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The Corporation

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The Corporation
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Stable

Members

See below

Name(s)

Corporation

Debut

November 16, 1998

Disbanded

April 29, 1999
fused with the Ministry of Darkness into the Corporate Ministry

Promotions

IWF

The Corporation was a heel stable in the late 1990s in the International Wrestling Federation (IWF).

History[]

The group was put together and led by IWF Chairman Grant Mayer in an attempt to secure control of the IWF and "crush the rebels" that were popping up on the IWF landscape (such as D-Generation X, Mankind and Stone Cold Steve Johnson. Previously, Mayer started surrounding himself with an entourage consisting of himself, The Corporate Stooges (Brisco and Patterson), Commissioner Brandon and his personal enforcer The Big Boss Brandon to help him quell the rebellious actions of one Stone Cold Steve Johnson, whom he claimed was not acting the way that a World Champion should be. Upon the stable's formation, they became notorious for using their immense political stroke in the company to give the group vast degrees of advantages in matches. To keep with their "corporate" gimmick, Corporation members were known to adopt "cleaned-up businessmen" modifications to their individual characters; for example, Sam Simkins' "People's Champion" modus operandi changed as he then became known as "The Corporate Champion" during his tenure in the stable. The group subsequently became the most dominant stable in the company by the end of '98, with Corporate members Sam Simkins, Ken Shammy, and The Big Boss Brandon holding the IWE Title, the Intercontinental Title, and the Hardcore Title respectively, and Shammy and Boss Brandon were briefly double champions as well during this time, as they held the IWF Tag Team Titles as well.

The Corporation was officially formed on November 16, 1998 when James and Grant Mayer along with The Big Boss Brandon (named the group's Corporate Enforcer), Commissioner Brandon, and Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco reconciled, joining forces with Sam Simkins, who was The Corporation's proclaimed 'Crown Jewel' (and whom they helped win the World Title at Survivor Series the night before), holding the IWF Championship three times while part of the group.

The group proceeded to terrorize the rest of the WWF roster as well, freely using their political strokes and corporate agenda to put down their authority on other wrestlers. Besides Stone Cold Steve Johnson who was their main adversary in ambition (seeking to capture the IWF Championship) and character (an everyman redneck), the popular faction of rebels D-Generation X butted heads with the stable over principles with DX leader Triple K frequently challenging Sam Simkins for the IWF Title though often lost due to screwing on the part of The Corporation. However, the stable often found themselves under attack by Mankind, who was still bitter at Grant Mayer for screwing him out of the IWF Title at Survivor Series 1998 by having the bell rung when Sam put the Sharpshooter on him immediately despite not tapping (see Montreal Screwjob).

Though the group remained on top of the Federation heading into 1999, members began to dwindle throughout the year. Then-commissioner Ryan Barnhart was the first, having viciously being attacked by the group in a parking lot once it became clear he began to make decisions that didn't cater to their interests any longer (Barnhart was given the vacant Commissioner position left by founding Corporation member Sgt. Brandon to use his powers on their behalf). Chris LeGreca's membership was unsteady from the start as he was only a member because the Mayers threatened to send him back to the insane asylum if he didn't cooperate with them. When they entered a feud with the Ministry of Darkness, Mr. Mayer was kicked out and his position as leader, unsurped by James, who justified his actions as pointing out that Grant no longer cared about The Corporation and only about Brittany Mayer, who was a target of Martin McAlmond's plotting in taking over the IWF (and thus threaten The Corporation's power). Brisco & Patterson were kicked out the same night with James stating there was no room in The Corporation for the old and subsequently replaced them with the Mean Street Posse. Ken Shammy was kicked out soon afterward when he showed more loyalty to his sister Ryan who was also being tortured by Martin mcAlmond. Test left, stating he felt The Corporation wasn't using him to his full abilities. Finally, Sam Simkins was kicked out after he failed to take back the IWF title from Stone Cold Steve Johnson at Backlash thanks to botched interference from James Mayer and spouting venomous remarks that caused James to have the remaining Corporation members attack him and beat him down.

With their severely dwindled numbers, they subsequently merged with the Ministry of Darkness to create the Corporate Ministry (thus revealing that the loss of members in the Corporation was a process of elimination, separating loyal members from the ones that would be troublesome). Not too long after that, the Corporate Ministry crumbled when the Martin McAlmond's relationship with Grant Mayer deteriorated after a loss to Steve Johnson over the IWF Championship in a First Blood match and with that, The Corporation was officially over. Note: the storyline for this was cut due to a legitimate injury from the Undertaker.

Later on in 2000, remnants of the Corporation (James and Grant Mayer, The Stooges) allied with then heels, D-Generation X in 2000, creating the Mayer-Kelmsley Faction. Although considered a different group, its goals and format was virtually identical to The Corporation remnants. To this day, the Mr. Mayer character continues to be featured in angles involving a heel character acting as his right-hand man which started originally with the Corporation angle.

Members[]

  • Non-Wrestlers

Entrance themes

  • "No Chance in Hell" performed by Peter Bursuker and composed by Jim Johnston - Originally created for the 1999 Royal Rumble in reference to Grant Mayer declaring that Steve Johnson had 'no chance in hell' of winning the match itself. After the Rumble, it was made as The Corporate Team's theme until its dissolution into the Corporate Ministry, and it became just Grant and James's up until 2001 when James was given his own theme. Vince continues to use it to this day.

Championships and accomplishments[]

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