into Hollywood, showcasing just how much charisma and acting ability he displayed on WWE programming for several years. He must be included on WWE’s Mount Rushmore of the Attitude Era, without a doubt.

Mick Foley

Whether it be Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love, or simply just Mick Foley himself, the man of many faces was one of the most integral parts of the Attitude Era, and he must be included on the Mount Rushmore of this time period. Foley put his body on the line time and time again to ensure timeless moments (such as the insane Hell in a Cell match with The Undertaker and the brutal Street Fight with Triple H), wrestled in clinics with names like Steve Austin, and brought so much personality and likability, making him one of the most perpetually over names in WWE history.

Second to Austin, Foley was WWE’s biggest babyface in the Attitude Era, and somehow he can get overlooked when it comes to his importance in WWE’s history. Foley’s WWE Title win on RAW was one of the most defining moments of the Monday Night Wars, with it being believed by many as the moment in which the tide turned between WWE and WCW.

Mr. McMahon

Mr. McMahon was not a full-time wrestler in the Attitude Era, but he was still one of the most important figures in the success of WWE during this time. The decision to turn into a heelish authority figure after the Montreal Screwjob was the moment the Attitude Era kicked into life, and his feud with Steve Austin was one of the elements that held WWE programming together for the next several years.

McMahon was one of, if not the best heel in WWE history, and he changed the face of WWE forever with his work here. He was a punching bag, a maniacal sociopath, the butt of jokes, evil and vindictive, and everything in between. There were many wrestlers who shone in the Attitude Era, but McMahon has earned a spot on the Mount Rushmore of WWE’s Attitude Era.