Going to the Next Level

I was commenting on the recent thread involving Austin’s heel turn in 2001 and the discussion led to 2000 HHH and how over he was as a babyface in September/October 2000 before the Austin/Rikishi thing. The audience had just been clamoring to cheer the guy because of how badass he suddenly become when the calendar flipped to 2000.

Do you recall another time where almost literally overnight a wrestler went from an average/mediocre talent or performer that nobody really bought as a top guy to suddenly badass in all aspects of performing like HHH did in 2000?

​Well, I mean, BESIDES Roman Reigns, right?

And of course the obvious answer is Steve Austin in 1996. Watching those RAW shows from that year, and it’s like a light switch goes off around Summerslam and suddenly goes from midcarder to star in one show. It’s pretty amazing. ​