Over the past several decades, World Wrestling Entertainment has changed a lot in terms of its family-friendliness, its emphasis on in-ring content, who its top stars are, and even its branding. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is WWE’s love of catchphrases. The promotion’s top stars talk a lot, and one of the best ways a performer can get over with a crowd is if they have a great catchphrase that not only reflects something about their character but is exciting for fans in the arenas to shout.

RELATED: 18 All-Time Best Catchphrases In Wrestling, Ranked

The Attitude Era had some all-time great talkers in wrestlers like The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin who were pretty much catchphrase machines, but there were also some serious misfires among some of the other stars of the era. Let’s take a look at the Attitude Era’s best catchphrases, as well as some of its worst.

10 Best: “It Doesn’t Matter!” (The Rock)

When it comes to catchphrases, one could come up with an entire list consisting of The Rock’s catchphrases alone. Choosing just one, however, one of the best in Rocky’s arsenal was “It doesn’t matter!” which he would employ to interrupt someone after asking them a question.

The Rock could talk circles around most wrestlers, but it was always extra funny when he employed “It doesn’t matter” to totally cut them off at the knees. On top of that, it eventually led to the ultimate punchline: Mick Foley giving The Rock a taste of his own medicine.

9 Worst: “Puppies!” (Jerry Lawler)

The Attitude Era and respect for female talent were not two concepts that went together, and a big part of that is the color commentary of Jerry “The King” Lawler. As an in-ring competitor, Lawler was a legend in the Memphis wrestling scene, but as a commentator, he was an unabashed horndog.

Once Road Dogg referred to Debra’s as “puppies” it quickly became The King’s favorite word, so much that he’d shriek it any time there was a possibility a woman was going to take off her shirt in a WWE ring.

8 Best: “You’re Fired!” (Vince McMahon)

As WWE’s evil boss, Vince McMahon was no stranger to exercising his ability to personally terminate WWE employees that he didn’t like — that is, speaking strictly in kayfabe terms. Whenever he did, he would bellow “YOU’RE FIRED” in the loudest, most gravelly voice possible, drawing out as many vowel sounds as possible.

RELATED: 10 People Vince McMahon Fired On-Screen

While it sounds simple, not every catchphrase needs to be a completely original sentence. In cases like this, with the right performer, a stock phrase can become endlessly quotable.

7 Worst: “It’s Time, Once Again, To Get Aboard The Ho Train!” (The Godfather)

The Attitude Era is full of gimmicks that haven’t aged well — including The Godfather, one of the many gimmicks of Charles Wright over the years. As a pimp character, it was only natural that The Godfather would come to the ring flanked by sex workers, who he referred to as “hoes.”

There were usually several, which he’d refer to as his “Ho Train,” complete with the catchphrase “It’s time, once again, to get aboard The Ho Train.” It’s an original sentence, to be true, but not exactly the kind of exciting catchphrase that justifies the gimmick.

6 Best: “Oh, It’s True, It’s DAMN True!” (Kurt Angle)

An Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle would end up becoming one of the best wrestling stars of the 2000s, an expert in-ring technician who was also able to excel in the entertainment department. While he was often an arrogant heel who felt his Olympic accomplishments made him superior to others, he also had a unique catchphrase in “Oh, it’s true, it’s DAMN true!”

It’s weirdly catchy for how simple it is, but it’s also proved to be a weirdly effective heel maneuver, as Angle would drop it when trashing the live crowd’s local sports team.

5 Worst: “Hello, Ladies” (Val Venis)

Another extremely Attitude Era gimmick that WWE likely wouldn’t attempt today is that of Val Venis, a pro wrestling adult film actor who on numerous occasions shot dirty movies with his rivals’ wives, girlfriends, and even sisters. While he was strictly midcard, Venis — like much of WWE’s roster — had his own catchphrase, albeit one of the weaker ones of the era.

“Hello, ladies” certainly conveys Venis’ main interest as a character aside from “winning matches,” but it’s not a particularly creative or quotable catchphrase given the provocative gimmick.

4 Best: “I Got Two Words For Ya: Suck It!” (D-Generation X)

In WWE, there was never a more popular faction than D-Generation X. A group that arguably embodied the Attitude Era best, DX was a gaggle of crude dudes (and Chyna) who thumbed their noses at authority, pointed at their crotches, and generated countless catchphrases.

RELATED: The 10 Most Iconic D-Generation X Quotes

Their most famous, “Suck it” — usually preceded by “I’ve got two words for ya” — is easily their best, and one of the best of the era. It was simple and direct, and fans loved to shout it. And, perfect for its target audience, it was edgy enough to get kids in trouble at school.

3 Worst: “Your Ass Is Grass, And I’m Gonna Smoke It” (X-Pac)

All the above being said, not every D-Generation X catchphrase was a winner. The group has collectively produced some forgettable ones, but X-Pac — already one of the more hated wrestlers of the era — has the misfortune of delivering a memorable misfire in: “Your ass is grass, and I’m gonna smoke it.”

A play off of the old stock line, “your ass is grass, and I’m a lawnmower,” the drug reference is obvious and a little corny, though it is kind of surprising given the amount of public scrutiny WWE was experiencing at the time.

2 Best: “Gimme A Hell Yeah!” (Steve Austin)

Like fellow Attitude Era top acts The Rock and DX, Stone Cold Steve Austin was a fountain of catchphrases, with “That’s the bottom line, ‘cause Stone Cold said so” being a highlight. But Austin’s best of the era is arguably, “Gimme a hell yeah!”

While the “bottom line” catchphrase was a great way to end a promo, “Gimme a hell yeah” was something Austin could use as much as he wanted in a given speech, with the call-and-response aspect being a fun way to get fans engaged.

1 Worst: “Don’t Piss Me Off” (Jeff Jarrett)

After getting his head shaved following a match with X-Pac at SummerSlam 1998, Jeff Jarrett didn’t just change his look and presentation, but he also pivoted to a much grittier, angrier character than he had been portraying previously.

As part of his new persona, Jarrett shot black-and-white vignettes where he ranted about the various things that “pissed him off” in the world, with topics including politics and sports. From that a new catchphrase was born, the hilariously generic “Don’t piss me off,” which is sound advice when dealing with any wrestler.

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