1999 in professional wrestling

1999 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of years in professional wrestling

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1999.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
All Japan Pro Wrestling AJPW
Catch Wrestling Association CWA
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL
Extreme Championship Wrestling ECW
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling FMW
Heroes of Wrestling HOW
International Wrestling Revolution Group IWRG
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide AAA The "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPW
World Championship Wrestling WCW
World Wrestling Council WWC
World Wrestling Federation WWF

Calendar of notable shows

January
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
January 4 NJPW Wrestling World Tokyo, Japan
January 5 FMW New Year Generation 1999: Day 1 Tokyo, Japan
January 10 ECW Guilty as Charged Kissimmee, Florida
January 16 ECW House Party Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 17 WCW Souled Out Charleston, West Virginia
January 24 WWF Royal Rumble Anaheim, California [1]

February
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
February 12 ECW Crossing the Line '99 Queens, New York
February 14 WWF St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House Memphis, Tennessee
February 21 WCW SuperBrawl IX Oakland, California
February 27 FMW Over the Top Super Fighting Spirit Part Two: Day 7 Tokyo, Japan

March
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
March 7 AAA Rey de Reyes Naucalpan, Mexico
March 14 WCW Uncensored Louisville, Kentucky
March 19 CMLL Homenaje a Dos Leyendas Mexico City, Mexico
March 21 ECW Living Dangerously Asbury Park, New Jersey
March 28 WWF WrestleMania XV Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 29 FMW Round Robin Tag League: Day 8 Tokyo, Japan

April
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
April 2 CMLL 43. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico
April 3 ECW CyberSlam Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 11 WCW Spring Stampede Tacoma, Washington
April 20 FMW Strongest Tag League: Day 1 Tokyo, Japan
April 25 WWF Backlash: In Your House Providence, Rhode Island

May
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
May 2 AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Show Tokyo, Japan [2]
May 5 FMW Strongest Tag League: Day 7 Tokyo, Japan
May 9 WCW Slamboree St. Louis, Missouri
May 15 Various Break the Barrier Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 16 ECW Hardcore Heaven Poughkeepsie, New York
WWF No Mercy (UK) Manchester, England
May 19 N/A Second Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show Cincinnati, Ohio
May 23 WWF Over the Edge Kansas City, Missouri

June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
June 11 AAA Triplemanía VII Madero, Mexico
June 11 N/A Fourth Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show Buffalo, New York
June 13 WCW The Great American Bash Baltimore, Maryland
June 15 FMW Making of a New Legend: Day 2 Tokyo, Japan
June 26 ECW Hostile City Showdown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 27 WWF King of the Ring Greensboro, North Carolina [3][4]

July
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
July 11 WCW Bash at the Beach Fort Lauderdale, Florida [5]
July 18 CMLL Ruleta de la Muerte Mexico City, Mexico
July 18 ECW Heat Wave Dayton, Ohio
July 25 WWF Fully Loaded Buffalo, New York
July 30 N/A Curtis Comes Home Rostraver, Pennsylvania
July 31 FMW Goodbye Hayabusa: Day 7 Tokyo, Japan

August
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
August 14 WCW Road Wild Sturgis, South Dakota [6]
WWC WWC 26th Aniversario Caguas, Puerto Rico
August 20 FMW Goodbye Hayabusa II: Haunted House Tokyo, Japan
August 22 WWF SummerSlam Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 23 FMW Goodbye Hayabusa II: Hayabusa Graduation Ceremony Tokyo, Japan
August 25 FMW Goodbye Hayabusa II: Last Match Sapporo, Japan
August 26 ECW The Last Show at the Madhouse Queens, New York

September
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
September 12 WCW Fall Brawl Winston-Salem, North Carolina
September 17 AAA Verano de Escándalo Mexico City, Mexico
September 19 ECW Anarchy Rulz Villa Park, Illinois
September 24 CMLL CMLL 66th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico
September 24 FMW Making of a New Legend III: Day 6 Tokyo, Japan
September 26 WWF Unforgiven Charlotte, North Carolina

October
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
October 2 N/A Fourth Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Show Vineland, New Jersey
October 2 WWF Rebellion National Indoor Arena [7]
October 10 HOW Heroes of Wrestling Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
October 17 WWF No Mercy Cleveland, Ohio
October 24 WCW Halloween Havoc Paradise, Nevada
October 29 FMW Making of a New Legend IV: Day 7 Tokyo, Japan

November
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
November 7 ECW November to Remember Buffalo, New York
November 14 WWF Survivor Series Detroit, Michigan
November 21 WCW Mayhem Toronto, Ontario, Canada [8]
November 23 FMW FMW 10th Anniversary Show Yokohama, Japan

December
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
December 4 CWA Euro Catch Festival Bremen, Germany
December 10 AAA Guerra de Titanes Convention Center
December 12 FMW Making of a New Legend VI: Day 5 Tokyo, Japan
December 12 WWF Armageddon Sunrise, Florida
December 19 WCW Starrcade Washington, D.C. [9]
IWRG Arena Naucalpan 22nd Anniversary Show Naucalpan, State of Mexico [10]

Notable events

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA
Tournaments Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes Cibernético March 7

WCW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
WCW United States Championship Tournament Scott Steiner April 11
WCW World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Bret Hart November 21

WWF
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Mr. McMahon January 24
King of the Ring Billy Gunn June 27

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Stone Cold Steve Austin
PWI Tag Team of the Year Kane and X-Pac
PWI Match of the Year The Rock vs. Mankind (Royal Rumble)
PWI Feud of the Year Vince McMahon vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year The Rock
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Diamond Dallas Page
PWI Comeback of the Year Eddie Guerrero
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Jerry Lynn
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Hulk Hogan
PWI Rookie of the Year Shane McMahon
PWI Lifetime Achievement Owen Hart
PWI Editor's Award Debra

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Main article: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Inductee
Lioness Asuka
Jushin Thunder Liger
Keiji Mutoh
Jim Ross

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Mitsuharu Misawa
Most Outstanding Mitsuharu Misawa
Best Box Office Draw The Rock
Feud of the Year Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon
Tag Team of the Year Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama
Most Improved Vader
Best on Interviews The Rock

Title changes

ECW
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Shane Douglas
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 10 Taz Guilty as Charged
September 19 Mike Awesome Anarchy Rulz This was a three way dance also involving Masato Tanaka
December 17 Masato Tanaka ECW on TNN
December 23 Mike Awesome ECW on TNN
ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Sabu
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 21 Taz Living Dangerously
March 21 Retired Living Dangerously
ECW World Television Championship
Incoming champion – Rob Van Dam
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
No title changes
ECW World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Sabu and Rob Van Dam
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 17 The Dudley Boyz
(Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley)		 Hardcore TV #313
July 18 Spike Dudley and Balls Mahoney Heat Wave
August 13 The Dudley Boyz
(Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley)		 Hardcore TV #330
August 14 Spike Dudley and Balls Mahoney Hardcore TV #330
August 26 The Dudley Boyz
(Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley)		 ECW on TNN
August 26 Tommy Dreamer and Raven ECW on TNN

FMW
FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Kodo Fuyuki
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 18 Yukihiro Kanemura FMW
August 23 Hayabusa FMW
August 25 Retired Goodbye Hayabusa II: Last Match
FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Hayabusa and Daisuke Ikeda
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January Vacant N/A
May 3 Masato Tanaka and Tetsuhiro Kuroda Strongest Tag League Tour
June 13 Team No Respect
(Koji Nakagawa and Gedo)		 Making of a New Legend Tour
FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Kodo Fuyuki
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 18 Masato Tanaka Goodbye Hayabusa II: Haunted House
August 25 Retired N/A
FMW Hardcore Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
September 24 Kintaro Kanemura Making of a New Legend III tour

NJPW
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Scott Norton
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Keiji Mutoh Wrestling World 1999
December 10 Genichiro Tenryu Battle Final 1999
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Genichiro Tenryu and Shiro Koshinaka
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Tencozy
(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)		 Wrestling World 1999
March 22 Cho-Ten
(Kensuke Sasaki and Shiro Koshinaka)		 Hyper Battle 1999
June 27 The Mad Dogs
(Michiyoshi Ohara and Tatsutoshi Goto)		 Summer Struggle 1999
August 28 Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata Jingu Climax
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Jushin Thunder Liger
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 17 Koji Kanemoto Live event
August 28 Kendo Kashin Live event
October 11 Jushin Thunder Liger Final Dome
November 29 Juventud Guerrera Nitro
December 6 Jushin Thunder Liger Nitro
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Dr. Wagner, Jr. and Kendo Kashin Wrestling World 1999
April 10 The Great Sasuke and Jushin Thunder Liger Strong Style Symphony
July 13 Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa Summer Struggle 1999

WCW
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Kevin Nash
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Hollywood Hulk Hogan Nitro This was The Fingerpoke of Doom.
March 14 Ric Flair Uncensored This was a First Blood barbed wire steel cage match.
April 11 Diamond Dallas Page Spring Stampede This was a four corners match, also involving Sting and Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Randy Savage was the special guest referee.
April 26 Sting Nitro WWE.com mistakenly lists Sting's reign as lasting from April 26, 1999 to April 29, 1999, despite this and the following match's descriptions stating that this reign began and ended on the same night.
April 26 Diamond Dallas Page Nitro This was a four corners match, also involving Kevin Nash and Goldberg.

WWE recognizes DDP's reign as lasting 14 days.

May 9 Kevin Nash Slamboree
July 11 Randy Savage Bash at the Beach This was a tag team match with Savage and Sid Vicious facing Kevin Nash and Sting where if someone pinned Nash or made him submit, that person would become champion. Savage pinned Nash to win the title.
July 12 Hollywood Hulk Hogan Nitro Hollywood Hogan reverted to his Hulkamania character midway through this reign.
September 12 Sting Fall Brawl
October 25 Vacated Nitro Sting was stripped of the title after losing an unsanctioned match against Goldberg and attacked referee Charles Robinson at Halloween Havoc.
November 21 Bret Hart Mayhem Defeated Chris Benoit in a tournament final for the vacant title.
December 20 Vacated Nitro Bret Hart vacated the title due to the controversial end to a match with Goldberg at Starrcade.
December 20 Bret Hart Nitro Defeated Goldberg in a rematch for the vacant title.
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
Incoming champion – Billy Kidman
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 15 Rey Misterio, Jr. Nitro
April 19 Psychosis Nitro This was a four-way match also involving Juventud Guerrera and Blitzkrieg
April 26 Rey Misterio, Jr. Nitro
August 19 Lenny Lane Thunder
October 4 Vacant Nitro
October 4 Psychosis Nitro
October 4 Disco Inferno Nitro
November 21 Evan Karagias Mayhem
December 19 Madusa Starrcade Became the first female Cruiserweight champion
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Bret Hart
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 8 Roddy Piper Nitro
February 21 Scott Hall SuperBrawl IX
March 18 Vacant Thunder Scott Hall was stripped of the title by WCW President Ric Flair
April 11 Scott Steiner Spring Stampede
July 5 Vacant Nitro Scott Steiner was stripped of the title by WCW President Ric Flair
July 5 David Flair Nitro
August 9 Chris Benoit Nitro
September 12 Sid Vicious Fall Brawl
October 24 Goldberg Halloween Havoc
October 25 Bret Hart Nitro
November 8 Scott Hall Nitro
December 19 Chris Benoit Starrcade
December 20 Jeff Jarrett Nitro
WCW Hardcore Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
November 21 Norman Smiley Mayhem Defeated Brian Knobs in a tournament final to become inaugural champion
WCW World Television Championship
Incoming champion – Scott Steiner
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 14 Booker T Uncensored
May 9 Rick Steiner Slamboree
September 13 Chris Benoit Nitro
October 24 Rick Steiner Halloween Havoc
November 21 Scott Hall Mayhem
November 29 Vacant Nitro Vacated after Scott Hall threw the belt in a trash can
WCW World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Rick Steiner and Kenny Kaos
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Vacant Nitro WCW vacated the championship after Steiner sustained a legitimate injury
February 21 Barry Windham and Curt Hennig SuperBrawl IX
March 14 Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko Uncensored
March 29 Rey Misterio, Jr. and Billy Kidman Nitro
May 9 Raven and Perry Saturn Slamboree
May 31 The Jersey Triad
(Diamond Dallas Page, Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Kanyon)		 Nitro
June 8 Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn Thunder Aired on tape delay on June 10.
June 13 The Jersey Triad
(Diamond Dallas Page, Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Kanyon)		 The Great American Bash
August 14 Harlem Heat
(Booker T and Stevie Ray)		 Road Wild
August 23 The West Texas Rednecks
(Barry Windham and Kendall Windham)		 Nitro
September 12 Harlem Heat
(Booker T and Stevie Ray)		 Fall Brawl
October 18 The Filthy Animals
(Konnan and Rey Misterio Jr.)		 Nitro
October 24 Vacant Halloween Havoc WCW vacated the titles after Misterio Jr. sustained a legitimate leg injury
October 24 Harlem Heat
(Booker T and Stevie Ray)		 Halloween Havoc This was a street fight also involving The First Family
October 25 The Filthy Animals
(Konnan and Billy Kidman)		 Nitro
November 22 Creative Control
(Gerald and Patrick)		 Nitro
December 7 Bret Hart and Goldberg Thunder Aired on tape delay on December 9.
December 13 The Outsiders
(Kevin Nash and Scott Hall)		 Nitro
December 27 Vacant Nitro

WWF
WWF Championship
Incoming champion – Mankind
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 24 The Rock Royal Rumble This was an "I Quit" match, which The Rock won by knocking Mankind unconscious while someone backstage played an audio recording of Mankind saying "I quit" while The Rock placed the microphone against his face.

WWE recognizes The Rock's regin as lasting 7 days, ending on January 31, 1999, when the following match aired on tape delay.

January 26 Mankind Halftime Heat This was an Empty Arena match that aired on tape delay as a special during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999.

WWE recognizes Mankind's reign as lasting 15 days, beginning on January 31.

February 15 The Rock Raw Is War This was a ladder match.
March 28 Stone Cold Steve Austin WrestleMania XV This was a no disqualification match with Mankind as the special guest referee.
May 23 The Undertaker Over the Edge Both Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon were special guest referees.
June 28 Stone Cold Steve Austin Raw Is War
August 22 Mankind SummerSlam This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H. Jesse Ventura was the guest referee.
August 23 Triple H Raw Is War Shane McMahon was the guest referee.

WWE recognizes Triple H's reign as lasting 24 days, ending on September 16, 1999, when the following episode aired on tape delay.

September 14 Vince McMahon SmackDown! Shane McMahon was the guest referee.

WWE recognizes Vince's reign as lasting 4 days, beginning on September 16, 1999, when the episode aired on tape delay.

September 20 Vacated Raw Is War Vince McMahon vacated the title.
September 26 Triple H Unforgiven This was a six-pack challenge match also involving The Rock, Mankind, Big Show, The British Bulldog and Kane. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special outside enforcer.
November 14 Big Show Survivor Series This was a triple threat match, also involving The Rock.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Ken Shamrock
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 14 Val Venis St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House Billy Gunn was the special guest referee
March 15 Road Dogg Raw Is War
March 29 Goldust Raw Is War
April 12 The Godfather Raw Is War
May 25 Jeff Jarrett Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on May 31.
July 24 Edge House show
July 25 Jeff Jarrett Fully Loaded
July 27 D'Lo Brown Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on August 2.
August 22 Jeff Jarrett SummerSlam
October 17 Chyna No Mercy
December 12 Chris Jericho Armageddon
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Gillberg
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
No title changes
WWF Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Sable
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 10 Debra Raw Is War
June 8 Ivory Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on June 14.
October 17 The Fabulous Moolah No Mercy
October 25 Ivory Raw Is War
December 12 The Kat Armageddon This was a fatal four-way evening gown pool match, also involving Jacqueline and B.B.
WWF European Championship
Incoming champion – X-Pac
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 15 Shane McMahon Raw Is War
March 30 Deactivated Sunday Night Heat Aired on tape delay on April 4.
June 21 Mideon Raw Is War
July 25 D'Lo Brown Fully Loaded
August 22 Jeff Jarrett SummerSlam
August 23 Mark Henry Raw Is War
September 26 D'Lo Brown Unforgiven
October 26 The British Bulldog SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on October 28.
December 12 Val Venis Armageddon This was a Triple Threat match also involving D'Lo Brown.
WWF Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Corporation (Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 25 Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart Raw Is War
March 30 Kane and X-Pac Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on April 5.
May 25 The Acolytes
(Bradshaw and Faarooq)		 Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on May 31.
June 29 The Hardy Boyz
(Matt and Jeff Hardy)		 Raw Is War Aired on tape delay on July 5.
July 25 The Acolytes
(Bradshaw and Faarooq)		 Fully Loaded
August 9 Kane and X-Pac Raw Is War
August 22 The Unholy Alliance
(Big Show and The Undertaker)		 SummerSlam
August 30 The Rock 'n' Sock Connection
(Mankind and The Rock)		 Raw Is War
September 7 The Unholy Alliance
(Big Show and The Undertaker)		 SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on September 9.
September 20 The Rock 'n' Sock Connection
(Mankind and The Rock)		 Raw Is War
September 21 The New Age Outlaws
(Billy Gunn and Road Dogg)		 SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on September 23.
October 12 The Rock 'n' Sock Connection
(Mankind and The Rock)		 SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on October 14.
October 18 The Holly Cousins
(Hardcore and Crash Holly)		 Raw Is War
November 2 Mankind and Al Snow SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on November 4.
November 8 The New Age Outlaws
(Billy Gunn and Road Dogg)		 Raw Is War
WWF Hardcore Championship
Incoming champion – Road Dogg
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 14 Vacant St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House
February 14 Bob Holly St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House
March 15 Billy Gunn Raw Is War
March 28 Hardcore Holly WrestleMania XV This was a triple threat hardcore match also involving Al Snow
April 25 Al Snow Backlash: In Your House
July 25 Big Boss Man Fully Loaded
August 22 Al Snow SummerSlam
August 24 Big Boss Man SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on August 26.
September 7 The British Bulldog SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on September 9.
September 7 Al Snow SmackDown! The British Bulldog awarded the title to Al Snow
Aired on tape delay on September 9.
October 12 Big Boss Man SmackDown! This was a triple threat match also involving Big Show
Aired on tape delay on October 14.

Debuts
  • Uncertain debut date

Retirements

Deaths

See also

References
  1. "1999 Royal Rumble results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  2. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=9794
  3. "King of the Ring 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  4. "Historical Cards: King of the Ring (June 27, 1999. Greensboro, North Carolina)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 151. 2007 Edition.
  5. "Bash at the Beach 1999". Pro Wrestling History. July 11, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. "Road Wild 1999". Pro Wrestling History. August 14, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  7. Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990 - 1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
  8. "Mayhem". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  9. Furious, Arnold (2007-04-14). "The Furious Flashbacks – WCW Starrcade '99". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  10. "1999 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 10, 2000. pp. 2–28. issue 2436.
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