WWEAttitude Era1998
D-Generation X vs The Nation
Faction warfare that made two main-event stars at once.
DX vs The Nation made two future generational headliners at the same time. Two of the hottest factions of the Attitude Era feuded through raunchy comedy and escalating one-upmanship — D-Generation X, led by Triple H, against The Nation of Domination, whose breakout star was The Rock. The rivalry doubled as a launching pad, elevating both men to the main event.
Timeline
With Shawn Michaels sidelined, Triple H takes over DX alongside X-Pac, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and Chyna, reinventing the group as a rowdy comedy-and-chaos unit.
The Rock ascends within The Nation of Domination (Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Mark Henry, Owen Hart), sharpening the charisma that would define him.
DX famously parodies the Nation in a mocking sketch, each member impersonating a Nation counterpart — a defining Attitude Era comedy bit.
Triple H beats The Rock in a 2-out-of-3 falls ladder match for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam, a career-elevating showcase for both.
The Arc
On the surface, DX vs The Nation was pure Attitude Era spectacle — invasions of each other's segments, backstage brawls, escalating pranks and DX's infamous parody sketch mocking every Nation member. It was loud, crude, funny and endlessly quotable, exactly the tone that made 1998 WWF must-see television. But beneath the comedy was a serious purpose: this was the crucible that forged two of the biggest stars the company would ever produce.
Triple H used his DX leadership to prove he could carry a faction and a rivalry; The Rock used The Nation as the springboard for the electrifying charisma that would soon make him a crossover phenomenon. Their SummerSlam 1998 ladder match for the Intercontinental Title was the feud's centerpiece and a genuine passing-of-the-torch moment, pushing both toward the main event. Rarely has a single faction war created two franchise players simultaneously — and it cemented faction warfare as a permanent booking staple.
Key Matches
The feud's signature SummerSlam 1998 ladder match sits outside the Wrestle Lore match archive, but The Rock and Triple H's later classics are chronicled below.
The Wrestlers
Two Wrestle Lore roster members drove the feud: Triple H, the leader of DX, and The Rock, the breakout of The Nation. Their factionmates — X-Pac, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and Chyna in DX; Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Mark Henry and Owen Hart in The Nation — are noted here in plain text.
FAQ
Who was in DX and The Nation of Domination?
DX featured Triple H, X-Pac, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and Chyna. The Nation of Domination featured The Rock, Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, Mark Henry and Owen Hart.
What was the biggest match in the DX vs Nation feud?
Triple H vs The Rock in a 2-out-of-3 falls ladder match for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam 1998 — a showcase that helped elevate both men to main-event level.
Why did the DX vs Nation feud matter?
It made two future generational headliners, Triple H and The Rock, at the same time, and showcased faction warfare as a booking staple of the Attitude Era.