10 Fascinating WWE Survivor Series 1998 Facts
5. The Big Boss Man Subbed In For Triple H
In mid-September 1998, reigning Intercontinental Champion Triple H was sidelined with a serious knee injury. The ailment would keep him out until late November, and necessitated the vacating of his belt.
Despite the injury, Helmsley was still advertised for Survivor Series, in a first round match against The Rock. On the night of the show, WWE ran something of a bait-and-switch by subbing in corporate hired gun Big Boss Man (who'd already lost a first-round match), only for Boss Man to be pinned by Rock in three seconds. Obviously, there was a story reason why Rock got such an easy win.
It's not clear whether the Boss Man involvement was a back-up plan or not, if WWE actually had belief that Helmsley could make the show. Triple H returned to the ring 13 days after Survivor Series, so given the closeness of the dates, it might have been a legitimate consideration.