[1999-04-26-WWF-Raw] The Rock, Shane McMahon and HHH

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

It's the beginning of Rock's babyface turn, and the goal this time is to make it stick. He plays to the crowd right away and even pauses for a "Rocky!" chant. The Rock has words for Shane McMahon, which brings him out quickly. Shane blames him for worrying too much about entertaining the people, talking on the headset and even grabbing the camera to film. They go back and forth for a few minutes. HHH gets in a cheapshot but Rock fights him out. Then Chyna punches Rock and he hits her back, but the Corporation quickly turns on him. Rock has turned babyface and is out of the group. The segment ends with Rock challenging Shane to a match.

[tim]

Rock's face turn. I like how they telegraph the face turn on commentary, Rock gives time for the pro-Rock chants to register, and he looks like he's going to really hammer home the face turn by complimenting Austin ... but then says never mind and insults him anyway, instead hammering his turn home by calling out Shane. Good stuff.

[Tim Evans]

I like how even though Rock is turning babyface, he still gets a shot in on Austin calling him trailer trash. This is a much better way to turn someone face than how WCW did it with Hogan.

[soup23]

Good job of turning someone babyface when he was already getting cheers but still predominately a heel. Rock has too much charisma and catchphrases to really be a heel by this point. Him going against Shane could at times feel like Vince vs. Austin Part 2 which is something I want to track and hope isnt the case. The crowd was excited to be cheering for the guy without feeling guilty.

[PeteF3]

Good face turn, though once Shane comes out Loss' comments about Rock being too reliant on his catchphrases ring true here. He's reciting rote lines and Shane is actually cutting a promo on him. Oh well, minor complaint, because this segment accomplished what it set out to do and provides some intrigue for later tonight.