The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 8

Stone Cold Steve Austin (June 28, 1999 - August 22, 1999)

Stone Cold continued his feud with Vince McMahon over the WWE Championship

The night after King of the Ring was the charm for Stone Cold Steve Austin for the second year in a row.

In a super heated battle, Stone Cold regained the belt from the man he lost it to in controversial circumstances at Over The Edge 1999.

In the highest rating segment in Raw history, Stone Cold became a four time WWE Champion, only the third man in history to do so, after Hulk Hogan and Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

The match pulled in a phenomenal 9.5 rating for the quarter hour in which it featured, proving the Stone Cold magic was still going strong.

However, injuries for the champion were mounting up and his in-ring contributions were reduced.

He would clash with Undertaker one more time in another re-match at Fully Loaded, which took place on July 25, 1999.

That contest, fought under First Blood rules was a typically entertaining Attitude Era brawl with the added stipulation that if Austin lost, he could never again compete for the WWE Championship whereas if Undertaker lost, Vince McMahon would be banished from the company forever.

Stone Cold would be victorious after 'Taker was busted open by X-Pac who kicked a television camera into the Deadman's face. McMahon would take a (temporary, not permanent) hiatus from television and Austin would move on to a new challenge.

On the Fully Loaded under-card his next challenger would be decided in a number one contenders bout.