D-Generation X
Triple H and Shawn Michaels during the fourth incarnation of DX.
Tag team
Members	Triple H Shawn Michaels
Name(s)	Degeneration X D-Generation X DX
Billed heights	Triple H:[1] 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Michaels:[2] 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Combined billed weight	[undue weight? – discuss]
Former member(s)	See below
Debut	1997[3]

D-Generation X (commonly known as DX) was a professional wrestling tag team (formerly a stable) that wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment.

The group originated in the midst of the WWF's "Attitude Era" from 1997 to 2000 and helped change the face of sports entertainment.^[4] Their gimmick was that of a group of rebels who did and said what they wanted, no matter how provocative. DX is generally considered one of the most popular stables in pro wrestling history.

After its original run, the group underwent several roster changes, and disbanded in 1999. After a brief reunion in 2000, and a teased reunion in 2002, DX re-formed in June 2006 as the duo of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, until Triple H's quadricep injury at New Year's Revolution 2007. Triple H and Michaels then reformed DX for "one night only", on the November 5 2007 edition of RAW.

History

Formation

DX was formed during the genesis of what would become the WWF's highly successful "Attitude Era" in the latter half of 1997. Real-life friends and reported Clique members Shawn Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley (who began being known simply as Triple H) were the original two members, along with Helmsley's bodyguard, Chyna, and Michaels' "insurance policy", Rick Rude. Triple H and Michaels united together after Michaels turned heel after hitting The Undertaker with a chair at SummerSlam 1997.^[5] On October 13 1997, the group officially referred to themselves as Degeneration X for the first time and debuted their signature slogan, "Suck it!" They were often shown on television practicing sophomoric humor and rebelling against authority figures in the company. Their trademark "crotch chops" became one of the most popular gestures in pro wrestling while their "D-Generation X" T-shirts enjoyed considerable sales.

The name D-Generation X was possibly taken from an opinion column by Phil Mushnick which appeared in TV Guide, in which Mushnick lambasted wrestling's primarily Generation X fanbase as degenerates, dubbing them "Degeneration X." On the other hand, Michaels' autobiography would suggest that it was in fact then-WWF head writer Vince Russo who first conceived the moniker for the popular faction.

On-screen, however, the name was taken from Bret Hart who claimed that Shawn Michaels and Triple H were nothing more than degenerates. D-Generation X's first feud was against Bret Hart and his Hart Foundation. This feud ended at Survivor Series 1997 in the infamous Montreal Screwjob which led to Bret leaving the company along with two of the remaining three members of the Foundation.^[6] The only member that remained in the WWF, Owen Hart, continued to feud with DX, specifically Triple H.

"D-Generation X" was later used as the title for a WWF In Your House pay-per-view telecast on December 7 1997.

DX army

On March 29 1998, at WrestleMania XIV, Shawn Michaels was the reigning WWF Champion, and Triple H was the reigning European Champion. They recruited boxer Mike Tyson to act as the "Special Enforcer" in the main event of the night featuring Michaels against Stone Cold Steve Austin. At the end of the match, Tyson turned on D-Generation X and cost Michaels the match.^[7] Michaels, who would take a long hiatus due to a real-life injury, was now out of DX. The next night on RAW, Triple H declared himself to be the new leader, saying that Michaels had "dropped the ball." He recruited a re-debuting X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws to reform DX in an incarnation that came to be known as the "DX army."^[8] In his debut, X-Pac, who had just been released from World Championship Wrestling, cut a now-famous promo^{[citation needed]} where he responded to then-WCW wrestler Hulk Hogan's live interview that alluded to X-Pac's recent release from the promotion.

This incarnation of DX became extremely popular and eventually turned face. During this time, they were involved in several storylines and skits—including a feud with rival faction Nation of Domination and The Corporation. DX parodied the Nation and The Corporation where they dressed as the members of the respective factions and impersonated their characteristic mannerisms. They also made a video package where they "raided" Atlanta, the home of WCW.^[8] At one point, they attempted to "invade" (with a tank and military dress) a live broadcast of WCW Monday Nitro in Norfolk, Virginia, across Hampton Roads from where WWF Raw is War had their live broadcast. They made it to the front gate of the Norfolk Scope arena, but were barred entry.^[8] Another incident almost caused a lawsuit when DX told people in line for Nitro tickets that the show was for free, and that they should leave. This incarnation of the faction lasted about a year.

The end of an era

DX began falling apart in the early part of 1999. On January 25, Chyna turned on DX by attacking Triple H and joining Vince McMahon's Corporation stable. Two months later, Triple H also joined The Corporation after turning on X-Pac at WrestleMania XV.^[9] DX, now down to The New Age Outlaws and X-Pac, fell apart two months later when Billy Gunn turned on X-Pac during a match in May, leaving DX and starting a feud with Road Dogg. In June, Triple H informed Gunn that Road Dogg and X-Pac were still getting royalties from the DX name (kayfabe), which led to a feud that culminated in a match at Fully Loaded where X-Pac and Road Dogg defeated Gunn and Chyna for the rights to the D-Generation X name.^[10]

Reformation in 1999

On October 25 1999, the group reformed as heels and included every original member, except for Shawn Michaels, Chyna, and Rick Rude (who had died that April). From then until mid-2000, DX remained a strong and united group. In early 2000, however, Billy Gunn was placed out of action for several months after suffering an injury against The Dudley Boyz. On screen, Gunn's storyline involved him getting thrown out of DX because "he lost his cool." X-Pac teamed with Road Dogg, but the two never reached the heights of the New Age Outlaws. At WrestleMania 2000, Vince McMahon turned on The Rock and aided Triple H in retaining his title.^[11] This marked the start of what many fans nicknamed "Corporate-DX" (much like the Corporate Ministry from the previous year). However the group was officially dubbed the McMahon-Helmsley Faction (it had earlier gone by the name "McMahon-Helmsley Regime").

The following month The Rock defeated Triple H at Backlash in a match which featured Steve Austin's brief return to the WWF. Though Triple H would regain the title the following month at Judgment Day, the group gradually broke apart. By late 2000, Triple H was a solo star. On the November 6 2000 edition of RAW is WAR, the group temporarily rejoined (save for X-Pac, who was injured) to take on Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn (The Radicalz) in an 8-man tag team match, which DX won. The match included the group doing their old DX entrance as well as telling the crowd to "Suck it!" It was the symbolic end to D-Generation X. However, the members of DX (excluding Triple H) and K-Kwik, Road Dogg's then-tag team partner, feuded with the Radicalz that month, eventually leading to a match at Survivor Series 2000 involving the same 8 wrestlers, except for Triple H, who was replaced by K-Kwik. The Radicalz won the match.^[12]

After that, DX remained unseen and largely unspoken of until Shawn Michaels returned to WWE in 2002. On July 22 2002, on the episode of RAW, a week after the breakup of the nWo, Triple H handed Shawn Michaels a DX t-shirt and stated he "had an idea," suggesting that the two reform the group. The duo later came out that night to their old music and crotch chops to the delight of the crowd. However, Triple H turned on Michaels on that same night; he had teased the reunion as a ploy to appease Michaels and lure him to the ring before giving him a Pedigree. This act led to the in-ring return of Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2002 and the genesis of a long feud between the two.^[13]

Reformation in 2006

In 2006, a series of events occurred which hinted at a DX reunion. At WrestleMania 22, former members Shawn Michaels and Triple H performed the crotch chop during their respective matches, which was met with loud cheering from the fans in attendance. The two continued to deliver chops in the following episodes of RAW as Michaels feuded with Vince McMahon and Triple H focused on the WWE Championship, repeatedly running into Vince McMahon in the process.

On the June 12 RAW, the events came to a head, when, during Triple H's gauntlet match against the Spirit Squad, Shawn Michaels came in to help his former companion. After the duo had laid out the entire Spirit Squad, the two men began to perform their crotch chops. The reunited DX continued their brash antics at the expense of the Spirit Squad, Vince and Shane McMahon and Jonathan Coachman for several weeks and repeatedly took part in blatantly camp product placement during RAW promos.^[14] Most of their antics involved practical jokes on Vince.

On the June 26 RAW, they added to the list of parodies with Triple H impersonating Vince McMahon, talking about his love of "Dicks" (referring to Dick Ebersol, Dick Clark, and Dick Cheney), while Shawn impersonated Shane McMahon (this episode is also famous for being the "Holy Shit" episode due to excrement being dumped on Vince and Shane McMahon and the entire Spirit Squad). During their feud, DX defeated the Spirit Squad at Vengeance and Saturday Night's Main Event,^[15][16] as well as The McMahons at SummerSlam.^[17] At Unforgiven in a handicap Hell in a Cell match that featured The Big Show on The McMahons' side, DX again came out victorious.^[18]

DX's next feud was with Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton). At Cyber Sunday, the fans selected Eric Bischoff to be the special guest referee for the match. Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a chair to give Rated-RKO the win. With this, Rated-RKO became the first team to defeat DX in a tag team match since their reunion in June 2006.^[19] At Survivor Series 2006 Team DX (DX, The Hardys, and CM Punk) defeated Team Rated-RKO (Rated-RKO, Gregory Helms, Johnny Nitro, and Mike Knox), in a clean sweep.^[20]

2007

At New Year's Revolution 2007, during their match with Rated-RKO, Triple H suffered a (legit) torn right quadriceps muscle.^[21] This prompted Rated-RKO to claim victory not only of the match (which was ruled a no-contest) but over DX as a whole.^[22] Michaels, however, vowed to support Triple H through his injury and to get revenge on Rated-RKO. The next week, he (kayfabe) took out Randy Orton with a one man con-chair-to. After Triple H's knee injury, Michaels was involved in feuds with Randy Orton, Edge, and John Cena.

Despite performing solo, Michaels still used the DX gimmick and theme music, but this was eventually phased out, leading to the end of the latest incarnation of DX. Michaels was eventually taken off television for knee surgery. Despite the end of DX, Triple H occasionally performed crotch chops during matches. This continued with Michaels as well when he made his return from injury in October. On the October 29, 2007 edition of RAW, Mr.McMahon announced that DX would reunite for one night only on the November 5, 2007 edition of Monday Night RAW where they defeated Randy Orton and Umaga in a tag-team match. The duo has since made promotional spots and interviews for television as D-Generation X. Despite DX reforming for one night only, both Triple H and Shawn Michaels have used the "crotch chop" since the one night only return.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• Sweet Chin Music / Pedigree combination - performed by Michaels hitting Sweet Chin Music first, then the victim turns towards Triple H, who then executes the Pedigree.

• Signature foreign objects

• Sledgehammer
• Chairs

• Theme music

• "Break it Down" by The Chris Warren Band (1997 - 2000, 2002 - 2007)
• "The Kings" by Run DMC (2000)

Note: The last DX theme (used from their reunion in 2006 until November 2007) was actually a remix of the original theme, "Break It Down". This version has a little more rock and less percussion. It has yet to be released on any WWE CD and it's still considered a WWE Production. It can be heard only on the video games WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 as their entrance theme.

Incarnations

Signature taunts

Crotch chop

When DX formed they began doing a gesture where they would put one arm on each side of their crotch and point down. This was known as the "crotch chop". There is an alternate version of the "crotch chop" where instead of pointing down on each side of their sides, they point down and make their arms in an "X" formation, over their stomach/crotch. However, when DX reformed in 2006 Michaels said he felt uncomfortable doing the real "crotch chop" so he would do the alternate version, as he had become a born again Christian since the last D-Generation X incarnation.^[23]

When DX enters the ring they do a pyro routine. Green X pyrotechnics go off three times, with DX crotch-chopping at each firing. They then pause for a second, then chop once more as the pyrotechnics fire again.

Suck it!

"Suck it" is DX's signature slogan. This is also used in their popular "Let's get ready to suck it!" routine, originally a parody of Anderson Buffer's "Let's get ready to rumble!"

The routine starts when Triple H asks the audience "Are you ready?" He then shouts "No, (city name), I said ARE YOU READY?" to elicit a louder reaction from the crowd. He continues and says "Then, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching at home. Let's get ready to suck it!" Shawn Michaels then ends the routine by saying "And if you're not down with that, then we got two words for ya." before sticking up the microphone up in the air for the crowd to scream "Suck it!" As well, Triple H will often say the match is for someone else, varying on their recent exploits and who they're about to wrestle (e.g., "and for Anderson, who is home right now choking his chicken" when they had previously sent Vince home injured.)

Another taunt DX performs, is crossing their forearms above their head, making an "X" formation.

nWo influence and DX inspiration

DX is believed to have been heavily influenced by World Championship Wrestling's (WCW) New World Order (nWo) (although WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has denied this on many occasions). It also was one of the two main contributing factors to the World Wrestling Federation's Attitude Era (along with Stone Cold Steve Austin). Incidentally, DX and the nWo included members of professional wrestling's The Clique (with Shawn Michaels and Sean Waltman as the only two Clique alumni as members of both stables).

Similar events have taken place that echoed the infamous actions of D-Generation X, namely their "invasions" of WCW Monday Nitro. TNA pulled a similar stunt on WWE years later, with WWE threatening to sue to prevent TNA from showing any of the footage on their TNA iMPACT!. In late 2004, WWE came to Universal Studios (where TNA tapes their shows) to shoot a Royal Rumble commercial. Tracy Brooks, along with Shane Douglas, Abyss, and the 3Live Kru came to greet the WWE wrestlers with milk and cookies. Ron Killings also took some mahi-mahi off the catering table.

luluts

Championships and accomplishments

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Championship (3 times)
    • Shawn Michaels: (November 9, 1997 - March 29, 1998)

Michaels won the Championship as part of the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997.

• • • Triple H (January 3, 2000 - April 30, 2000) (May 21, 2000 - June 25, 2000)

• • WWF European Championship (5 times)
    • Shawn Michaels: (September 20, 1997 - December 11, 1997)
    • Triple H: (December 11, 1997 - January 20, 1998) (March 9, 1998 - July 14, 1998)
    • X-Pac: (September 15, 1998 - September 29, 1998) (October 18, 1998 - February 15, 1999)

When Michaels held both the WWF Championship and European Championship simultaneously, Michaels laid down for Triple H as a Christmas present in order to give him the European Championship.

• • WWF Hardcore Championship (2 times)
    • Road Dogg: (December 15, 1998 - February 8, 1999)
    • Billy Gunn: (March 15, 1999 - March 28, 1999)

• • WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times)
    • Triple H: (August 30, 1998 - October 9, 1998)
    • Road Dogg: (March 15, 1999 - March 29, 1999)

• • WWF Tag Team Championship (6 times)
    • New Age Outlaws: (March 30, 1998 - July 13, 1998) (August 30, 1998 - December 14, 1998) (September 23, 1999 - October 12, 1999) (November 8, 1999 - February 27, 2000)
    • X-Pac (with Kane): (March 30, 1999 - May 31, 1999) (August 9, 1999 - August 22, 1999)

• • WWF Women's Championship (1 time)
    • Stephanie McMahon: (March 28, 2000 - August 21, 2000)

Videos and DVDs

• WWF - D-Generation X (1998, VHS)
• WWE - D-Generation X (June 2 2006, DVD)
  • Identical to the VHS product with the exception of added censorship of profanity and nudity.
• The New and Improved D-Generation X (February 20 2007, DVD)
  • The DVD includes the early hints from WrestleMania, through the skits, promos, chaos, and matches that reunited the duo, making life miserable for Mr. McMahon. This DVD has all the DX highlights including backstage interviews and segments, their imitation of the McMahons, the hijacking of the RAW production truck, taking over RAW for a night, vandalizing WWE's property etc.

References

External links

• WWE.com DX subsite
• Shawn Michaels's WWE.com Profile
• Triple H's WWE.com Profile