WWE: The Top 15 Greatest Moments in Royal Rumble History
7. The Rock and Mankind’s I Quit Match For WWE Championship: January 24, 1999
The Rock’s ascent towards the top of the WWE really began taking shape in 1998 and 1999. But without one particular feud, The People’s Champion might never have taken off and had the amount of success he would end up having in the WWE.
After turning heel at Survivor Series 1998 and winning the WWE Championship with his newfound alliance with The Corporation, The Rock would begin a string of battles with Mankind in early-1999 that saw a few title changes along the way. But one match in early-1999 really helped give The Rock a new dimension to his rapidly-growing character.
Mankind had won the WWE Championship from The Rock in dramatic fashion on the January 4, 1999 edition of Raw, but would defend his title at the Royal Rumble in an I Quit Match. And simply put, the match was brutal and gruesome. The Rock showed a more vicious side of himself that hadn’t been seen before and the things Mick Foley allowed The Great One to do to him on that night is unbelievable.
Nearly a dozen chair shots and other punishment led to Mankind uttering the phrase “I Quit,” giving The Rock the win and his second WWE Championship reign. The two would have another couple important matches in the coming weeks, but this one really stands out even to this day.
If Mankind was just facing The Rock to get him ready for a showdown with Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 15, he did an excellent job of it and the same can be said for the two’s 1999 Royal Rumble encounter.