December 16th would see WWE usher in the Attitude Era 19 years ago, in what would turn out to be a watershed moment in pro wrestling history. WWE would lay the foundation of their direction for the next half decade, and eliminate their main competitor, WCW while doing so.
Also on this day, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Edge would make bold statements a decade apart. Read on to see what happened on this day in pro wrestling history.
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#1 Stone Cold tosses the IC title into the New Hampshire River: 16th December 1997
The same day as Vince made the ‘Attitude era’ announcement, Stone Cold Steve Austin underlined his credentials as the biggest star of the new era by engaging in yet another act of defiance.
Austin had beaten The Rock for the Intercontinental title, but McMahon ordered Austin to defend his title against The People’s Champion on Raw, as he had used his pickup truck during their previous match. Austin declined to take part in the match and agreed to forfeit the title to The Rock instead.
However, the Rock would not get his hands on the title, as Austin would show up on the titantron and throw the IC title into the New Hampshire river.
#2 Vince McMahon introduces the Attitude Era: 16th December 1997
On this day 19 years ago, Vince McMahon changed the direction of the Monday Night Wars by announcing the birth of ‘Attitude’. Vince cut a promo on an episode of ‘Raw is War’ and outlined the future of WWE’s programming direction.
He went on to say that the simplistic ‘Good guys vs. Bag guys’ era, was over and that Raw would be more innovative and contemporary. It proved to be the best decision of his career, and the likes of StoneCold, The Rock and the rest of the Attitude era stalwarts helped raise the prestige of the WWE
#3 The Edgeheads aid Edge in capturing the World Heavyweight title: 16th December 2007
The main event of Armageddon 2007 would see World Heavyweight Champion Batista defend his title in a triple threat match against Edge and the Undertaker. Before the match, Edge would tell his on-screen girlfriend Vickie Guerrero that her love gave him the strength of ‘three men’.
In the match, Taker would deliver a TombStone Piledriver to Batista and send Edge to the outside. However, three Edges would soon appear at ringside and interfere in the match. The imposters would be Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins – the future Edgeheads and tag team champions.
Taker would dispatch of the duo, but Edge would take advantage, delivering a steel chair shot to Undertaker’s skull to reclaim his title. Ryder and Hawkins would form the stable ‘La Familia’ with Edge, Vickie and Chavo Guerrero.
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