The Monday Night Wars brought out the best in the WWE. It had to, or they might have gone out of business. This period is nostalgically referred to as The Attitude Era, when story lines, characters and matches were edgy beyond belief.

While there are a number of big names WWE fans associate with The Attitude Era, the two biggest are undoubtedly 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. They defined the era, gaining popularity at a time when WWE needed heroes to win the war. Without them, it's hard to say where WWE would be today.

10 The Rock Asks About His Cooking

The Rock strikes a pose

While his in ring work was fantastic, The Rock was the master of the microphone. Put him in the ring, give him a mic and watch magic happen. Possibly more than any other wrestler, he created a long series of soundbites and catchphrases that continue to infect the WWE's vocabulary to this day.

It almost didn't matter what he said as long as he followed it up with the eyebrow raise. Once that eyebrow was up, The Rock had spoken and a new catchphrase was born.

9 Stone Cold Cut A Mean Promo

Stone Cold was no slouch in the promo department, either. Where The Rock was charming and witty, Stone Cold brought intensity backed up by thinly veiled rage. When he cut the infamous 3:16 promo after being named the King of the Ring, a legend was born.

RELATED: The Great One: 10 Best Matches Of The Rock’s WWE Career

His ability to make iconic moments happen with a few intense words set him apart from so many of his contemporaries. There's a reason why he keeps getting interview based shows on the WWE Network; the man is almost a better talker than he is a fighter.

8 The Rock n' Sock Connection

The Rock and Mankind in This is Your Life

The Rock had a lot of tag partners and teams over the years but no one clicked with the People's Champ the way Mick Folely did. Their comedic tag team known as the Rock 'n Sock Connection was a superb metaphor for the Attitude Era. It's something that never, ever should have worked yet somehow it did.

Their insanely long and ridiculous "This is Your Life" celebration where Mick celebrated The Rock's birthday is still one of the WWE's top rated segments. The Attitude Era was all about taking big swings and this was a doozy. The Rock pointing out to Folely that it wasn't even his birthday was the perfect punchline to an insane moment.

7 Stone Cold Took It To The Boss

Stone Cold yells at Vince post Stunner

Nothing defined the Attitude Era like the rivalry between Stone Cold and Vince McMahon. Their on screen feud pitted the blue collar, beer drinking hero against his ultra wealthy, overbearing boss. Not surprisingly, this resonated with WWE fans almost immediately.

RELATED: 10 Wrestling Legends That Stone Cold Never Faced

The first time Stone Cold delivered the Stunner to Vince is about as iconic a moment as you can find in the WWE. The number of Stunners Vince as taken since then is honestly staggering, quite literally in some cases.

6 The Rock Helped Launch Raw Is Jericho

Raw is Jericho debuts

One of the most under-utilized talents on WCW was Chris Jericho. The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla was great on the mic and great in the ring, but he couldn't get the push he deserved with WCW. Finally out from under them, he made his way to WWE. An epic countdown clock, which no one new was him, ominously lead to his arrival.

It timed out perfectly to a segment on Raw on August 9, 1999. His war of words with The Rock set the tone for his first WWE run with what is considered the best debut in WWE history.

5 Stone Cold And Bret Hart Tore The House Down

Bret Hart puts Stone Cold in the Sharpshooter

One of the most enduring visuals of the Attitude Era was Stone Cold's bloody face during a match with living legend, Bret 'The Hitman' Hart. Their war at WrestleMania XIII with Ken Shamrock as the referee ended when Hart slapped the Sharpshooter on Stone Cold, a submission hold that has ended matches for decades.

RELATED: 10 Worst Matches of The Rock’s Career

Blood pouring down his face while he screamed, Stone Cold writhed around until he finally blacked out from the pain rather than tapping out. He might have lost the match but it made Stone Cold the legend he is.

4 The Rock Joined The Nation

The Nation of Domination together

The Nation of Domination led by Farooq, better known as the legend Ron Simmons, was one of the strongest factions in WWE. That was in no small part due to the fact that Mark Henry debuted as part of the team.

The moment The Rock joined it was important for him as he hadn't found any real traction before that point. He was still becoming The Rock. Joining the Nation and eventually leaving them was key to his career. He became The Rock as a member of The Nation and because he was a member of The Nation.

3 Stone Cold's Beer Bath

The Stone Cold Beer Bath

Of all the time Stone Cold spent tormenting Mr. McMahon and his Corporation during the Attitude Era, the Beer Bath is the stand out. After getting his match set for WrestleMania XV versus The Rock, Vince's corporate champion, Stone Cold decided to give them a little gift.

RELATED: 5 Wrestlers Stone Cold Made Look Legit (& 5 He Made Look Like A Joke)

As Vince, Shane and The Rock stood in the ring on Raw, Stone Cold rolled down the ramp in a beer truck, got out, pulled a hose and soaked them all in beer. That included the front rows of the audience. Seeing Vince trying to swim away in a ring covered in beer is a unique image to say the least.

2 The Rock Takes Mankind To The Top

Mankind wins his first championship

One of the biggest moments in the Attitude Era came at the expense of The Rock. A fan favorite for years, Mick Foley could not seem to break through to the golden circle of champions. On an episode of Raw on January 4th, 1999, that all changed. With DX at his back, Mick Foley defeated The Rock to become the new WWE Champion.

While The Rock lost that night, a big part of being in the business is putting the other guy over. The Rock helped give Mick Foley one of the biggest moments of his career and a watershed moment for the Attitude Era.

1 Stone Cold Versus The Baddest Man On The Planet

Mike Tyson and Stone Cold face off

No moment in the Attitude Era got more mainstream media attention than 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and 'Iron' Mike Tyson throwing down in the middle of the ring on Raw. McMahon had invited Tyson to Raw raise the brand's profile.

Not one to let McMahon have his moment, Austin headed straight for the ring and flipped Tyson off. Naturally, that led to the two men brawling in the ring. McMahon's perfect photo op might have been ruined but more people were talking about WWE than ever before.

NEXT: 5 Reasons André The Giant Is The Best Giant In Wrestling History (& 5 Why It's The Big Show)