10 Most Essential WWE European Title Matches
5. Shane McMahon vs. X-Pac (WrestleMania 15)
With the Attitude Era in full swing, our next bout has all the ingredients of classic WWF TV from the height of the Monday Night Wars.
Having won the European Title from X-Pac a month prior in a tag match also involving Kane and Triple H, Shane McMahon stood proud as the unlikely European Champion going into the biggest event in the 1999 PPV calendar, WrestleMania XV. Unfortunately for Shane, the newly crowned champ would soon find himself defending his gold against the former titleholder, this time in a singles contest.
Despite the one-on-one booking, the resulting match would be far from “mano a mano” and the bout itself was indicative of the feud that had been on-going between D-Generation X and The Corporation for several months leading into the big show. With Shane O’Mac having just a handful of matches under his belt at the time, the bout itself was always going to be one laden with gimmickry and it didn’t take long for those predictions to be realised.
Accompanied by Corporate muscle, Andrew “Test” Martin, Shane also had Greenwich job-fodder, the Mean Street Posse, at ringside for added insurance. On top of that, legendary McMahon stooges, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, were also quick to appear and wasted little time before making their presence felt; jumping the degenerate challenger during his entrance.
The match is classic Attitude Era, with everything from belt shots and foreign objects to run-ins and heel turns; yet, despite all the outside interference, it made complete sense in the context of the narrative. Each man was positioned perfectly in their respective roles, with X-Pac playing the part of the plucky underdog, fighting the unjust establishment against all odds and Shane as of the undeserving, silver-spoon champion, aiming to further oppress his indomitable adversary.
Following countless displays of outside interference and blatant rule breaking by the defending champ, the playing field was seemingly levelled with the appearance of fellow DX soldiers – Triple H and Chyna – at ringside. Sadly for X-Pac, what seemed to be had ceased to be and Triple H would emphatically end their unity with a degenerating Pedigree.
“The Game” would cost X-Pac the match and the title, immediately placing Shane’s limp carcass on top of his former ally; simultaneously splintering his own faction while declaring his allegiance to McMahon’s corporate team.