25th Anniversary of Iconic Survivor Series 1999: Was It Really That Good?

The WWE Survivor Series is a funny event. Seemingly inspired by the dinner it shares a Thanksgiving with, WWE decided to pile the plate high.

Traditionally airing on Thanksgiving Day or Eve, WWE plated up a series of big matches. Two large teams start. One person finishes.

One after the other. All you can eat.

The traditional Survivor Series events exclusively featured five-on-five or four-on-four elimination matches. It was long and bloated. But it was different and fun.

These multi-man matches have also made Survivor Series a place for notable debuts. The Rock, The Undertaker, and Jazz all debuted in traditional Survivor Series matches.

But over the years, Survivor Series has been used as the setting for one-on-one tournaments, brand bragging rights, a Screw Job, classic single bouts plus the inaugural Elimination Chamber and WWE War Games matches. By the 10th edition of Survivor Series in 1996 the card included as many single bouts as ‘traditional’ elimination tag team contests.

Claiming it has an identity crisis is probably a little too far. But it’s certainly been ‘ever-changing’ since the first Survivor Series in 1987.

WWF Survivor Series 1999 report from WWF Magazine! 📰 #WWE #WWF #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/0h8A4Tpg82

— WWF Wrestling (@WWFWrestling1) November 14, 2024

Survivor Series 1999: The Perfect Show

In 1999, WWE executed the perfect Survivor Series. The perfect WWE PLE full of top-quality in-ring wrestling it wasn’t. But it perfectly incorporated the Survivor Series elimination matches into a card to present a varied, entertaining and shocking event.

It was Attitude Era car crash TV at its finest. WWE utilized its young and up-and-coming tag division to serve as a warm-up all-you-can-eat buffet before the main meal.

The Dudley Boyz teamed with the Farooq and Bradshaw to open the show against The Headbangers, The Godfather and D-Lo Brown. The usually grungy and bald Headbangers adorned pimp attire – as did Brown – to match The Godfather and show team unity. It worked and the Lo-Pimp-Bangers (as they weren’t known but should’ve been) won.

Later in the show, Crash and Hardcore Holly teamed with Too Cool to challenge The Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian. These logical matches made a hell of a lot more sense than the thrown-together Raw vs. SmackDown teams we had to endure between 2016 and 2021.

In keeping with a Survivor Series tradition, a WWE legend made their debut at the 1999 PPV. Kurt Angle made short work of Shawn Stasiak.

Big Show Whets His Appetite For Satisfying Thanksgiving Night

WWE’s newly-acquired giant Big Show was set to be part of a four-on-four elimination match. But he took out his whole team – Kaientai and Blue Meanie – on the pre-show Heat. On the main card, he eliminated the Mideon, Viscera, Prince Albert, and The Big Bossman in a fun squash match.

Never has there been a better use of a big man during Survivor Series. We didn’t know it then but this was far from the last we’d see of Big Show that night.

Even the women got a match. The eight-women tag team match marked only the third time women had been involved in a Survivor Series-style match. Mae Young, Fabulous Moolah, Tori, and Debra vs. Ivory, Jacqueline, Luna, and Terri did differ as it was one fall to a finish.

But, as this was WWE approaching the Millennium, credit should be given to the company for not giving into what must have been unbearable impulses to stage an elimination bra and panties match. Sadly, the match lasted fewer than 120 seconds.

Chyna was on hand to show a stronger representation of the ladies. Chyna retained her Intercontinental Championship after hitting Jericho in the nuts and landing a Pedigree off the top rope.

Just when you thought you could sit back, grab a leftover turkey sandwich, relax, and enjoy mid-card tag action at its finest – the biggest star on TV got hit by a car.

Stone Cold Steve Austin Gets Hit By A Car

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s parking lot assault sparked the greatest whodunnit in WWE history. It also changed the main event of the 1999 Survivor Series and made Big Show a star. WWF Champion Triple H defended against The Rock and Austin’s replacement – Big Show.

Big Show had debuted just 9 months earlier and picked up the win to claim his first major WWE championship. It was the sort of unpredictability that we all crave as WWE fans, and Survivor Series 1999 should be praised for that alone.

Survivor Series 1999: In Conclusion

Survivor Series 1999 is essential viewing for all WWE fans as it features the most shocking PPV moment. The aforementioned attempted murder of Austin was a true water cooler moment. The incident sparked one of the most gripping storylines in WWE history.

It happens midway through a PPV that features the full gamut of match types. From legendary debuts, solo championship bouts and throwaway squash matches to fast and fun traditional elimination matches.

The card is topped with a very Attitude Era-style main event full of run-ins and chaos. The perfect cream on top of a Pumpkin Pie.

Yes, it’s missing a proper women’s match but that’s unfortunately indicative of the time. It is also void of what certain fans would call a five-star classic. But Survivor Series 1999’s variety and must-see moments make it pretty close to perfect viewing.

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