The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 7

Mankind (January 4, 1999 - January 24, 1999)

Mankind shocked the world to become WWE Champion on the January 4, 1999 Raw

As WWE entered 1999, the WWE Championship began to change hands far more frequently. In fact, the title changed hands more time in 1999 alone as it did in the first two decades of it's existence.

This was a new era. However, WWE was doing virtually everything right.

Their competitors, WCW however were faltering badly. In fact, on the night of January 4, 1999, WCW boss, Eric Bischoff misjudged the wrestling audience's landscape.

That night's episode of Raw saw Mankind defeat The Rock to win his first WWE Championship in a super heated battle with boatloads of outside interference.

It was the highlight of Mankind's 14-year career.

WCW's attempt to rain on his parade backfired. WCW lead announcer, Tony Schiavone, under orders from Bischoff, revealed the result of the bout before it had aired, as Raw had been taped on December 29, 1998, whilst WCW Nitro was live.

However, within moments of Schiavone's announcement, 375,000 homes switched the channel from Nitro to Raw to watch Mankind's big moment.

WCW had contributed to themselves losing that week's rating war to Raw, 5.76 to 4.96.

Mankind's reign would be short lived, as he lost the title at the 1999 Royal Rumble event, just three weeks later, but nobody will ever forget the spectacle of his night of glory.