WWF Royal Rumble 1999: "No Chance in Hell"

  • The Big Boss Man pinned the Road Dogg. Originally scheduled to be a Hardcore Rules Match for the Hardcore Title, this wound up being a standard match.

  • Ken Shamrock defeated Billy Gunn by submission to retain the Intercontinental Title. Val Venis interfered during the match, but did not affect the outcome.

  • X-Pac beat Gangrel, pinning him with the X Factor, to retain the European Title.

  • Sable beat Luna in a Leather Strap Match, retaining the Women's Title. Sable "stalker" fan interfered, allowing Sable to touch all four corner posts to earn the win.

  • The Rock won the WWF Championship in controversial fashion from Mankind. After a brutal beating Mankind seemed to yell "I Quit!" (though in reality an audio clip was played over the PA system taken from his earlier Sunday Night Heat interview.) Leading up to that Mankind was thrown off a balcony, electrocuted, handcuffed, and beaten with a steel chair.

  • Vince McMahon eliminated Steve Austin to win the Royal Rumble match. Austin and McMahon, the first and second men to enter the 30 man match, were the final two remaining in the ring. The Rock came out to distract Steve Austin, which allowed McMahon to throw Austin over the top rope and win the match. Early in the match McMahon and Austin both left the ring and fought their way into a women's restroom, where Austin was attacked by the Corporation. Austin was taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance, but he eventually returned by the same means.

    In other Rumble action, Mabel took Head Banger Mosh's place and eliminated several wrestlers. The Undertaker and his Ministry came out and put Mabel under a "spell". Later on Kane made his entry and eliminated several wrestlers, only to then eliminate himself by exiting over the top rope, as he was attacked by orderlies intent on taking him back to the insane asylum. Chyna entered the Rumble at number 30 and eliminated Mark Henry. She was, in turn, eliminated by Steve Austin. Gillberg was the quickest to be eliminated, being thrown out by Edge mere moments after he entered the ring.

    McMahon will now face the Rock for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania.

    • Personally, I thought the whole card pretty much blew. Maybe it's because I hype it and hype it and hype it for myself and then when I finally see it, it doesn't live up to my expectations and I end up saying that it sucked. Well, with the possible exception of the Rumble itself and the main event, it did. Foley made his match watchable, and I did not like the idea of McMahon winning, though it was better than the predictable Austin win. I'll give this event a 6/10.