Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Wrestling / DGenerationX

Go To

1%%
2%%
3%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out.
4%% Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
5%%
6%%
7%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1632060367020352600
8%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
9%%
10[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dx.jpg]]
11%%
12-> ''"Generation X always gets a bad rep; everybody calls us degenerates. Degeneration X... is that us? Degeneration X! HBK, Triple H, Chyna, Rick Rude, we are Degeneration X--you make the rules, and we will break them!"''
13-->-- '''Wrestling/ShawnMichaels''', ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw WWF Raw Is War]]'', October 13, 1997
14
15->''Are you ready?\
16You think you can tell us what to do?\
17You think you can tell us what to wear?\
18You think that you're better?\
19Well you'd better get ready\
20To bow to the masters\
21Break it down!''
22-->-- '''Opening lines from "Break it Down" by Chris Warren and the DX Band'''
23
24D-Generation X was a ProfessionalWrestling PowerStable that began in the Wrestling/AttitudeEra of the Wrestling/MondayNightWars (roughly late 1997) and ended in March of 2010, after ''many'' incarnations, with a one-night return in 2018. It also has close ties to Wrestling/TheKliq (due to RealLifeWritesThePlot) and the Wrestling/NewWorldOrder (in the sense that both stables were very similar in their RefugeInAudacity tendencies).
25
26Now, that's the boring answer. So, [[CatchPhrase are you ready]] for the real description?
27
28No, Website/TVTropes, ''[[MemeticMutation I said, ARE YOU READY?]]''
29
30D-Generation X exemplified the VulgarHumor craziness of the late-1990s [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]]. Founded by [[Wrestling/TheKliq Kliq]] members Wrestling/ShawnMichaels and Wrestling/TripleH, the faction grew in various incarnations to include Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon, [[Wrestling/SeanWaltman X-Pac]], Wrestling/{{Chyna}}, Wrestling/RoadDogg, Wrestling/BillyGunn, Wrestling/RickRude, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] [[Wrestling/TerriPoch Tori]]. [[SelfDemonstratingArticle As you can see]], not every member of DX was successful, but its legacy and the lengthy [[TrueCompanions bond]] between all (well, most) of them changed the careers of everyone involved and in many ways wrestling forever.
31
32In February 2019, it was announced that D-Generation X would be inducted into the Wrestling/WWEHallOfFame, with members Triple H, Gunn, Dogg, X-Pac and Chyna receiving their first inductions into the Hall of Fame, and giving Michaels his second induction in the process. Rick Rude and Tori [[{{Unperson}} were not named in the induction]], although Rude was already inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 as an individual.
33
34----
35!!LLLLLL''LETS-GET-READY-TO-TRRRRRROPE-IIIT!''
36
37* ArchEnemy:
38** During the nineties, The Hart Foundation, Wrestling/TheNationOfDomination, and Wrestling/TheCorporation were all enemies of DX in succession.
39** In the later runs with only Hunter and Shawn, it would be the [=McMahon=] family (more specifically Vince and {{Wrestling/Shane|McMahon}}), [[Wrestling/EdgeWrestler Rated-R]][[Wrestling/RandyOrton KO]], [[Wrestling/CodyRhodes The]] [[Wrestling/TedDiBiaseJr Legacy]], [[Wrestling/ChrisJericho Jeri]]-[[Wrestling/TheBigShow Show]] and the [[Wrestling/TheUndertaker Brothers of]] [[Wrestling/{{Kane}} Destruction]].
40* {{Animal Motif|s}}: The Road [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Dogg]] even had an [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom anthropomorphic ]] representation of himself on some of his merch in the form of a [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience green]] [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife bulldog]].
41* AmbiguouslyGay: The entire damn stable. From where [[{{Seme}} Triple H]] stands in relation to [[{{Uke}} Shawn Michaels]] when they hit the ring, to the [[BlackComedyRape setup]] to Road Dogg's Pumphandle Powerslam, to the random lips painted all over Billy Gunn's trunks along with his moniker of "Mr. Ass", all the way to X-Pac's Bronco Buster. DX reeks of this trope. When your catchphrase is "Let's get ready to suck it!", this trope is pretty much inevitable.
42--> '''Wrestling/BretHart:''' ''You know and I know, that Shawn Michaels and his boy-toy Hunter Helmsley are the one responsible for all the problems right now.''
43* AppropriatedAppellation[=/=]InsultBackfire: Wrestling/BretHart called them a pack of degenerates, so they took on that name for themselves.
44* TheArtifact:
45** HHH's "ARE YOU READY"/"Let's get ready to SUCK ITTTT!" intro started as a mockery of Michael Buffer's melodramatic intros for ''Wrestling/WCWMondayNitro'' main events. He brought it back as part of the DX reunion in 2006, even though WCW had been dead since 2001.
46** The New Age Outlaws continue to wear D-Generation X shirts to the ring in their occasional in-ring reunions to this day, despite the stable having dissolved for good in 2010.
47* ButtMonkey: Shawn was often the victim of (comical) physical abuse during the later DX runs, but especially during the "one night only" reunion in 2007.
48* CatchPhrase:
49** Obviously, "Suck it!" -- often preceded by "(If you're not down with that,) we got two words for ya..."
50** The New Age Outlaws had (and still have) a Catch ''Paragraph''. Road Dogg recites it more or less word-for-word every time - and NAO's more dedicated fans [[CrowdChant repeat it with him verbatim.]]
51---> ''"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, D-Generation X is proud to present the current/future and (previous reigns)-time TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD... THE ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMMES, THE BAD ASS BILLY GUNN, THE '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis NEW! AGE! OUTLAWS!]]'''"''
52* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: The Kliq and its various offshoots have a long history of this:
53** The New Age Outlaws formed when the Road Dogg (formerly the Roadie/"The Real [[Wrestling/JeffJarrett "Double-J"]] Jesse Jammes) convinced Rockabilly, who he'd been teaming with occasionally in recent weeks at the time, to leave the Wrestling/HonkyTonkMan and join forces with him. Rockabilly agreed, smashing Honky over the head with his own guitar for emphasis. This came after [[Wrestling/TooColdScorpio Flash Funk]] had defeated Rockabilly on the October 11 (taped October 6), 1997 ''[[{{BShow}} Shotgun Saturday Night]]'' due to Honky tripping up Gunn, and, once Road Dogg walked out, Flash's win was immediately forgotten.
54** [=DX=] set up Shawn to be beaten up by The Corporation on the January 4, 1999 ''Raw.'' This was in retaliation to Shawn turning on [=DX=] on his first night as Commissioner.
55** [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE Champion]] [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] defeated Triple H in an "I Quit" match on the January 25, 1999 Raw after Wrestling/TheCorporation ran in and Wrestling/{{Kane}} had Chyna up for a chokeslam. [[Wrestling/BigBossman The Big Bossman]] told HHH to give up or [=Chyna=]'s neck would be broken. HHH agreed, and said "I quit." Chyna thanked him by...[[GroinAttack low-blowing him]] and joining the [=Corporation=].
56** HHH turned on X-Pac during his match with [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-eu-h.html WWE European Heavyweight Champion]] Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon at ''[[{{Wrestling/WrestleMania}} WrestleMania XV]]'', costing X-Pac the match and joining the [=Corporation=], which occurred moments after Chyna turned on Kane during his match against HHH and rejoined DX.
57** X-Pac turned on Kane to reform the late 1999-2000 heel version of DX with HHH and the NAO.
58* CoolOldGuy: Shawn and Hunter in the final incarnation of DX firmly hit this trope.
59* CreateYourOwnVillain: Their antics during their feud with the [=McMahons=] and Wrestling/TheSpiritSquad involved them taking the control of the show's production truck. This little joke affected a match between Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} and Wrestling/RandyOrton, and led to the formation of Rated-RKO.
60* CrowdSong:
61** "We got two words for ya: SUCK IT!"
62** The New Age Outlaws have two:
63*** "Oh you didn't know?! Yo' ass better caaaaaall somebodyyyyyy!" (Even when it was removed from Road Dogg's entrance theme, the crowd would still do it.)
64*** "Llllladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, tonight, D-Generation X proudly brings to you its six-time WWE Tag Team Champions of the Wooooorld... The Road Dogg Jesse James! The Bad Ass Billy Gunn! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE NEW! AGE! OUTLAWS!]]" (Yes, the crowd [[http://youtu.be/zp7ql_aAHeI?t=24s would join in this chant as well]].)
65* CurbStompBattle: During Survivor Series 2006, they won 5-0 (with Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy and CM Punk) against Team RKO (Edge, Orton, Gregory Helms, Johnny Nitro, and Mike Knox), making their lineup the only team in Survivor Series history to earn a clean sweep.
66** More evident during the closing stages of their match, when only Edge and Orton were left and tried to leave but were dragged back and get beaten up by them. Moreso for Orton upon realizing [[OhCrap he's the only one left in his team]] after Edge got eliminated.
67* DeadpanSnarker: Triple H, hell, the main reason he got pushed was because Shawn Michaels thought Trips was hilarious; the audience certainly agreed.
68* {{Delinquents}}: Their major gimmick, due to Shawn Michaels and Triple H's RealLife backstage hijinks.
69%% (ZCE) * {{Depraved Bisexual}}s: Hunter and Shawn would hit the women[[note]]for example, Candice Michelle and HHH's skit during [[HostileShowTakeover their seizing of WWE's production truck]][[/note]] as much as they hit each other[[note]]their smooch on camera[[/note]] back in the early days of the stable. They toned it down for their TurnOfTheMillennium duo run.
70* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
71** Initially, Michaels and Hunter were reluctant tag partners. Michaels just started his heel turn and Helmsley was just starting to evolve his pompous blueblood gimmick but still frowned upon teaming with Michaels. It wasn't till a few weeks later that their real life HeterosexualLifePartners relationship was shown on camera. Even then it took a while for them to adopt things most fans are familiar with; after their real-life friendship was acknowledged, they initially refered to themselves as "Wrestling/TheKliq" before Michaels coined the term "D-Generation X" (from Wrestling/BretHart calling them "degenerates" and Michaels making an off-the-cuff remark about "Generation X getting a bad rep"), and their iconic theme song didn't debut until the ''Raw'' after the [[Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob infamous]] ''Wrestling/SurvivorSeries '97''.
72** Their second incarnation as the DX Army began as a traditional heel stable. This was quickly abandoned, and they became faces/tweeners.
73* FingerpokeOfDoom: Preceding the actual TropeNamer in fact! When Wrestling/SgtSlaughter in his role as Commissioner tried to break Shawn and Hunter up by pitting them against each other for the European Title, the pair worked out what he was doing and made a complete farce of the affair. They cut incredibly [[LargeHam hammy]] and over-the-top promos before the match and then, after more than a minute of stalling, Hunter gently pushed Shawn over, ran the ropes back and forth across the ring for [[OverlyLongGag an absurdly long time,]] then dropped the weakest splash in wrestling history on an unmoving Shawn and covered him for the 3 count.
74* HostileShowTakeover: Have done this at least twice, especially during their later feud with the [=McMahons=]: the first involved messing with Vince's microphone; the latter had then-RAW GM Jonathan Coachman scared out of the arena.
75* [[HoYay/{{WWE}} Ho Yay]]: Just look at the page. Though it doesn't get more blatant than Shawn and Hunter kissing in the middle of the ring and Hunter's response to the question of whether or not he was bilingual:
76-->''I'm bi- a lot of things. Lingual ain't one of them.''
77* {{Hypocrite}}: Quite a few examples.
78** HHH taking part in something (the Nation parody) that involved mocking the size of someone's (Wrestling/OwenHart) nose.
79** HHH and Chyna taking part in the parody of Wrestling/TheCorporation, a {{Heel}} faction they would both later join. Of course, HHH would later join the '''ACTUAL''' Corporation a few years later.
80** HHH and HBK, during their 2006 reunion, making countless gay jokes at the expense of the Spirit Squad, Vince [=McMahon=], and to an extent Randy Orton, despite the historically massive HoYay between the two of them.
81** '''HHH leading Wrestling/TheAuthority with Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon''' and ''every former member of DX that's still connected to WWE supporting their tyrannical regime''. Of course, this is predated by the [=McMahon=]-Helmsley Faction as well as Hunter and Steph's real-life marriage.
82%%* {{Jerkass}}: A whole group of them.
83* KickTheDog: One of the most cruel acts committed by DX was during the Thanksgiving '99 episode of ''[=SmackDown=]'' when they invited a group of homeless into the arena for a Thanksgiving feast. Instead of offering them the food, DX tortured the homeless people by waving food in front of their faces. Of course, the whole segment was [[RuleOfFunny played]] [[ForTheEvulz for]] [[BlackComedy laughs]].
84* MerchandiseDriven: DX circa 2010 ran off of this trope, at least they made it funny.
85* MrFanservice: Shawn, and to a lesser but still significant extent, Triple H.
86* NoFourthWall: All the damn time. They murdered the fourth wall with great abandon and impunity.
87** On a segment posted on WWE.com:
88--->'''Hunter''': For the thousands in attendance, for the millions who, five minutes ago, were watching at home- *crowd boos* Guys, it's like, 11:08, we're off the air!
89** The constant references to [[Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon Triple H's real-life wife]] and him being the father of her children.
90--->'''Shawn''': Man, that baby looks familiar, but I just can't put my finger on it. *taps Triple H on the shoulder*
91* NonAnswer: Triple H pulls one of these on Shawn Michaels during D-X's feud with Rated-RKO.
92--> '''Shawn''': Now, before we get started, ''(to Hunter)'' you gotta tell me. Do I really look ''that'' much of an idiot when we come out together?\
93'''Hunter''': Shawn... ''(pats his shoulder)'' I'm not gonna lie to you. ''(immediately dodges the question and turns to Orton and Edge)'' Honestly, what's with all the hostility?
94
95* OnlySaneMan: Chyna would rarely engage in the wacky antics the rest of the boys did, and basically came off as TheComicallySerious who kept a straight face no matter what the rest of DX were doing.
96* OrderedApology: After they took over RAW one night from Jonathan Coachman when Vince was out, due to the fact that they didn't have the legal authority to do that. Shawn was willing but Hunter saw no point, and the attempts to apologize were constantly shot down to the point that they hadn't apologized to anyone at all. Shawn even attempted to apologize for something that ''hadn't even happened yet''.
97** Shawn and Hunter had a RealLife one in May 1996 after the famous "MSG Incident", where they and fellow Kliq members Wrestling/ScottHall and Wrestling/KevinNash were all in the ring together at a house show acting chummy even though HBK and Hall were faces, while HHH and Nash were heels. For this, HBK and HHH had to go around to the entire locker room and apologize for breaking kayfabe. The incident is generally regarded as "the moment kayfabe died".
98** Because Shawn was the WWF Champion at the time and Hall and Nash had already confirmed they were on their way to WCW, only Hunter was punished for it. Part of the punishment was losing a King of the Ring win, which was given to Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin triggering his rise to superstardom.
99%%* {{Pirate}}: X-Pac certainly looked like one.
100* PopularityPower: DX is as CriticProof as ''Wrestling/WrestleMania''. Whenever the stable is shown in any form, expect cheers to follow, whether in reunions[[note]]such as ''RAW 1000'' or the road to ''Crown Jewel 2018''[[/note]] or random appearances. As for particulars, HHH's {{face}} status is tied to the stable (whenever it isn't tied to his acclaimed run as the head of ''[[Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} NXT]]'') ''Shawn Michaels'' can get cheered in {{Wrestling/Montreal|Screwjob}}, Wrestling/SeanWaltman (the TropeNamer of the negative-connotation ridden XPacHeat) makes the crowd forget about the questionable booking decisions that led him to such negative reception, and even Wrestling/BillyGunn and Wrestling/RoadDogg as the New Age Outlaws and Wrestling/{{Chyna}}, despite the questionable booking and angles they were involved in, get cheered just by showing with the stable. [[invoked]]
101* PowerStable:
102** Early days DX had Shawn as the leader, HHH as the centerpiece, Wrestling/RickRude as the Enforcer and Wrestling/{{Chyna}} as the Muscle.
103** DX Army era had HHH as the leader, X-Pac as the centerpiece, Chyna as the Enforcer and the New Age Outlaws as Muscle.
104* PunctuatedForEmphasis: As part of their CatchPhrase, HHH would proclaim first if the crowd was ready, and then repeat the question as "ARE? YOU?? REEEAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDYYYYYY???????"
105* PuttingTheBandBackTogether: Shawn and Hunter, post-2000. They teased a DX reunion during Shawn's original 2002 comeback, but that led to a heel turn for Hunter and a three-year rivalry. They finally pulled the trigger in mid-2006 (as a title-chasing Triple H kept butting heads with Vince and Shane [=McMahon=], whom Shawn was feuding with at the time), and ran with it until Shawn's retirement in 2010.
106** For the 1000th episode of ''Raw'', Shawn and Hunter came to the ring in their gear and were about to do the intro when Shawn said they were missing someone. Cue Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and X-Pac entering the arena. This was actually the first time that DX had appeared in that particular configuration.
107** The same configuration would appear again in 2018 for the 25th anniversary of ''Raw'', with [[Wrestling/TheKliq Kliq]] member Wrestling/ScottHall as a special guest. They notably exchanged a Too Sweet with former Wrestling/BulletClub members Finn Bálor, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson, then supported Bálor Club in a beatdown of Wrestling/TheRevival after the latter reacted poorly to Gallows and Anderson defeating them.
108** At the Raw Reunion show, however, Shawn and Hunter saved Seth Rollins from being assaulted by Gallows and Anderson during his match with AJ Styles. When Anderson, Gallows, and Styles' offer of a Too Sweet was rejected, Road Dogg and X-Pac soon came out for additional support, with both Scott Hall and Wrestling/KevinNash as special guests this time to run off The OC.
109* RedOniBlueOni: The HotBlooded, egomaniac Shawn, and the laid back, snide Hunter fit this trope perfectly.
110** Inverted in the reunion with Triple H making all the bawdy jokes and a mellowed-out Shawn cringing off to the side.
111* '''''RefugeInAudacity:''''' DX was this trope ''personified.''
112** The time they hijacked a ''tank'' and invaded a WCW live show. Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and X-Pac would re-enact this at Raw 1000.
113** Any of their excellent parodies (the Nation, Wrestling/TheCorporation, the [=McMahon=] family).
114** Takeovers of shows (which was also a staple of rival group the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder nWo]]) and messing with the production truck, pyrotechnics, microphones, etc.
115** The time they played strip poker in the middle of the ring.
116** DX's "Christmas Present to the World" - let's say it involved Shawn and Hunter dressed only in thongs.
117** Raining crap on [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince]], [[Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon Shane]], and the Spirit Squad.
118** Shawn sticking the Canadian flag up his nose . . . in ''Calgary''.
119* RickyMorton: Shawn. Hunter rarely, if ever, played the role; in this case, however, due to Shawn's own legend status in the WWE and his status as Hunter's best friend, it probably has less to do with favoritism and more with the fact that Shawn is the better performer and one of the best at selling in general.
120* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Played with during Shawn and Hunter's run from 2006-2010. The ''DX: Last Stand'' DVD has a segment where Hunter somewhat calls this out.
121-->'''HHH:''' ''[to Shawn]'' I'm the macho guy of the team. You've always been the chick in this relationship.
122* [[ShamelessSelfPromoter Shameless Self-Promotion]]: One of DX's trademarks (especially during the later reunion runs) is their inability to resist a cheap plug for their [[TheMerch merchandise]], whether it be their action figures, T-shirts, [=DVDs=], or even their new book, in the most blatant, forced, and incongruous way possible, with Cheshire Cat grins on their faces the whole time.
123-->'''Shawn Michaels''': Now available on [=WWEShop.com=]! Buy! Buy! Buy!
124* SicklyGreenGlow: Part of the DX aesthetic was bright neon green letters, arena lighting, merchandise and glowsticks.
125* SixthRanger: In late 1998 to 1999, [[Wrestling/MickFoley Mankind]] was an unofficial member of the group during their war with the Corporation and, in fact, DX was watching Mankind's back during his famous first world title win. After the match, DX hoisted him on their shoulders with smiles too big not to be real.
126** This despite how these same guys had beaten the crap out of Cactus Jack and Wrestling/TerryFunk nine months earlier in the cage match on the March 30, 1998 ''Raw'' when the New Age Outlaws officially joined the group and regained the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-t.html WWE World Tag Team Titles]].[[note]]Cactus and Funk had defeated the NAO for the titles the night before at ''Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} XIV'' in a dumpster match, but the belts were held up on the grounds that Jack/Funk had used the wrong dumpster.[[/note]]
127** Wrestling/{{Kane}} could have been considered one during DX's run in 1999.
128* SlobsVersusSnobs: First against [[Wrestling/BretHart The Hart Foundation]], then later against Wrestling/TheCorporation and eventually the [[WrestlingFamily McMahons]] themselves.
129* SpotlightStealingSquad: All the damn time.
130* {{Stripperiffic}}: Any time Shawn Michaels was in the ring, but for maximum tropage:
131** The time Shawn, Hunter, and Chyna played strip poker in the middle of the ring.
132** The time Shawn and Hunter stripped down to ''mistletoe-covered thongs'' for Christmas. (complete with "Merry [=DXMas=]" written on their asses).
133* TooDumbToLive: During their late 1999 heel run, the group had the opportunity to bring Kane into the fold who was tagging with X-Pac at the time. For whatever reason, DX decided it'd be great if instead they'd turn on the hulking yet loyal monster and make an enemy out of him. It should be no surprise, then, that Kane, reuniting with his father Wrestling/PaulBearer, proceeded to destroy DX almost every opportunity he could.
134* TheTrickster: Both Shawn and Hunter, especially during their first run.
135* TrueCompanions: DX was born out of a RealLife group of these in The Kliq.
136* {{Unperson}}: Chyna, with her absence in the ''Raw 1000'' reunion episode solidifying this. {{Subverted}} during the induction of the faction as a whole in the 2019 Hall of Fame, about three years after her passing.
137** Tori got fired for legitimately refusing to return to the developmental league, and hasn't been mentioned on WWF/E television since then. Since she was never a very important part of DX, people mostly didn't even notice.[[note]]Her last active role on WWE TV was as Wrestling/{{Raven}}'s masked ninja woman in early 2001. She later was one of the trainers for the first seasons of ''Wrestling/WWEToughEnough.''[[/note]]
138* WackyFratboyHijinx: Probably the poster children for this trope. If we tried to list all of DX's juvenile pranks, promos, and segments, we'd be here all [[strike:year]] decade.
139%%* XMakesAnythingCool
140* XPacHeat: Well, it did [[InvokedTrope contain]] the [[TropeNamers Trope Namer]]. However, X-Pac didn't get unpopular while he was still in DX - that wouldn't happen until a year and a half later when DX was over, but X-Pac was still chopping his crotch and playing the exact same character.
141----
142
143-->[[AC: And if you're not down with that, WE GOT '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis TWO! WORDS! FOR YA!!!]]''']]
144

Top