3. Mankind Wins The WWE Championship - Raw; January 4, 1999
There is nothing fans enjoy more than the story of a lovable underdog overcoming the odds and misconceptions to achieve greatness. On January 4, 1999, Mankind challenged The Rock for the WWE Championship in the main event of Raw and, despite World Championship Wrestling and Eric Bischoff's greatest attempts to spoil the moment by giving away the result of the taped match to his audience, millions of fans switched over to Raw to see the lovable masked Superstar achieve his lifelong dream of winning the heavyweight title. A jubilant Mankind sprinted around ringside, high fiving fans and for the first time during the acclaimed Attitude Era, fans had a reason to be legitimately happy for one of the stars on the show. As Cactus Jack, Mick Foley battered, bruised, broke his body for years to get recognition within the industry. He spilled his blood on numerous continents and scarred his arms up rolling around in barbed wire, for both the entertainment of the fans and the advancement of his own career. He suffered tremendous beatings in matches against the likes of Vader, Ron Simmons and The Undertaker and punished his own body while gaining more and more recognition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KybuIy0wKXk Ultimately, it was not the punishment he could take that catapulted Foley to the top of the industry but, rather, his natural personality and the very real love, affection and connection fans felt for him and with his character. Thus, when he finally achieved his dream of hoisting that WWE title over his head in victory, much in the same way that guys like Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Billy Graham and Bob Backlund had, fans lived and breathed vicariously through him. It was fun for fans, regardless of how seriously they took the industry or how smartened up they may have been. They wanted to cheer him and they did, making it one of the greatest feel-good moments the industry has ever been responsible for.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
