10 Greatest World Title Changes That Didn't Take Place On PPV
1. Mankind Wins The WWF Title - Raw (4 January 1999)
One of the most monumental upsets in WWE history and one of the most important moments of the Monday Night War, Mankind's shocking victory over The Rock for the WWF Championship in January 1999 was simply huge.
A pivotal moment that helped solidify the turning tide from WCW to WWF, the ascension of Mick Foley to World Champion status was something the world wanted to see. So much so, that over 600,000 homes switched channels when Tony Schiavone gave away the pre-taped Raw results on Nitro - including the fact that Mankind was about to be anointed as champ.
With a string of big time players involved in proceedings, the ring was surrounded by both D-Generation X and The Corporation throughout the contest. When all hell broke loose and the warring factions converged, the arrival of Steve Austin incited one of the loudest crowd pops in the history of WWE TV, rivalled only by the pinfall that followed it.
Meanwhile, WCW offered up the brain-meltingly bad 'Fingerpoke of Doom' incident, that saw Hogan notoriously "defeat" Kevin Nash to become WCW Champion and reunite the nWo. As far as impacts go, it's fair to say the WWF had the hot hand.