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This article is about the faction in WWE. For the PPV event, see "D-Generation X".

D-Generation X (also known as De-Generation X, D-X and DX) is a faction in World Wrestling Entertainment. Their gimmick is that of a group of rebels who do and say what they want, no matter how provocative. DX is generally considered one of the most popular stables in pro wrestling history. The group's original run was from 1997 to 2000, undergoing several roster changes during that time. After one-off returns in 2000 and 2002, DX reformed in June 2006 as the duo of Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

DX has been believed to be heavily influenced by WCW's nWo (although Vince McMahon has denied this on many occasions), and was created to battle with WCW in the ratings war. Incidentally, DX and the nWo included members of professional wrestling's Clique.

History

D-Generation X was formed during 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 their bodyguard, Chyna and their "insurance policy", Rick Rude. On October 13, 1997, the group officially referred to themselves as D-Generation 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 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-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 came against Bret Hart and his Hart Foundation. This feud ended in November 1997 at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in the infamous Montreal Screwjob which led to Bret leaving the company along with two of the remaining three members of the Foundation. 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 " "D-Generation X"" pay-per-view telecast on December 7, 1997.

DX army

On March 29, 1998, at WrestleMania XIV, Shawn Michaels was the WWF Champion while Triple H was the European Champion and they had 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. 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. 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". In his debut X-Pac, who had just been released from World Championship Wrestling, cut a now-famous promo 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 would be 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. At one point the they even 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 in Hampton, Virginia (they made it to the Norfolk Scope arena, but were barred entry). This incarnation of the faction lasted about a year.

The End of an Era

On October 25, 1999, the group reformed as heels to include every 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. Gunn's storyline involved him getting thrown out of DX when 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. 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"). Edge and Christian referred to the group as "The Fac-gime" (Pronounced Fack-sheem), combining both words, faction and regime after having an argument as to whether to call the group a faction, or 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, while other members went the same way. 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) along with K-Kwik, then Road Dogg's tag team partner, went on to have a feud with the Radicalz that month, eventually leading up to a match at Survivor Series, involving the same 8 wrestlers except for Triple H, who was replaced by K-Kwik. which The Radicalz won.

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, this did not last as Triple H turned on Michaels that very show; he had teased the reunion as a ploy to appease Michaels and lure him to the ring before giving him a Pedigree. This act lead to the in-ring return of Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2002 and the genesis of a long feud between the two.

Return

In 2006, a series of events took place which suggested a reunion of Shawn Michaels and Triple H as DX starting at WrestleMania 22 where both Shawn Michaels and Triple H performed the crotch chop during their matches. The two continued to deliver chops in the following episodes of WWE RAW as Michaels feuded with Mr. McMahon and Triple H went for the WWE Championship, repeatedly butting heads with Mr. McMahon in the process.

The rumors of a return were fueled by many releases in late-May and June such as copies of a WWF Magazine from January 1998, autographed by Michaels and Triple H on WWE's auction site, as well as a DX DVD and T-shirt, and the announcement of the release a two pack of action figures, featuring classic Michaels and Triple H in DX gear in August.

On the June 12 edition of RAW, the rumors were finally proven true. During Triple H's gauntlet match against the Spirit Squad, Shawn Michaels came in to save his old friend Triple H. After the duo had routed the Spirit Squad, the two men began to do their infamous crotch chops and Triple H mooned Mr. McMahon. During WWE Unlimited, Michaels and Triple H directed their old catchphrase, "Suck it!", to McMahon which sent him into a rage. After the break, Mr. McMahon announced backstage that the Spirit Squad would face "that damn DX" at Vengeance on June 25 in a 5-on-2 handicap match in which DX would win. After the win, the group would continue its sophmoric antics at the expense of The Spirit Squad, Vince and Shane McMahon and Jonathan Coachman for several weeks.

Members

  • Current members

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "D-Generation X".

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