This was a fun show that gave the world Duane "Gillberg" Gill, a three second match, a screwjob finish and The Rock: Corporate Champion.
Well, for those who came in late, title match shenanigans in the the previous two PPVs; which featured Undertaker and Kane pinning Steve Austin simultaneously at Breakdown, and then Austin being fired after declaring himself, acting as guest referee, the winner in the Kane vs Undertaker title match at the Judgment Day PPV; had left the WWE without a champion, causing McMahonagement to look to a not unfamiliar solution: a tournament.
The big news going into the show was that Shane McMahon had betrayed his father and given Stone Cold his job back. Vince was furious, and appeared to be backing Mankind, who had now gotten rid of his trademark brown rags and was now wearing a corporate suit. Also, Vince was hinting that there would be a massive return. Some one who had been injured and unable to wrestle for months.
And in our first match of the night we found out who that man was: not Shawn Michaels as many of the fans were hoping, but Duane Gill. Never heard of him? Neither had anyone else, but you may have heard of his later gimmick Gillberg. So Gillberg comes to the ring apron, and Mankind swings him over the ropes, hits a DDT and wins his opening match in less than ten seconds. What a start to the evening!
Next match Al Snow taking on Jeff Jarrett for the right to face Mankind in the next round. In the end Jarrett's guitar shot was taken by "head," which Snow then used to smash Jarrett, get the pin, and advance to Round Two.
Next in our tournament saw Stone Cold ambush Big Boss Man before the McMahon lackey could enter ring. Boss Man eventually loses interest in winning the match and clobbers Stone Cold with a night stick, giving Austin the win by disqualification, but Boss Man isn't done and beats the living heck out of Stone Cold, leaving him in the middle of the ring in a pool of his own blood, much to McMahon's pleasure.
The following match threw a spanner in the works for McMahon's plan as Steven Regal (later better known as William Regal) fought to a time limit draw with X-Pac. Little sloppy in parts, but the only actual match so far. Austin would get a bye through to the semi finals and plenty of time to recover from his beating.
Next match saw Ken Shamrock advance to the second round with an easy win over Goldust. Apart from Stone Cold, the Rock was considered the biggest threat to a Corporate Champion being crowned, so McMahon decided to bring back his hired gun Big Boss Man as Rocky's first round opponent. Boss Man bolted out to the ring and ran straight into a cradle and a three count. Rock through to the second round in 3 seconds. McMahon's night not looking promising.
Brings us to round Two where Kane and the Undertaker, the two men who had pinned Austin to take the title off him both receiving a bye and a match against each other. After an even opening, Kane was eventually screwed by former manager (and father!) Paul Bearer who distracted him following a successful chokeslam and held his legs down so he couldn't kick out of a tombstone. Undertaker's into the semi finals.
Next match saw Mankind book himself a semi final against Stone Cold with a pretty easy win over Al Snow. THe Rock then claimed the other semi final spot after another mistake from Boss Man, who had attempted to throw his night stick to Shamrock, only for the Rock to intercept, smash Shamrock and get the pin.
Next up saw Sable further humiliate Marc Mero, Sable bombing him and then his girlfriend Jacqeline to win the Womens' Championship.
OK, back to business as the Corporate Contender Mankind met Steve Austin in the first semi final. After a fair few shenanigans with the referees and outside, fair classy, defiant Shane McMahon came to ring in a referee's shirt to bring justice to Stone Cold. Austin hit a stunner, Shane counted 1-2-.... give Austin the finger! Shane was on Vince's side after all! McMahon stooges Slaughter and Brisco smashed Austin with a chair. Shane counted the pin fall. Austin was out and the McMahon's were all off to celebrate their victory.
Next match though must have dampened their celebrations as Big Boss Man again gave ineffectual interference in The Rock's match against Undertaker. But the real culpability went with Kane who came into the ring and chokeslammed the Rocvk, getting his brother disqualified and sending him to the final against Mankind.
Next match saw the New Age Outlaws successfully defend their tag team titles against the Rock's former Nation of Domination allies and the Headbangers in a pretty bad triple threat match.
Brings us to the main event in which the Corporate Contender Mankind took on the People's Champion The Rock in a solid match. But near the end out comes McMahon to call fro the ring bell with Mankind caught in a move that was supposed to be the sharpshooter and revealing to the crowd that The Rock had been his man all along. Mankind asks what's going on, only to receive a vicious beating. We had all been hoodwinked. But really, the match made both men massive stars for the next 12 months, set the agenda for the new year, set up the Rock/ Austin rivalry, was the only effective reference to the Montreal Screwjob by any wrestling promotion anywhere, and laid the foundation for the WWE to make millions and millions of dollars. Hugely important show in WWE history and a very entertaining one too.
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