10 shocking moments from WWF (WWE) 1999

#7 Vince McMahon is the higher power

It was me Austin!

If you haven't already noticed from reading this list of 1999's most shocking moments, Vince McMahon's involvement in the on-screen action of WWF during this period was pretty considerable. At the time, not a lot of fans were complaining, as he had the charisma and over-acting abilities that made the Attitude Era what it was.

For all the head-to-head battles between WWF and WCW at the time, Vince was clearly the better on-screen villain compared to Eric Bischoff over on TNT.

One of the more controversial angles involving McMahon in 1999 was the 'higher power' storyline. To its credit, the feud brought in many of WWF's main event stars including Stone Cold, Undertaker, Vince, and the rest of the McMahon family. And for the majority of the time, it did have fans interested, incorporating edgy, controversial television with a classic mystery tale.

It all began with a rivalry between Vince's Corporation and The Undertaker's new faction The Ministry of Darkness. Taker was transitioning himself into more of a gothic, ritualistic and demented character and would spend most of the feud stalking Vince's daughter, Stephanie.

For today's fans, Stephanie McMahon is a powerful business woman who has the ability to chastise any wrestler she pleases, but back in 1999 she was still being portrayed as the sweet innocent child of the evil Mr McMahon.

The Undertaker and the rest of the ministry would kidnap Stephanie on more than one occasion during these few months, all the while claiming to be working on behalf of a 'higher power' who was being kept secret for the time being.

The Undertaker's actions against Stephanie, which included a forced marriage scene in which she was tied to a satanic crucifix-like structure, was enough to draw the attention of Steve Austin. Despite his ongoing rivalry with her father, even he could not stand by and let such a sinister scene occur.

Austin and McMahon briefly became allies and Vince looked to be on the cusp of a genuine babyface turn. Then, in scenes that are still highly examined and torn apart today, the higher power was revealed to be Vince McMahon himself.

Not only was the man an overbearing boss who made people kiss his ass, but he was now capable of hiring goons to kidnap his own daughter.

The higher power story was a bit of a let down in the end, but it's certainly one of the most memorable events from the Attitude Era, which is really saying a lot on reflection.