Some rivalries define generations. For fans growing up during the Attitude Era, one such rivalry was that between Triple H and The Rock. Their war at Fully Loaded in July 1998 not only laid the groundwork for every epic encounter they would deliver later in their careers, but it also announced to the world that they were capable of carrying the industry into the future.Beginning all the way back in 1997 with a young Rocky Maivia's victory over Hunter Hearst Helmsley for the WWE Intercontinental Championship and stretching some 18 years to WrestleMania 31 and an in-ring showdown also involving Stephanie McMahon and the UFC's Ronda Rousey, this has proved to be one of those magical, captivating feuds that will last a lifetime.In the summer of 1998, both performers were determined to be the very best in the industry. With Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Mankind and Kane dominating the main event scene, both Triple H and The Rock understood that they needed to deliver in the ring to even have a chance to break through the proverbial glass ceiling.They did, on more than one occasion, and wound up enhancing the rivalry between their respective factions (D-Generation X and The Nation) in the process.One of their finest early battles occurred at Fully Loaded: In Your House, a show that served as a lead-in to the historic 1998 SummerSlam pay-per-view. A 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the intercontinental title, the contest not only proved their considerable in-ring chemistry but also demonstrated that Triple H and Rock could hold the interest of the audience for 30 minutes, something that would come in handy later on in their careers.The BackgroundParody may be the sincerest form of flattery in most casesbut not when D-Generation X took to the squared circle dressed like each member of The Nation and proceeded to mock everyone from The Rock to Mark Henry.The subjects of the hilarious segment were far from happy about being made fun of and set out to avenge the humiliation.But they were unable to.Triple H and X-Pac defeated Rock and Owen Hart in tag team action. As a result of his win, the future Game was awarded a title match with the self-proclaimed Great One at the Fully Loaded pay-per-view.The MatchThe AnalysisIf there was ever a shining example of a Vince Russo specialty, this match was it.And that is not necessarily a bad thing.The amount of interference by both DX and The Nation bordered on ridiculous, but it fit the storyline. As much as the match was about Triple H, The Rock and the IC title, it was also about the war between the factions. With each group determined to prove its superiority, it made sense that they would interfere on behalf of their leader.The match was long at 30 minutes, but it allowed the young stars to prove their ability to work that length without boring the crowd. Best of all, as the final minutes ticked down, the sense of urgency grew, all the way up to Triple H delivering the Pedigree just as time ran out, costing him the opportunity to leave with the gold.There is no denying that the match had its flaws. When there was no interference or urgency late, the action was somewhat slow, tipping off that the match may go the distance. And the overbooking was guilty of taking the spotlight away from the competitors.But there is more good than bad, which makes the match one of the underrated battles of the Attitude Era.The AftermathAt SummerSlam 1998, Triple H would defeat The Rock in a ladder match.The rivalry would continue into the new year, with the performers switching from babyface to heel and vice versa. They would once again do battle at Fully Loaded in 1999, this time in a strap match to determine the No. 1 contender to the WWE title. Thanks to interference from Billy Gunn, The Game would emerge victorious.As the new millennium dawned, their feud would define a WWE that was without lead star Steve Austin because of injury. And in the process, they would become the two biggest attractions in the industry. Their series of matches throughout the spring of 2000 not only helped catapult the show to new heights but resulted in some of the best television and pay-per-view action ever produced by Vince McMahon's company.In the 15 years since then, they have continued to wage war when in position to do so and may once again headline a pay-per-view extravaganza with WrestleMania 32 right around the corner.
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