Even though the episode was taped on December 29, 1998, Mick Foley's first WWF Title run is recognised by the promotion as having started on January 4, 1999, because that was the date the pre-taped episode of Raw aired in the US. Desperately trying to combat their own flagging ratings, and the fact they were beginning to lose ground rapidly to WWE, World Championship Wrestling would buy their own shovel and dig their own grave once more on January 4. Live on Monday Nitro, announcer Tony Schiavone gave away the result of Raw's main event, telling viewers that Mick Foley, as Mankind, would win the WWF Heavyweight belt. As if that wasn't enough, Schiavone quipped that Foley would fail as champion, because he'd struggle to "put butts in seats". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nbJikFTv8 Consequently, an estimated 600,000 people turned the channel, and it's likely that a lot of those people didn't choose to watch WCW regularly again.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
