Takers boy Nash has said the exact opposite. If WWE was low on star power, I agree with what hes saying, it wouldnt make sense, but WWF was so hot at the time with so many big stars that they could afford to bury a guy like DDP or Bagwell, who's really just another over guy on that roster and not a superstar.
They definitely buried DDP, I'd guess part of that was his age. I think they were trying with Goldberg and it kind of worked, but those programs with the Rock and Jericho where they look like clever/funny heels weren't a good way to introduce him.