WWF 1999: RAW is WAR!

1998 was a good year for the World Wrestling Federation. Hot off the heels of the highly controversial Montreal Screwjob and beginning to beat WCW in the Monday Night Wars, 1998 continued where 1997 left off. At the Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels defeated Undertaker in a casket match to retain his WWF Championship gold. However during this event, another man made his statement clear when Stone Cold Steve Austin won the 1998 Royal Rumble. During this spectacular show, Shawn Michaels injured his back early on in the match against Undertaker. This caused Shawn Michaels to miss out on No Way Out of Texas. In his absence, the team of Degeneration X, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Bad Ass Billy Gunn, Road Dogg and Savio Vega fell to Stone Cold Steve Austin, Owen Hart and the odd couple of Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie [Terry Funk].

Coming up to WrestleMania, it became questionable whether Shawn Michaels was going to be able to be able to compete at the grandaddy of them all. Mike Tyson, a famous boxer came in and quickly joined the side of the WWF Champion's Degeneration X. However when the time came and March 29th 1998 appeared on the calendars, it was Mike Tyson who cost Shawn Michaels the WWF Championship, and HBK shortly left the WWF due to a major back injury. As April came around, Steve Austin came across a feud with the boss, one Vince McMahon. The two had never seen eye-to-eye especially after Austin had previously Stunner'ed McMahon back in Autumn '97. On April 13th, Austin and McMahon had a match that got a rating just over 6.00 for that single quarter-hour of the show. But also during this bout, Dude Love, formerly Cactus Jack got in the business of McMahon and Austin. At Unforgiven, April 26th, Stone Cold overcame the odds of Dude Love's uneasy alliance with Vince McMahon and retained the WWF Championship.

At Over the Edge, Stone Cold once again retained the WWF Championship, defeating Dude Love once again with Vince McMahon as the special referee in a no holds barred match. As Austin continued his rampage on the WWF, Dude Love reverted back to Mankind and went into a feud with Undertaker, leading up to the King of the Ring. As this feud went on, Austin feuded with Taker's half-brother, Kane. During the build-up to King of the Ring, the two couples had matches against each other. Finally, KOTR came and Undertaker defeated Mankind in a hell in a cell match, which truly brought on the meaning of the Attitude Era. Later that night, Austin dropped the WWF Championship to Kane in a first blood match thanks to the Undertaker. The next night, Austin regained the WWF Championship. On July 13th edition of RAW, Kane and Mankind defeated the New Age Outlaws to win the WWF Tag Team Championship, however later that month at Fully Loaded, the Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane and Mankind to win the titles for themselves.

The uneasy alliance of Stone Cold and Undertaker came to a head as both men became arch enemies. On August 10th, Kane and Mankind regained the Tag Team Championships as Austin and Undertaker fought at SummerSlam. Also on the card, two other rising stars, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and the Rock fought in a great ladder match to win the Intercontinental Championship. After SummerSlam, Vince McMahon made a match for Breakdown, September's pay-per-view between Kane, Undertaker and Stone Cold. McMahon attempted to take the title off of Austin, stating that during the match, Kane and Undertaker could not pin one another. When the show came, Kane and Undertaker simultaneously pinned Austin. McMahon later put Austin on the spot, placing him as the referee in a title match between Kane and Undertaker at Judgement Day. However, as always, Austin with his attitude declared both men the winner. As a result, Vince McMahon fired Austin.

This set up a tournament, for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series. The semi-finals came down to Big Bossman, The Rock, Steve Austin and Mankind. Austin fell first, losing to Mankind after a chair shot from McMahon's assistant Gerald Brisco. The Rock soon afterwards defeated Big Bossman, advancing both fan favourites to the finals. During this match, The Rock turned on the fans and joined Vince McMahon in screwing Mankind out of the gold. Rock locked in the Sharpshooter and despite Mankind not tapping, McMahon ordered the bell to ring. This gave McMahon and the Rock's stable, the Corporation a push, sending them to the top of the WWF. At Rock Bottom, The Rock fell to Mankind, passing out to the Mandible Claw. McMahon however, despite the happenings at Survivor Series stated that Rock never tapped out and thus returned the WWF title to him.

Going into 1999, there is 96 stars on the roster, 37 of which is in the Developmental territory, OVW. We come into 1999 with the Corporation dominating the World Wrestling Federation. What will go on, who will win the Royal Rumble?, who will end the legacy of the Corporation? Why are you looking at this? Are you stupid? Look below you and feast your eyes on the masterpiece of WWF 1999!