Jan 4, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Starcade review, Jaguar Yakota retires, more
Mankind captured the WWF title from Rock due to outside interference from Steve Austin in the main event of the Raw show that airs on 1/4, taped 12/29 in Worcester, MA. It is expected this will be a short-term title change with Rock regaining it at the Royal Rumble. When we received word ahead of time of the prospective change, it was said this was because they were looking for a major counter for the Goldberg vs. Nash match from the Georgia Dome that will air head-to-head, although the idea all along was for Rock vs. Mankind at the Rumble and after two PPV meetings, it would have been somewhat stale without this change to jump-start it. Austin hit Rock with a chair and put Mankind on top. The show ended with Mankind, without his mask on, doing the “Yo Adrian” speech from the original Rocky movie.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.