Before that feud tbh, I don't think the Rock was very good. The Trips feud definitely had a hand in cementing his confidence, I think. He felt so out of place in 1997.
You must of missed his promos in late 1997 when he was feuding with Austin.
His promos in the nation when he was getting more heel heat that than Shawn Michaels after the screw job ENTERING 1998, where they had to put him last two in the Rumble.
Top 3 draws for the WWF in late 1997 were Austin, Shawn & Rock, even HHH who was doing DX was less over.
This idea that the Rock got over in 1998 is funny and shows clearly most didn’t watch, he was already the top heel entering 1998, no one got more heat then him, even Shawn.
Then Rock surpassed Austin in the summer of 1998, and turned face.
Even on the road to summerslam Rock outdrew Austin on the August 24,1998 Raw.
After Summerslam 1998 no one, no Austin not DX, were getting bigger pops & ratings than Rock, just look at Breakdown 1998.
Austin was losing in ratings to Goldberg, then Rock beat Goldberg in ratings and beat WCW at its peak in late 1998.
