In the fall of 1999, Big Show was coming out of a championship-winning team with The Undertaker, had undergone a babyface turn and was thrown into a rivalry with Big Boss Man. It was the rivalry with Boss Man that would not only result in Big Show's return to the main event scene but also one of the most dominating performances in the lengthy history of the Survivor Series event. Boss Man had spent weeks poking fun at Big Show's ailing father. When the giant received word that his dad had passed, Boss Man relished the opportunity to turn the tragic news into a mockery, a joke even. Worst of all, he showed up to the funeral, assaulted Big Show and proceeded to drag the casket containing the remains of his giant rival's father behind his police car. It was a sickening display by a villain who had rapidly developed into one of the best in all of wrestling. Needless to say, Big Show would be looking for revenge as he rolled into Detroit for Survivor Series, his sights set on the former corrections officer. Boss Man brought what he thought was fairly formidable backup in the form of heavyweight Mideon, Viscera and Prince Albert while Big Show was assigned the likes of Kaientai and the Blue Meanie. Deciding he needed the help of no one, Big Show attacked his own partners on Sunday Night Heat and stalked toward the ring on his own. The World's Largest Athlete then proceeded to pick off each of Bossman's partners, eliminating them all with chokeslams before turning his attention to the former hardcore champion. Rather than risk pain and punishment at the hands of the man he spent so many weeks tormenting, Boss Man casually walked out, getting himself counted out as the Big Show watched from inside the squared circle. The absolute destruction of the Boss Man's team sparked and interest in Big Show that had not been there before. He had been so poorly booked up to that point that fans never really had a reason to care about him. The storyline involving the death of his father, which had actually occurred years earlier, helped him connect with the crowd and that helped catapult him back to the top of the card. By the end of the 1999 Survivor Series, he would replace an injured Steve Austin and capture the WWE Championship from Triple H in a three-way dance also involving The Rock. Talk about a star-making night!
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.
