Survivor Series (1998) - Aftermath

Aftermath

The immediate effects of the event, alongside The Rock turning heel by aligning himself with McMahon, was the creation of The Corporation. The following evening on Raw, McMahon declared The Rock to be the Corporate Champion and set about persuading other wrestlers down the roster to join with the promise of money and power. The first to join was Ken Shamrock, who demanded a match with the Big Boss Man for interfering in his match, but towards the end of the match both McMahons came to the ring and convinced him to join. They also tried to convince the New Age Outlaws to join, but after feigning an allegiance they revealed to be true to D-Generation X and had to defend their Tag Team Titles at Rock Bottom: In Your House and again the following night, which they lost after much interference. McMahon also introduced a new commissioner, Shawn Michaels, who also showed Corporate bias before returning to his DX stable. In the following year The Corporation would become a large stable and would rival The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness.

On a more individual basis, Mankind's outrage at being screwed by Mr. McMahon led him to a title match at the subsequent pay-per-view, Rock Bottom. Despite winning the match, McMahon managed to manipulate the rules to make sure The Rock retained his title again but another match on the first Raw of the new year saw Mankind win the title, leading to an "I Quit" match at the Royal Rumble in the new year, a match that became both noted as an entertaining match and also as being focused on in the Beyond the Mat documentary. This led to an empty arena match, a Last Man Standing match and finally a Ladder Match, with the title frequently changing hands until ultimately The Rock was champion and would go on to WrestleMania XV, with Mankind finding his way into the main event as a special guest referee.

Austin and Mr. McMahon's feud continued to escalate after he was cheated in the semi-finals. The following night on Raw he reminded McMahon and The Rock that when he was rehired by Shane, he was guaranteed a title match. The match was marred with interference though both from Corporate members, Mankind trying to find revenge on The Rock and The Undertaker who took a shovel to Austin. McMahon tried to use Undertaker as another blockade for Austin, setting him in a Buried Alive Match to prevent him entering the Rumble. Austin won the Buried Alive Match and was placed in the Royal Rumble entering first opposite McMahon at number two who went on to win the Rumble, Austin reclaimed his WrestleMania place the following month, though and went on to win the title.

X-Pac's neck injury was not mentioned on screen and Steven Regal left the company soon after for WCW, without making another appearance. Marc Mero would also disappear from programming, firstly to support his wife, Sable, in her career before leaving the company altogether. Firstly he split with Jacqueline, blaming her for his losing streak and she went on to form Pretty Mean Sisters; then in a moment of cockiness he announced that he was so insulted by being forced to face Duane Gill that he would quit if he lost. Thanks to interference from the debuting Blue Meanie, Duane Gill (who had become Light Heavyweight Champion) won the match and Mero quit, making one last appearance at UK's Capital Carnage. Sable would disappear until the new year, when she became an active defender of the Women's Championship; fighting the likes of Luna Vachon and newcomer Tori and forming an alliance with Nicole Bass.