The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 7

The Rock (January 24, 1999 - January 26, 1999)

The Rock regained the WWE Championship in a brutal I Quit Match

It is one of the most infamous matches in WWE history.

Mankind vs The Rock in a I Quit Match, with the WWE Championship at stake. Mankind's memorable title win on the January 4, 1999 Raw had led to this highly violent re-match.

Rock was sporting a tracksuit to mask the scars from his recent Gynecomastia (male breast reduction) surgery. The match started with both men kicking and punching and referee Earl Hebner asking if either wanted to quit. Rock commandeered a microphone and began singing as the crowd lapped up his antics.

Rock introduced a ladder that both men climbed to a balcony. Rock knocked Mankind off. Mankind landed on what commentator, Michael Cole, described as the electrical circuit board. A dramatic, sparks flying explosion highlighted the spot.

From there, The Brahma Bull handcuffed Mankind and smashed him full force in the face with a steel chair, a total of 10 times. Mankind traumatised his wife and children whom he had thoughtlessly given front row tickets to.

Knowing what we know now about concussions, it seems like total lunacy for Mankind to agree to take those unprotected chair shots to the head.

Unsurprisingly, that was enough to earn Rock the win as Mankind said: "I Quit." Rock was the new WWE Champion.

However, it was revealed On RAW the next night, that Rock had paid off somebody to play a recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" in a promo. That set up another re-match between the pair at Half-Time Heat, the day after that, during half time of the Superbowl.

Rock's second WWE Championship run lasted just two days, but due to the incredible violence on show in his title winning bout, it is a reign that will never, ever be forgotten.