Ranking Every WWE Backlash Main Event Ever - From Worst To Best

As you could probably have guessed by the names involved, these two icons staged an absolutely brilliant match when they met at Backlash 1999, to the point that it probably eclipsed their WrestleMania clash from just a few weeks’ prior.

After Mick Foley had refereed that WrestleMania meeting, this time it was Shane McMahon who’d officiate and he pretty much called it down the middle—until the very end, that is.

The preceding match saw both men take full advantage of the No Holds Barred stipulation, brawling their way throughout the arena and taking some pretty hard bumps along the way. There was also a more light-hearted element though, as the Rock paused mid-match to provide some commentary and take control of the camera to film a his opponent writhing on the floor.

Then in the closing moments, Austin inadvertently struck Shane, who himself would inadvertently clatter the Rock. To atone for his error though, Shane simply refrained from counting the three on Austin’s resultant pin, instead giving the Rattlesnake the finger.

Escaping the scene, he was soon stopped by his father Vince, who laid him out on the entranceway and replaced him with Earl Hebner. Meanwhile in the ring, a cool spot saw Austin follow up a Stunner with an immediate title shot to the Rock’s forehead, allowing him to pick up the win with Hebner— the very ref that Vince had introduced to the mix—counting the pinfall.

Phew.

When a match manages to get a 4.25-star rating despite all those shenanigans in the finish, you know it must have been a good one.