NoDQ.com > Features > A detailed history of D-Generation X Posted by Aaron Rift on 05/04/2006 at 09:28 PM
D-Generation X was a faction in the World Wrestling Federation from 1997 to 2000. The group was formed in late 1997, when real-life friends Shawn Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley started teaming together in the ring. Along with Helmsley's 'bodyguard' Chyna and Michaels' "insurance policy" the late Rick Rude (Rude left shortly after for WCW), they formed D-Generation X.
The group was a major change from the WWF's previous "family-friendly" image: they would make obscene gestures, swear on TV and tell opponents to "suck it." Their theme music was intended to sound like controversial band Rage Against The Machine. They used the motto "You make the rules, and we'll break 'em." The group drew a lot of heat from the fans, but eventually became faces. They were an integral part of the Attitude Era, a period in the organization's history where they received a large amount of attention from mainstream media outlets and the general public.
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 did lead to, Bret leaving the company along with two of the remaining three members of the Foundation. The only one that remained in the WWF was Owen Hart and he continued his feud with D-X, specifically Triple H. Owen passed away during a WWF pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999 in Kansas City, Missouri.
"D-Generation X" was also used as the title for the WWF's monthly pay-per-view telecast in December 1997.
On March 29, 1998, the WWF held WrestleMania XIV, its annual flagship event. Shawn Michaels was the WWF Champion, 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. The real reason for this was that Michaels had suffered a back injury which needed surgery; as it turned out, Michaels would not wrestle again until 2002. Michaels was out of D-X and next night, Triple H declared himself to be the new leader of D-X. He recruited X-Pac and The New Age Outlaws, a tag team of The Road Dogg and Billy Gunn, to form a new D-X. X-Pac, who had just been released from World Championship Wrestling, cut a promo where he responded to then-WCW wrestler Hulk Hogan's live interview that alluded to X-Pac's recent release from the promotion.
The "new and improved" D-X were less anti-social than the first version, so they became extremely popular and eventually turned face. During this time, they would be involved in several storylines and skits - including a feud with the rival Nation of Domination and 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 its live broadcast in Hampton, Virginia (they made it to the Norfolk Scope arena, but were barred entry). For about a year, D-Generation X stayed together. Triple H and Chyna then went to join Vince McMahon's 'Corporation', and Billy Gunn pursued a singles career. The only remaining members were Road Dogg and X-Pac.
D-X is believed by many 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, D-X and the nWo included members of the Kliq.
In late 1999, the group reformed to include every member except for Shawn Michaels, Chyna and Rick Rude (who had died that April). From then until mid-2000, D-X 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 D-X when he lost his cool. X-Pac was 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-D-X" (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 & Christian referred to the group as "The Fac-gime"(Pronounced Fack-sheem), combining both words, faction & 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 before his long term return in October 2000. 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 a November edition of RAW is WAR the group temporarily rejoined (save for X-Pac, who was injured) to take on Chris Benoit, the late Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn (The Radicalz) in an 8-man tag team match which D-X won. The match included the group doing their old D-X entrance as well as telling the crowd to "suck it!" It was the symbolic end to D-Generation X. However, the members of D-X (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. The Radicalz won the match.
On July 11, 2002, on the episode of RAW after the breakup of nWo, Triple H handed Shawn Michaels a D-X 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.
At WrestleMania 22 in his Street Fight with Mr. McMahon, Shawn Michaels gave the DX crotch chop to Vince while perched atop the ladder. This led to the crowd cheering the antic and chanting "DX". Later that night in the main event match against John Cena, Triple H performed the taunt as well. Immediately after the event, rumors of a DX reunion began to run rampant. These rumors have only grown stronger with each week, as the next night on Raw, Shawn Michaels used an old DX trick by saying he had "two words" for Mr. McMahon, and allowed the crowd to yell "Suck It!", which again led to heavy "DX" chants.
Triple H has used the crotch chop several times since as well. At WWE Backlash on April 30, Shawn Michaels again taunted the McMahons with crotch chop, and Triple H did the same in the main event.
On the May 1 edition of Raw, Triple H was heading to the back after walking out of a match in which he was the special guest referee and ran into Shawn Michaels, who also had been a guest referee in an earlier match and was replacing Triple H. The two stopped and stared at each other for a few moments while the crowd chanted "DX" and then went about their ways. After taking over refereeing the match, Shawn Michaels performed a DX crotch chop in the ring.
It is still being speculated as to whether or not this reunion will take place and who would be included in the stable other than Triple H and Michaels, if anyone. Some question how it could be done since Michaels and Triple H have been bitter enemies since Michaels' return to the ring in 2002, and they also say that DX has had too many variations in the past. Shawn Micheals' spirituality and claims of being born again have also led people to believe a new version of DX would be far more tame than before.
However, the live crowds have shown a great interest in seeing a reunion between the two, and with Shawn Michaels being a face and slightly more edgy as of late, and Triple H currently on route to a face turn, the WWE has been dropping less than subtle hints and fueling the claims each week.
Also, the WWE has a new set of action figures coming out in August. One of the features is a two pack classic feature, containing Michaels and Triple H in their original DX attire. Since this news broke on May 1, 2006, the rumors have yet again grown stronger.
But the fact still remains that four of the former members of DX, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn will not join the WWE as they have current contracts with TNA Wrestling, Chyna noted that she will not return to the WWE, and Sean Waltman (X-Pac) locked up to the Wrestling Society X promotion, as MTV decided to pick up the series for at least one season. Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and Chyna have also all noted in previous interviews that they will never return to the WWE.
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