8. Mankind Wins The Big One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-N2MnuwlXw Rock vs. Mankind was the main WWF Title feud in late 1998/early 1999. On the first Raw of 1999, Mankind received a WWF Title match against the Rock in the main event of the evening. Mick Foley entered the match as the underdog thanks to the Rocks connections to the Corporation, but DX evened the odds in Foleys corner. Famously, that night WCW was live, while this episode Raw had been pre taped because of the holiday season. On WCW Nitro, commentator Tony Schiavone did what WCW had done a few times before, and gave away the results of Raw on the other channel. In a statement that would come back to haunt them WCW said sarcastically, the WWF are putting their title on Mick Foley who wrestled here as Cactus Jack thatll put a lot of butts in seats. While that tactic had worked before, this time it backfired. WCW completely underestimated wrestling fans loyalty and admiration for the well travelled Mick Foley, and instantly the majority of them turned over to see Mankind win the big one. This no holds barred match broke down into a brawl when the corporation and DX got involved at ringside. During the confusion, Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring and smashed the Rock with a chair, allowing Mankind to pick up the win and finally win the WWF title. DX hoisted Foley up on their shoulders and ran him around the ring, then Foley dedicated the win to his kids. For its time, a huge moment on Raw, on a par with the emotion felt when Eddie Guerrero won his first title at No Way Out in 2004.
Patrick Farren
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I''m a freelance media producer and writer. Im into sports, gaming, TV and music but I mostly write about wrestling. Thanks for reading!
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