Every Title Change in RAW History (1993-2001)

European Title
The British Bulldog vs Owen Hart – February 26, 1997
Here we go; first ever European champion will be decided as tag partners collide! Bulldog beat Mankind & Vader, while Owen beat Flash Funk & his brother Bret (in a match I have no recollection of). This was from Germany and Bulldog is full on babyface, shaking people’s hands as he makes his way to the ring. Lock up & clean break by Bulldog as they do a fantastic sequence of flips & reversals with each countering wrist locks & arm bars. Monkey flip by Owen, but Bulldog cartwheels out. Double boots shove Owen down, but he kips up & we have a stalemate. Slingshot by Davey sends Owen to the floor as he holds the ropes open for his partner and Owen reluctantly steps in. It’s all Davey working the arm from there, continuing to get the best of Owen, grounding him as he gets a crucifix for a near fall, then tries for his suplex, but Owen counters, tries for an enzugiri, but Davey ducks & slaps on a surfboard. Owen grabs the ref to get free as Bulldog goes back to the arm. Owen gets free, charges & gets monkey flipped this time, but he quickly sends Bulldog outside & holds the ropes open for him. Sportsmanship from the tag champs as Davey grabs a headlock; Owen gets free, does a leap frog & fakes a leg injury, suckering Bulldog in as he looks for a Sharpshooter, but Davey powers out. Owen with a wheel kick & shows his leg is fine as he picks apart Davey before slapping on a chin lock. Bulldog gets free, but eats a knee to the ribs as Owen targets the midsection, booting Davey to the floor. Davey recovers, gets a sunset flip back inside for 2, but Owen knocks him down again. We get a stupid RAW Rewind involving Triple H & Bret, who have nothing to do with this match. Back from break and Owen has a Camel Clutch. Bulldog slowly gets up & hits an Electric Chair, but Owen answers with a neckberaker & legdrop off the second for 2. Davey fights out of a headlock, but Owen throws headbutts & goes for a superplex, but Davey floats over 1…2…NO! Running clotheslines by Davey, who hits a stalling suplex for 2. Owen takes a chest corner buckle, then crotched in the ropes, Davey tries for a suplex, but Owen floats over, German for 1…2…NO! Owen tries floating over in the corner, but Bulldog catches him, tries for a powerslam, but Owen holds the ropes, gets a cross body, Davey rolls through 1…2…NO! Enzugiri by Owen as Davey flip bumps. This is awesome! Owen locks on the Sharpshooter as Davey crawls to the ropes & the crowd pops. Owen looks for a Tombstone, but Bulldog floats over, holds on, POWERSLAM 1…2…OWEN KICKS OUT!! Davey argues as Owen hops on his shoulders for a victory roll ala Mania 10, but Bulldog rolls through it & gets the 1…2…3!! Post match, Owen & Davey shake hands as they raise all their titles & Owen is slow to let go of the European title (the little things, dude, I love it).
Grade: ****1/2
This was great when I saw it as a 10 year old, it was great when I watched it years later, it’s still great & will always be great. WWF was still in that transition from goofy New Generation to Getting Our Asses Kicked So Badly We Need to Switch It Up. So this stands out still as a tremendous back & forth match. We didn’t get high flying, we didn’t get a boring snoozer, we got a fantastic story told by family members. This was fantastic & by far and away the best European Title Match in history (which isn’t saying much, but you get what I mean).

HHH vs HBK – December 11, 1997
So this was a comedy match. They teased dissention & started hitting the ropes like morons for a minute as Trips did a “splash” on HBK to win the title. DX shenanigans and Shawn sold more for Hunter than he did for some people.
Grade: N/A
I can’t actually grade this, but it was a funny spot at the time because it was DX making a fool out of Sgt. Slaughter. This was also the same place Shawn lost his smile, so the irony there.

Owen Hart vs “Trip-Dust” – January 20, 1998
So Hunter had a knee injury, so Goldust came out dressed as him (Luna was Chyna and it was creepy how similar she was) so Owen & he had a match. Goldust had a giant fake nose, which popped me as it was a solid detail. Cross body off the top by Owen gets 2, but Goldust hit a lariat, then a Triple H knee drop for 2. Owen tries fighting back, but Goldy rakes the eyes, snap mare & an extended rest hold. He lets go finally to make the cover for 2 as the fake nose is still miraculously on as Owen gets a roll up for 2. We go to break with Goldy working Owen’s leg, but come back to Owen hitting 10 punches in the corner and an enzugiri. Up top, Owen hits a missile dropkick, kips up & gets clocked in the back with a crutch by Luna. Goldust tries for a Pedigree, but Owen pulls his legs out & gets the Sharpshooter for the win. While this was technically not Triple H, Sgt. Slaughter says the title change stands since he wanted to stick it to DX.
Grade: *
This was a standard 7 minute match with a commercial in it, so nothing that impressive. The fake nose was the star honestly. There’s not much more to say about this one. Owen wins the title from Triple H, but not really. It just helped further their feud for the next few months.

HHH vs Owen Hart – March 16, 1998
This was an impromptu match & Owen had a bad ankle. It went less than a minute and Chyna hit Owen in the leg with a bat to lead to the finish.
Grade: N/A
Again, it’s not really a match per se as it really set up their Mania match more than anything else.

D’Lo Brown vs HHH – July 14, 1998
Rock is cornering D’Lo and Chyna with Trips as Hunter gets dropped with a back elbow as D’Lo does his head swivel, only for Trips to drop him with a clothesline. He tries for an early Pedigree, but D’Lo fights free, only to get sent outside. Ref is distracted by the Rock as Chyna levels D’Lo with a forearm as Trips sends him back inside. Trips misses a clothesline & walks right into the Low Down for 2 as D’Lo chokes away in the corner. Rock with a cheap shot as D’Lo gloats too long & Hunter hits his knee drops. Crotch chop, clothesline 1…2…kick out as he just punches away at the challenger. The Rock distracts Hunter, so Chyna sends him into the ring post as the ref has become distracted by Chyna & Mark Henry at the entrance ramp. Rock jumps in the ring, Rock Bottom on Hunter as D’Lo covers him; ref turns around, sprints to the ring & counts the 3. D’Lo wins his first singles title and The Rock celebrates with him up the ramp.
Grade: *3/4
DX vs Nation feud was at a boiling point and with Hunter going for the IC title held by Rock, he didn’t need the European Title anymore, so putting it on D’Lo was a smart move. This gave other members something to feud over. The match was solid, it got the heels over & finally DX didn’t come out on top.

X-Pac vs D’Lo Brown – September 15, 1998
They trade a series of reversals immediately as D’Lo hits a snap powerslam for 2, then right hands sending Kid to the corner. Bodyslam/Legdrop combo and a little head wiggle for good measure as he takes Kid’s head off with a lariat for 2. D’Lo misses a corner splash & Kid hits a spin kick, but misses a Bronco Buster & crotches himself. Another lariat & another 2 for the champ, who hits a forearm off the top for 2 as well. A portly fan ringside is crotch chopping like a son of a bitch as D’Lo goes for a springboard moonsault, but misses, despite it looking pretty good. Spinning heel kick by Kid, who hits his flipping clothesline & the Bronco Buster. He charges out of the corner, but D’Lo hits a Lo Down for 1…2…NO! He goes up top for another one, but as he dives, he dives into a X-Factor for the 1…2…3!!
Grade: **1/2
This was fun, albeit way too quick match with two young guns & it popped the crowd. These two had really good chemistry and had a nice little rivalry over the month of September. They had a solid PPV match I think on Breakdown (or Judgment Day, I can’t remember) that I’d recommend too, since it got more time.

D’Lo Brown vs X-Pac – September 29, 1998
D’Lo eats a wheel kick, despite trying to attack early, but he answers with a snap powerslam. Mark Henry & Chyna are in the corners for their respective running buddies as D’Lo hits his leg drop & leg lariat for 2. Bodyslam & rest hold by the challenger as Pac fights back with a back suplex, but misses a leg drop of his own. Pretty sloppy diving forearm off the second by D’Lo for 2 as he slams Pac down, then goes up top, missing a Lo Down splash, giving Pac time to recover. Wild wheel kick by the champion, who follows up with a flipping lariat & the Bronco Buster. The same combo of moves he hit the last match with these two. Mark Henry hooks the leg as D’Lo takes the ref. Pac tries a slingshot cross body, but Henry catches & posts him. He tosses Pac back inside as D’Lo hits the Lo Down for the 3 count & the title.
Grade: *3/4
Not as good as their match a few weeks prior, especially the interference ending, but it was solid for what it was. It helped further the Chyna/Henry storyline more than anything else.

Kane & Shane McMahon vs HHH & X-Pac – February 15, 1999
European Title is on the line in this tag match as Kane beats down Trips before tagging Shane, who bolts once Trips looks at him, so he tags back in Kane. DX tries double teaming the Big Red Machine, but he wipes them both out. Until DX hits Total Elimination on Kane for 1 as Pac is launched outside & cheap shotted by Shane. Pac chases him but gets clocked by a Chyna clothesline. Kane presses Pac back inside as Shane mounts him with punches & a terrible elbow. Tags to Kane & Trips as Hunter hits his knees, then eats a Kane boot. Top rope clothesline by Kane as Shane wants the tag, so he hits some jabs until getting caught & thrown to the DX corner. Pac tags in & crushes him with kicks until Chyna grabs a hold of him, only for Shane to collide with her. Bronco Buster cut off as Kane hits a choke slam out of the corner. Kane & Trips brawl ringside as Chyna grabs the Euro Title & gives it to Shane, who pops Pac with it, makes the cover as the ref counts 3 and Shane’s the champ.
Grade: *
The actual wrestling itself was nothing, but this completely served its purpose. Shane played the perfect pussy heel who headed for the hills once he smelled trouble. Chyna cost DX the title and this also set up Kane vs Trips and Pac vs Shane at Mania well too. Ultimately leading to Triple H leaving DX.

Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Jericho – April 3, 2000
Eddie gets launched face first into the corner as Jericho hits a flap jack, tries for a powerbomb, but Eddie rolls through with a sunset flip. Eddie poses for Chyna ringside, then stomps on Y2J’s face. Flying back elbow by Latino Heat as he slaps on a sleeper, but Jericho jawbreaks out of it. They spill outside where Jericho gets slammed in the steps & we get a chop battle that Jericho wins, so Eddie pokes him in the eye. Back inside, Eddie blows a kiss to Chyna, then hits a brainbuster & goes to the top. Eddie dives, but rolls through, only to eat a snap powerslam. Jericho fights back with a bulldog for 2. Drop toehold by Jericho sends Eddie into Tim White, who takes a header outside as Jericho hits his revolution powerbombs & a Lionsault, but no ref. Chyna jumps in & counts the 3, raising Jericho’s hand, which he buys like a dummy, so she punts him & drops him with a DDT, putting Eddie on top. She tosses the ref inside as he counts the 3 count and Eddie wins the title with help from his Mamacita! Eddie can’t believe it as Chyna does a little shimmy & he knows he’s won her over!
Grade: **
9 times out of 10 you’ll see better Jericho vs Guerrero wrestling matches, but this was storyline driven & involved Chyna more than the actual wrestling. This was the culmination of Guerrero trying to win over Chyna and the birth of Latino Heat & his Mamacita. This was great stuff. Even if it did make Jericho look like a dummy, just getting his hand raised by Chyna & falling for it.

William Regal vs Al Snow – October 16, 2000
Sadly this was the end of Al Snow’s reign of dressing as someone different each week from different countries. Danny Zukko from Greece, a pretty racist Asian costume, German, this time he was dressed as an Englishman asking “what doth everybody want?” “HEAD!” “Smashing!” Regal attacks immediately as he tries for a suplex, but Snow gets an arm drag. Forearm & spinning hangman neckbreaker for 2 by Regal as he fires off uppercuts & a jumping double knee. Hair slam gets a 1 count, so Regal fires off uppercuts & knees some more as Snow attempts fighting back, but Regal hits a suplex for 2. It’s an uppercut clinic here as he lowers his head & Snow gets a neckbreaker. Snap jabs by the champ as he connects with a clothesline & back drop, but Regal answers with a knee, they block each other’s shots as Snow hits a German suplex for 2. Al goes to the top for a moonsault, but Regal with the knees up, he slaps on the Regal Stretch as Snow submits & we have a new champ!
Grade: *3/4
Match should’ve gone a lot longer, but 3 minutes, for what it was, it was really solid. No comedy, straight wrestling. Unfortunately, Regal was handed the title and we went right to the back for a Trips/Kurt segment.

William Regal vs Crash Holly – December 4, 2000
Crash won the title at Rebellion the week prior, so Regal went on the attack immediately with a back elbow & forearms. Crash fights back with a leaping lariat for 2, but Regal rakes the eyes & sends him outside. Regal continues his onslaught with a back suplex for 2 as Crash again fights back, but misses a back elbow. Crash with a hurricanrana & bodyslam as he goes up top & hits a missile dropkick for 2. He wants a tilt a whirl head scissors, but Regal slams him down & gets the Regal Stretch for the win. Post match, Regal puts the Stretch on Molly for good measure as Hardcore Holly makes the save & we have our first program for Regal & his newly won title.
Grade: **1/4
Very quick 4 minute match, but they fit in a whole bunch of stuff and ruthless Regal ruled.

Test vs William Regal – January 22, 2001
Test bolts to the ring & hits a back drop, sending Regal outside; where Test is out after & sends him back inside. Regal throws forearms & uppercuts and a double knee to the head. Test hits a big boot that barely clips Regal, slams him down & hits a top rope elbow for the win & the title.
Grade: 1/4*
Super quick match, under 2 minutes, but compared to some other matches in this, they at least did some moves. And I can’t in good faith give Regal a DUD rating.

Hurricane vs Matt Hardy – August 27, 2001
It was all Matt to start as Helms is already on the ropes, but Helms hits a superkick to take control. Up top goes the superhero & hits a cross body for 2. Helms poses, tries for a powerbomb, but Matt spins it into a leg sweep. Big back drop & a leg drop off the second for 2. Matt looks for a back superplex, but Helms falls down onto him. Ivory pops up & wipes out Lita with a pipe & hits Matt with it to with Helms taking the ref. He stumbles back & Helms hits the Eye of the Hurricane for the title.
Grade: *
They got their moves in, but it wasn’t much. Ivory was the main story here, not the title.

Bradshaw vs Hurricane – October 22, 2001
Helms keeps posing & tries to hit shoulder blocks, but he just bounces off JBL. Mighty Molly distracts Bradshaw outside as Helms tries for a big cross body, but JBL catches him (after dropping him that is) as he tosses him back inside & Helms is bumping like he’s Curt Hennig. Super kick to the shoulder by Helms & dropkick to the knee as he hits a SHINING WIZARD!! He tries a suplex to get some laughs from the crowd as JBL hits the suplex instead. Crucifix neckbreaker by JBL as Molly goes to the top & tries a cross body, but JBL actually catches her & boots Helms in the process. Fall away slam on Molly & a Clothesline From Hell off a failed lariat by Helms gets JBL the win & his first singles title.
Grade: 3/4 *
The match was nothing, but Helms sold like a mofo and Molly was great too. I can’t stand Bradshaw, but he played the monster well in this, even if he didn’t catch Helms with that dive.

Spike Dudley vs William Regal – April 8, 2002
Regal hid his brass knucks in the turnbuckle, then argued with the ref as Spike sprinted out, grabbed the knucks, clocked Regal & pinned him in 3 seconds, literally 3 seconds.
Grade: N/A
Regal sold it like death & that’s really all you can say about this.

William Regal vs Spike Dudley – May 6, 2002
Regal pretty much goaded Spike into this, despite having a badly sprained ankle & could barely. Spike leapt on his back & Regal shrugged him off, snapped the ankle a bit before slamming Spike into the ropes, then applied a half crab while standing on Spike’s neck for the submission. 37 seconds.
Grade: N/A
Again, not much to say, Regal got his revenge from last month. Badass Regal ruled.

Jeff Hardy vs William Regal – July 8, 2002
Springboard cross body out of the corner immediately by Jeff, who goes to the other corner & hits a Whisper in the Wind for 2. Regal sends Jeff outside & targets the back and neck, then slams him chest first onto the side of the ring. Tiger Suplex gets Regal 2 as Jeff staggers through the ropes gets a sunset flip for a near fall, but Regal fights back with his necktie neckbreaker for 2. Kitchen sink knee gets another close 2 as Regal slaps on a neck hold as Jeff fights out & eats a back elbow. Butterfly suplex countered into an arm drag by Jeff, who hits a flying clothesline, but Regal hits a knee to the ribs & tosses Hardy outside. He tries untying a buckle pad, but Jeff runs in & hits a sleeper slam, then goes up & hits a Swanton flush for the win & title.
Grade: *3/4
Well, Jeff hit only 4 moves this entire match (first two dives, sleeper slam & swanton) as the rest was all Regal, but Regal’s offense is so awesome I graded this probably higher than it should. It was a completely one sided match.

Rob Van Dam vs Jeff Hardy – July 22, 2002
This was the final European Title match as it was a Unification match with the IC Title. It was also a Ladder Match, so this is going to be something. They start, ironically, with chain wrestling & counters and have a stalemate. Head scissors by Jeff as RVD falls to the floor, so Hardy grabs a ladder, but a baseball slide by RVD sends it into the chest of Jeff. Moonsault off the apron by RVD, who quickly goes for the title, but Jeff shoves him off. Jeff does his rad monkey flip counter where he just sits down onto Van Dam’s legs, tries to climb, but RVD knocks him off. Another stalemate as both men grab ladder & start slamming them into each other RVD hits a wheel kick, but lands on a ladder in the process. Cartwheel moonsault onto the ladder by RVD, who starts to climb, but Hardy hits a leg sweep off the ladder. Places a ladder onto RVD & hits a Swanton, messing himself up in the process. Both men start to climb as RVD hits a sunset flip off the ladder!! Rolling Thunder onto the ladder is the follow up as Van Dam climbs slowly, so Jeff sets up a ladder & climbs as well, but RVD superkicks the ladder & Jeff takes a crazy fall. FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH off the ladder onto Hardy as RVD climbs & grabs the IC title as the ladder falls onto Jeff & that caps the European Title history.
Grade: ***
Quick, under 7 minute ladder match, but they fit in a lot of stuff, even if it didn’t really mean anything. I could watch these two fight under any circumstance during their WWE days & this one was solid.

Part 1 of the WWF/E Title History

WWF Title
Psycho Sid vs Bret Hart – February 17, 1997
Bret just won the title the night prior at Final Four in a long grueling match, so Sid is fresh as a F’n daisy here. So no surprise he takes it to Bret early as he works the lower back then drives the boot to the chest repeatedly. Champ fights back with a side suplex & headbutt to the sternum as he hits his corner elbow as this time Bret works the lower back. Kidney shots by Sid regains him control as he hits a big backbreaker for 2. Sid takes too much time, so Bret targets the leg & locks in the figure four in the post! Hebner struggles getting him to release it as we go to commercial. Back inside, Bret is kicking away at the leg in the corner before Sid fights his way out with clubbing shots to the chest & a big clothesline. Sid drops a leg that damn near kills Bret for 2 & hits a slam, barely selling the leg at all that Bret just spent 8 minutes working on. He then hits a legdrop off the second rope WITH THE BAD LEG for 2. Sid winces, so that’s what his selling consists of. Sid is louder than Cena calling spots as he tries for a choke slam, but Bret fights back & ties him in the ropes, charges, Sid gets free & Bret gets hung up bad. Sid gets backdropped to the floor as Stone Cold runs out & gets clocked by Sid, who HITS A SUNSET FLIP BACK IN THE RING, but Bret quickly escapes & gets the SHARPSHOOTER! Earl Hebner is conveniently turned away from Bret, so Austin can hit him so softly with a chair (good) as Sid gets up & hits the Powerbomb for the win.
Grade: *1/4
That one star is all Bret selling because Sid sure as shit didn’t. Sid as World Champ heading into Wrestlemania. I know Bret & Austin didn’t need the title, but man, Sid as champion in 97 was just meh. I will give him this; the crowd did chant Sid after the match. This was 15 minutes and it wasn’t that good at all. When you work a leg for MINUTES, maybe sell it more than a wince?

Steve Austin vs Kane – June 29, 1998
You forget Kane won the title the night prior as KOTR that year was dominated by Mankind vs Taker. Here we are though as they brawl right out the gate, spilling outside where Austin hits a diving clothesline off the apron & sends Kane into the steps and railings. Back inside, where Kane takes over, choking away, but Austin fights back, posting the leg over & over. That’s what Stone Cole picks apart as he chop blocks the big man down, but Kane sends Austin tumbling outside. It’s just more brawling out there as Kane sends him chest first into the buckle inside. After all this brawling, Kane slaps on a rest hold. This is probably to give Undertaker his pop as he makes his way down the ramp. Kane with a big boot as he slams Austin down & drops an elbow. To the top he goes, connecting with a flying clothesline. Back to the rest hold as Austin quickly gets up & fights back with rights. Kane cuts him off with a choke slam, then goes for the Tombstone, but Austin wiggles free, tries for a Stunner, misses, ducks a big boot, STUNNER 1…2…3!! The sound of the crowd is insane and Austin just lost the title 24 hours ago.
Grade: *3/4
This was the definition of TV main event, but more special due to the title change. Austin was so ungodly over at this point, he could’ve done anything & the fans would pop. He didn’t do all that much in this and I think it’s because he was still injured (his arm is bandaged up pretty good). Not a great match, but a great reaction obviously.

Mankind vs The Rock – December 29 1998
I didn’t get Tony to spoil this for me, I was watching RAW already as a kid this night and I lost my shit at the ending of this. DX & The Corporation are ringside as Rock & Mick brawl exclusively outside for the opening minutes as Rock drops the steps onto Mick’s back and it’s brutal. He then stacks the steps on top of Mick & drops another on top as Rock hits a snap suplex ringside before grabbing a headset off Cole to do some commentary. Mick dives over the announce table to light him up as Lawler begs for help as Mick comes alive & does some commentary before Rock cracks him with the bell. ROCK BOTTOM THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE as this match finally makes it back in the ring as Rock gets a 2. Mick fires back right hands, but Rock with a back elbow, bodyslam & the People’s Elbow for 2. Rock lowers his head, but Mick hits a neckbreaker to give him time to recover. Bossman grabs his leg as Rock smacks Mick with title (It’s No DQ, but we get a ref distract spot? Ok) for a 2 count. Rock goes for another shot, but Mick gets a Double Arm DDT on the title for 2. Mick goes for Socko as Rock gets a taste of the Mandible Claw, but Shamrock cracks Mick with a chair. Billy Gunn wipes out Shamrock, DX & the Corporation are brawling as the glass shatters & the crowd goes ballistic! Austin runs down, smacks Rock with a chair & puts Mick on top of Rocky for the 1…2…3!! Crowd chanting along with the count & losing their damn minds is the biggest pop I’ve heard in the Attitude Era as Vince & Shane are furious ringside with Austin taunting at the ramp. This was one of the coolest moments in wrestling history.
Grade: ****
The match went like 8 minutes, five of which was on the floor, but Mick Foley winning the World Title is an amazing moment & I loved it so much. This set the stage for the title being hot potatoed the next few months, but dammit, this night was special.

The Rock vs Mankind – February 15, 1999
I think this is the 6th (and final if I’m not mistaken) match between these two in this series as I think they’re 2-2-1. This is a Ladder Match and brawling on the floor to start as Mick takes his brutal steps where he goes knees first & takes a flip bump. Rocky grabs a chair & wisely goes to work on Mick’s leg with it. Rock gets the ladder, but Mick swings the chair & drops the ladder onto Rock and starts lighting him up. Mick with the worst People’s Elbow ever as Rock sells it like a champ. Mick starts climbing, but Rock smacks him in the leg with the chair & Foley falls with the ladder landing on him. Rock traps Mick’s leg in the ladder & starts slamming the chair on it as we then trade moments of each guy trying to climb the ladder, with the other knocking them off with a chair. We spill into the crowd where we brawl a bit, then make it back to the stage where Rock hits a suplex. Rock chokes Mick with the cable chord, goes to whip him into the steps, but reverses & Rock eats the steps. We go to the Spanish announce table where Rock hits a low blow & Rock Bottom, exploding the table. After a long track back inside, Rock slowly climbs the ladder & Mick hits a low blow & double arm DDT. Foley gets Socko, but with his back turned, Rock smacks him in the head with the ladder, then a DDT. Both men start to climb & Foley gets the Mandible Claw! Pre-Big Show Paul Wight comes out & hits a spinning choke slam off the ladder, which was rad as hell. Rocky grabs the title & is your new champion as Wight stares down Stone Cold on commentary, while Rock shoves the ladder onto Foley to cap their feud.
Grade: ***1/2
This was your typical Rock/Foley match, that had lots of brawling, but this time with some ladder spots sprinkled in. I thought it was very entertaining and it was a different stip for a feud that has gone 4 months at this point. I hate interference, but the choke slam was actually really cool, so I was fine with it. I obviously liked the last title match more, but this was solid stuff too.

Steve Austin vs The Undertaker – June 28, 1999
Just hearing the glass break & crowd explode makes me miss these days so much. They trade shots in the corner as Taker wins that battle, he misses a clothesline & Austin hits a Thesz Press and his forearm for 2. Austin tries for a Stunner, but Taker bails outside, where Austin hits a double axe off the apron. Taker sends Austin into the steps & takes over back inside, where Paul Bearer hits Stone Cold with his shoe. From there we go to the floor briefly to brawl & Austin makes a brief comeback, but Taker regains control & slaps on a chin lock inside. I should point out Earl Hebner has jumped out of the ring FIVE TIMES THUS FAR from Taker just looking at him. Anyways, the rest hold is long as I’m more interested in the 2 drunk girls ringside who can’t believe they’re on camera (despite this being the main event, so they’ve been on TV the whole show). Austin fights up, but eats a back elbow. Taker hits Old School out of the corner for 2, then back to the chin lock. Austin hits a modified Stunner as he posts Taker’s legs, but Taker pulls him in & Austin eats the ring post. BACK TO THE CHIN LOCK, third fucking time. Austin thankfully fights back quick, floats over a Tombstone & hits the Stunner 1…2…Paul Bearer pulls Hebner to the floor. Austin lays him out, back in, avoids a chokeslam, hits another Stunner (after he & Taker just collide with each other) for the 3 count. Post match Taker lays out Austin, busting him open, which I think leads to Fully Loaded in their First Blood match? Maybe, I could be screwing up the timeline, but too lazy to double check.
Grade: *1/2
The crowd pop can only do so much, but this match was pretty damn boring. Brawl on the floor, rest hold, repeat three times, go to the finish. I always wish these two had better chemistry, but I’d never call any of their matches all time classics, which is weird.

HHH vs Mankind – August 23, 1999
So Trips got this shot from “breaking” Jim Ross’ arm and granting Hunter a title shot later that night. Shane would of course make himself the referee for this match to stack the deck more. Mick fires shots in the corner & hits a bulldog, gets the cover, but Shane already doing the heel ref shenanigans. Mick already with the Mandible Claw on Shane & tosses him outside as Trips wants a Pedrigree, but Foley gets the Claw on Hunter. Chyna comes out & gets the Claw as Mick sends her outside. Double arm DDT on Hunter as Mick has the visibly 3 before Earl Hebner runs out & counts 2. We brawl around ringside as Hunter throws Mick into Chyna, who hip tosses him into the steps. Back inside Trips gets a 2 count, then a face buster for another close one. Hunter jaw jacks with the Rock on commentary as Chyna gets another shot in on Mick, who fights back briefly before Trips hits a knee for 2. We get a slugfest that Mick wins as he gets a boot & short arm clothesline for a near fall of his own. Mick does his clothesline over the top as they spill to the floor & go to the announce table. Shane cracks Mick with a chair & Hunter hits one to the head, then creams Rocky with an unexpected one, which looked great. Shane throws Mick back inside, then ducks Hebner as Hunter hits a Pedigree and Shane counts the 3 and Trips wins his first World Title.
Grade: **1/2
Mick had won the title the night prior, but dropped it here basically because Austin didn’t want to drop it to Hunter at Summerslam. It was one of those overly booked deals & it was really a nothing match. Gave it a 1/2 star extra simply for historical purposes & the awesome chair shot to Rock, but aside from that, it’s exactly what you’d expect in 1999 booking.

HHH vs Big Show – January 3, 2000
So going with the theme of Big Show’s title reign, this was in the middle of the show & not the main event. Show’s whole reign wasn’t taken seriously one bit & it was put on the back burner for Vince vs Trips being the main feud. So Show ragdolls Hunter early with DX & Steph up at the ramp. He takes a Flair corner flip to the floor & Show goes after him. Hunter wiggles free from Show’s grasp & sends him over the barricade into the crowd. Apparently this is No DQ/No Countout as these two brawl over the announce table with Trips getting the upper hand & mounting Show, they’ve been outside for minutes at this point. He’s slamming Show into everything ringside, gets inside the ring & hits his two knees for a 2 count. Show starts hulking up & headbutts Trips down, then a side suplex for 2. Snap powerslam by Show gets another near fall, he hits the Choke Slam, but Trips with a foot on the rope. Show misses an elbow off the second, Trips tries a Pedigree, but gets backdropped as DX comes down the ramp. Show gets low blowed behind the refs back as Trips hits a Pedigree for the title in less than 7 minutes I think.
Grade: 3/4 *
Show winning 2 months prior at Survivor Series was a shock, but his reign sucked. He had the pretty bad (albeit memorable) feud with Bossman and that’s it. Triple H meanwhile married the bosses daughter & had been the main event of every show. So while the title went better with Hunter obviously, it still doesn’t change the fact that this made Show look like a total goof.