In this WWF Fully Loaded 1999 review, Steve Austin and The Undertaker square off in a First Blood Match, Triple H takes on The Rock in a Strap Match, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
- Show:Â WWF Fully Loaded 1999
- Date:Â July 25, 1999
- Location: Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, NY
VIDEO: Vince McMahon still hates Steve Austin, and a video package hypes Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker in a First Blood Match in what’s being hyped as “the end of an era.”
VIDEO: Replay from Jim Ross interviewing Austin on Sunday Night Heat, which saw Taker attack Austin and bust him open. Meanwhile, Vince and Shane smile in the background. We also see the EMTs try to patch up Austin before Michael Cole accuses Vince of setting up the attack on Austin. Vince guarantees Austin will lose and never be WWF Champion again. We’ll see about that, Vinnie Mac.
VIDEO: Highlights from Edge defeating Jeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental title on a Toronto house show the night before.
Jeff Jarrett (w/Debra) vs. (c) Edge – Intercontinental Title
Debra’s wardrobe was on another level at this point. Jarrett says no one is gonna see her puppies, which naturally starts a “we want puppies” chant. Jarrett tries to leave with the title until he realizes that makes little sense considering he’ll get counted out. He turns up the aggression by throwing Edge into the steel steps.
Jarrett is in control for the majority of the match, and the fans mostly care about Debra’s puppies. Edge picks up the speed with his offense, but then the lights go out for a good while as Gangrel’s music hits. Lights come back on and Gangrel is down and out with Edge standing over him. Spear from Edge, but Debra goes to expose the puppies. Jarrett knocks Edge into Debra, and that’s enough for Gangrel to attack Edge while the referee’s back is turned. Jarrett then pins Edge to win the title.
- Winner: Jeff Jarrett
BACKSTAGE: Austin gets patched up, then sprints to the ring and hits the Stunner on Jarrett. Austin says he’s gonna hunt down Taker and make him bleed.
BACKSTAGE: Cole with Michael Hayes and the Hardy Boyz. Hayes says he’s gonna lead by example in their match.
The Acolytes vs. The Hardy Boyz and Michael Hayes – Handicap Match for the WWF Tag Team Titles
Nothing like a 3-on-2 match for the tag titles. The Hardyz showcase impressive offense throughout this match, while Farooq and Bradshaw’s approach is obviously much different and all about power. And we can’t forget about Hayes, who tries to throw it back to his Freebird days. JR pokes fun at his stamina and notes he looks like he just had a night out on the town. He probably did.
The action eventually breaks down, and there’s a big spot with Bradshaw hitting a suplex on Matt off the top. Jeff clobbers Bradshaw with Hayes’ cane for a near fall. Another fun sequence with Bradshaw hitting a flying Jeff with a huge clothesline. Farooq and Bradshaw hit the double powerbomb on Hayes to win the titles.
- Winners: The Acolytes
BACKSTAGE: Austin is searching for Taker. Then it’s Kevin Kelly with D’Lo Brown, who wants to regain the European title.
D’Lo Brown vs. (c) Mideon – European Title
This is the stretch when Mideon stole the title from Shane’s bag to become champion. So D’Lo’s motivation is to bring the title back to someone who actually earned it. This match garners a “boring” chant from the crowd, which is never ideal. It’s D’Lo hitting the Lo Down to score the victory to win the title. Make it three title changes in three matches.
- Winner: D’Lo Brown
BACKSTAGE: Cole with Al Snow. He’s losing it about the Big Bossman.
Big Bossman vs. (c) Al Snow – Hardcore Title
Snow keeps asking Bossman to destroy him. Bossman beats up Head instead. Like most hardcore matches in this era, they brawl backstage with a variety of weapons on display. That includes hot coffee. At one point, Snow suplexes Bossman through a table. In a pretty hilarious sequence, Bossman finds a fourth down marker and holds it in front of him as he punts Snow.
They eventually fight their way outside, and that’s where hubcaps and cones get introduced. A car comes speeding down the road and it nearly runs them over. I don’t think that was a work. Bossman breaks a bottle on Snow’s head, then handcuffs him to a gate. Bossman beats down Snow with the nightstick and “pins” him to win the title. There’s another title change.
- Winner: Big Bossman
VIDEO: Replay of the events leading to Big Show vs. Kane. Their King of the Ring 1999 match was the worst match on one of the worst WWF PPVs I’ve seen, so there’s nowhere to go but up.
BACKSTAGE: Kelly with Hardcore Holly, who claims he’ll be impartial as the special guest referee.
Big Show vs. Kane – Special Guest Referee: Hardcore Holly
To say that this match starts with a brutal spot would be an understatement. Show picks up Kane to press slam to the outside, and Kane’s arm hits the top rope before taking a huge bump. That looked ugly. Show in complete control of this one until he gets too cocky. Kane takes advantage, but it’s Holly who chop blocks Kane to allow Show to hit the chokeslam for the quick count victory.
- Winner: Big Show
IN THE RING: After the match, X-Pac hits the ring to make the save for Kane. But Taker comes out, and he and Show beat down Kane and X-Pac. Doesn’t seem like a smart move for Taker considering Austin is searching for him. Sure enough, Austin attacks Taker as he comes back through the curtain. And now Taker is busted open to even the score.
VIDEO: Replay of the events leading to Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman in an Iron Circle Match.
Steve Blackman vs. Ken Shamrock – Iron Circle Match
In case you forgot, this is basically a parking lot fight with both men surrounded by fellow superstars sitting on cars. They throw each other around on the cars for a while, and it’s so dark you can barely see anything for several parts of the match. Shamrock wraps a chain around his fist and starts destroying Blackman, then he chokes him out for the win. This was an experiment.
- Winner: Ken Shamrock
BACKSTAGE: Terry Taylor with Taker. He’s pissed and throws Taylor into the wall.
Mr. Ass and Chyna vs. Road Dogg and X-Pac – Winner Gets Rights Of DX Name
They play up X-Pac not being 100 percent after the attack by Taker and Show. Billy Gunn basically wrestling in a thong at this point in his career, and that just doesn’t sound appealing as a wrestler. Jerry Lawler points out Gunn and Chyna are pretty much wearing the same outfit. Mr. Ass was Mr. Ass for a reason, I suppose.
The crowd is into this match, which is not surprising given the popularity of these four. It’s mostly Gunn and Chyna working over X-Pac, with Dogg waiting on the hot tag. Eventually, he gets it and runs wild on Gunn and Chyna. To really prove this was a different era, Chyna takes a series of punches and the Bronco Buster during this sequence. Dogg then hits the pump handle slam on Gunn to earn the victory.
- Winners: Road Dogg and X-Pac
BACKSTAGE: Cole with The Rock. He’s gonna kick Triple H’s candy ass.
Triple H vs. The Rock – No. 1 Contender Strap Match
The winner earns a WWF title match at SummerSlam. Rock’s charisma is ridiculous, as his mannerisms are one of a kind. He even grabs a fan’s camera and takes a photo of him kicking Triple H. It’s wild to believe these two were so good and hadn’t even reached 30 yet.
There are obvious challenges with a Strap Match, but these two made it work. They brawl into the crowd and throw each other into a variety of objects. Rock hits a suplex on Triple H on the concrete ramp for a near fall, then Triple H reverses the favor by throwing Rock into the steel rail for a two count.
They make their way back to the ring, and Chyna decides to join the festivities. Her distraction is enough to force referee Mike Chioda to miss a Rock Bottom for a pin attempt. Then it’s Triple H hitting a low blow go regain the advantage. Triple H tries to hang Rock by the strap because it was the Attitude Era, folks.
Rock fights back with some nice usage of the strap. The battle in the aisle way some more, and Rock goes back to the strap after Triple H grabs a chair. Rock hits a DDT for a near fall, then Chyna jumps on the apron as Billy hits Rock with a club. However, he kicks out at two and a half. People’s Elbow connects, but Billy breaks up the count. He gets a Rock Bottom for his efforts, but it’s Triple H who hits the Pedigree for the win.
- Winner: Triple H
VIDEO: Hype for the Austin vs. Taker match, and the build featured a lot of blood.
The Undertaker vs. Steve Austin – First Blood End Of An Era Match for the WWF Title
Vince joins commentary for the match. They brawl in the aisle to start because it’s the Attitude Era and that’s just what you did. The crowd loved it. More fighting around the ring, and Taker throws the steel steps at Austin’s head but misses. Now the action spills into the crowd, another Attitude Era special. Eventually, they get in the ring and go back and forth in a methodical fashion. Then it’s back to the crowd.
Taker tries to go after Austin with a chair, but it doesn’t work. Austin rams Taker’s face into the steps. He also uses a fan (the object, not an actual human being). Earl Hebner takes a bump, and Taker somehow gets caught in the ropes. Austin grabs a chair, but here comes Shane, who takes a hellacious unprotected shot to the head. Brutal.
Taker with a low blow to Austin. However, Austin regains the advantage and hits the Stunner. Vince tries to go at Austin with a crutch, but Austin clocks him. Taker wallops Austin with a chair, then shoves Hebner into the corner. Here comes X-Pac, who kicks the chair in Taker’s face. Austin hits Taker with a TV camera, and Shane is back in to take a beating. Taker is busted wide open, which gives Austin the win. Austin hits the Stunner on Vince after the match. Well, I guess that’s the last of Vince on WWE television, huh?
Triple H attacks Austin after the match, but Rock is out to make the save. A lot of star power in the ring. Taker hits Austin with a chair, and there’s chaos everywhere. Austin and Taker are both bleeding profusely. They keep fighting, and Vince is unhappy in the ring. Austin goes back in and offers a handshake, then stuns him.
- Winner: Steve Austin
BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF FULLY LOADED 1999
Certainly an improvement on the brutal King of the Ring pay-per-view in June. There isn’t anything spectacular on this show, but it gets the job done in terms of developing key storylines. The main event was a product of the era, and it worked thanks to the Austin vs. McMahon rivalry.
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