#278: Big Show vs. British Bulldog vs. Kane vs. Mankind vs. The Rock vs. Triple H, WWE Unforgiven (9/26/1999).

26 Mar, 2025

This was a Six Pack Challenge Match for the vacant WWE Championship, with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the Special Guest Enforcer.

The build to this match is completely absurd and chaotic, and it can be traced all the way back to Fully Loaded in July. At that event, Triple H defeated The Rock in a Strap Match to become the #1 contender for the WWE Title, while Steve Austin defended the championship against The Undertaker in a First Blood Match, which effectively ended the Corporate Ministry storyline – and exiled Vince McMahon from WWE television forever.

So, the main event of SummerSlam in August was set to be Austin vs. Triple H in the main event. Except, that didn’t quite happen. On the road to the event, Chyna beat Triple H and Undertaker in a Triple Threat Match, and she became the #1 contender. Now, it’s Austin vs. Chyna. Triple H called her an ungrateful bitch, and they ended up battling for the contendership. A returning Mankind attacked Triple H – the same man who injured him with a sledgehammer – and cost him the match. Chyna remained #1 contender, but now Mankind wanted a piece of the action.

So, it became Chyna against Mankind for the contendership. Mankind took the win, but Triple H still wanted a piece of the action. On the go home episode of Raw, Triple H and Mankind faced off for the contendership once and for all. However, thanks to a double pin by the two referees of the match, Shawn Michaels and Shane McMahon, the match was a draw, and Linda McMahon decided that both men would go to SummerSlam to challenge Austin. Oh, and Jesse Ventura was the special referee.

At SummerSlam, Mankind pulled off the surprising win over Austin and Triple H to take his third WWE Title. Post match, Triple H attacked Austin, and sidelined him with a knee injury. The following night on Raw, Triple H threatened to break Jim Ross’ arm, unless Mankind granted him a title shot. Mankind gave him what he wanted, and in the main event, Triple H defeated him to win his first WWE Title.

Over the next few weeks, Triple H would gloat about his title win, and make sure that all of his potential challengers knew that they weren’t good enough for him. Things really heated up on Smackdown, during the Buried Alive Tag Team main event, when Triple H attacked Big Show with the sledgehammer, and then buried Mankind in the grave, which cost him and The Rock the tag titles to Show and Undertaker.

Then, Austin made his glorious return in an ambulance, attacking Triple H and tossing him inside. He then rammed a truck into the ambulance, which nearly ended Triple H’s career. On the following Raw, a lot of stuff happened. Firstly, a Five Way Match between Rock, Mankind, Big Show, Undertaker and Kane was announced, with the winner challenging Triple H at Unforgiven. The match turned into a huge brawl between those five and the locker room, and no winner was declared.

Later in the night, Triple H got in Linda McMahon’s face, and even grabbed her. This led to the on screen return of Vince McMahon, who nearly got into it with The Game. On the following Smackdown, the two ended up having a match for the WWE Championship, and thanks to interference from Austin, Vince became the WWE Champion. On the go home episode of Raw, Vince vacates the championship, as he is attempting to keep his word on keeping out of WWE business.

Austin reminds him that only he can bring Vince back into the fold, and he will do just that – if Vince grants him a WWE Title shot. Vince agrees to those terms, but says that Austin’s title shot will not happen at Unforgiven, but instead at a later date. Instead, Austin will serve as special enforcer to the main event of Unforgiven, since the referees are on strike. Because, yes, that was a thing that was happening at the time.

So, Austin will enforce the first ever Six Pack Challenge, pitting Triple H, Undertaker, Big Show, Mankind, Kane and The Rock against each other to determine a new WWE Champion. As if this match didn’t have enough hoopla surrounding this, on the go home episode of Smackdown, Vince McMahon forced Triple H to compete against all five men in different gimmick matches, and if he didn’t win at least three of them, he’d be out of the Six Pack Challenge.

One of those matches was a Casket Match against Undertaker, but Undertaker refused, as he doesn’t listen to Vince McMahon. Vince threatened to remove him from the match should he not, and Taker simply walked out of the building. This was done to write Taker off of TV due to an injury, and he’d be gone until May of 2000. In his place, was the recently returned British Bulldog, who was back in the WWE following a brief stint in WCW.

So, yeah. That’s the build! This was one of the craziest times in WWE for me as a kid watching. I remember being allowed to stay up late to watch this match, so I have fond memories of it. Let’s see how it’s held up. Also, this match has a fantastic 5 minute video package recapping all the events leading to it from SummerSlam, to the tune of Metal bands Fear Factory and System of a Down – the latter of which uses the song “Sugar.” which is a recent trending song on social media.

Jimmy Korderas, the only WWE referee not to go on strike, will officiate this match, while Austin hovers at ringside. Unlike future Six Pack Challenge matches, the match starts with two in the ring, and four standing on the apron. Jim Ross makes a nice dig at Ric Flair during Austin’s entrance, saying that he’s never heard an ovation like this for any athlete in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nice. Austin takes a seat at commentary to help Ross and Jerry Lawler call the match.

The bell rings, and we start things out with Rock and Bulldog. Rock with multiple strikes to Bulldog in the corner, followed by an irish whip and a clothesline. Bulldog makes his comeback, and he tags in Triple H. The Game goes to work on punching away at The Rock in the ropes. He takes a cheap shot to Kane, and eats a clothesline by The Rock. Flapjack by The Great One, and he gets a nearfall off of it. More punches by the Great One, and here’s Kane with the tag. Kane hits a nice thrust punch to Triple H, then he lifts him up in the air by the throat.

Powerslam by Kane, and he misses the elbow drop. He lands a nice scoop slam on Triple H, then takes a cheap shot to Big Show. Kane goes to the top rope, and Big Show tosses him to the mat. Triple H tags in Mankind, then takes a cheap shot to him. Mankind doesn’t appreciate that, and he beats on Triple H in the corner. Kane hits a nice clothesline to him, and that gets a nearfall. Mankind throws some nice punches to Kane, and then Big Show makes the tag.

He and Kane go at it now, the two biggest men in this match. Show connects with a back breaker on Kane, and he goes for a submission next. Show hits an elbow to Kane’s back, while trash talking The Rock. Kane fires back with a clothesline. He even hits an enziguri to Show, and a dropkick that sends him to the floor. Bulldog tags himself in, and goes to work clubbing away at Kane’s back. Kane fires back with a big boot to the face. Show comes back in, and nails a thrust kick to Kane.

Mankind tags in, and now Mankind and Show fight in the corner. Bulldog tags back in, and tries to attack Mankind, but now The Rock makes the tag in, and he goes to work on Bulldog in the corner. Low blow by Bulldog to Rock, and he follows up with a suplex. Bulldog tags Mankind in, and Mankind quickly tags in Kane, as Mankind doesn’t want to fight his buddy. Kane tries for the Tombstone on Rock, but Rock counters with a Russian Legsweep for 2.

Kane with a huge side walk slam on Rock. Rock sends Kane into Mankind’s boot, and makes the tag to him. Mankind blocks a chokeslam attempt with a low blow, and then hits a piledriver to Kane. He gets a 2 count off of it. Triple H tags in, and punches Mankind to the outside. They brawl up the aisle way, with Triple H hitting a suplex to Mankind on the concrete. Here comes The Rock, who sprints up the aisle and hits a clothesline to Triple H, followed by a punch right to the nuts.

Kane is up there now too, going after Rock, while Big Show attacks the Bulldog. It’s chaos! Mankind sends Triple H into the steel steps, and Rock sends Kane into the guardrail. Mankind drops the steps onto Triple H, while Big Show and the Bulldog brawl around ringside. Mankind with a piledriver to Triple H on the steel steps! And according to Jim Ross, he also got a wedgie! In the ring, Bulldog attacks Mankind in the corner.

Kane sends Rock shoulder first into the other set of steel steps. Mankind holds Bulldog, then tags in the Rock, who attacks Bulldog. Rock takes a cheap shot to Show, then tags in him. He takes another cheap shot to Triple H, and now Kane and Show go at it. Here comes all the referees who are striking. Kane attacks Show in the corner, and Mankind makes the tag in to begin his offense on the big man. Show connects with a back elbow to Mankind.

The referees are heckling at Korderas, as Show lands a powerslam to Mankind. He lands a nice standing elbow drop, and The Rock breaks up the pin attempt. Mankind tags Rock in, and he unloads with strikes to Show. He lands three clotheslines, the latter of which drops him. He covers, and Triple H breaks up the pin attempt. Triple H comes in, and kicks Rock to the outside. Rock takes Austin’s beer and spits it at Triple H’s face!

DDT by Mankind to Kane, and he gets on his back for a sleeper hold. Kane reverses it into the Tombstone, and it connects flush. Kane covers, and Big Show comes in and sends Kane to the outside. Show apparently made a blind tag. He grabs Mankind by the throat, but here’s Kane to take Show out. Bulldog comes in, and hits a running powerslam to Kane. Triple H kicks Bulldog low, and hits the Pedigree. Rock is in now, and he unloads with punches to Triple H.

Mankind surprises Rock, and hits the Double Arm DDT! He pulls Mr. Socko out, and he applies the Mandible Claw on his partner! Rock reverses it, and hits the Rock Bottom out of nowhere. He makes the cover, and Triple H breaks up the pin. Big Show lands a headbutt to Triple H and The Rock, then clotheslines Kane to the outside. Powerslam to Bulldog, and he grabs Mankind for the Chokeslam. He makes the cover, and then the referees pull Korderas to the outside!

They start beating his ass! That’s what he gets for crossing the picket line! Austin leaves commentary and starts attacking all the referees! In the ring, The Rock hits a DDT on Triple H, and here’s Austin to make the count! Triple H is able to kick out, and the entire crowd bit on that nearfall. Big knee to the face by Triple H, as Kane and Bulldog fight on the outside. Triple H kicks Rock down in the corner. Rock fights back and hits the Rock Bottom on Triple H!

He sets up for the People’s Elbow next, and he hits it! Austin counts, but Big Show pulls him out of the ring. Show and Mankind brawl, Bulldog hits Rock with the chair, and Austin returns to the ring to hit Bulldog with the chair, just as Triple H hits the Pedigree on The Rock. Austin reluctantly makes the 3 count, and Triple H has somehow survived this chaos to become a 2 time WWE Champion. Post match, Triple H tries to gloat at Austin, who responds with a Stunner. He ends the PPV by drinking a ton of beer.

This was better than most of the typical Attitude Era PPV main events of the era, as they were able to perfectly weave in all of these different threads to make for a wild main event. I think the tag aspect of this match fucking sucked, and it was an unnecessary element that I’m glad WWE didn’t keep around for future Six Pack Challenges. Austin was hilarious to listen to on commentary, the crowd was hot throughout, and I think everyone got a chance to shine properly. Well, maybe except Kane. I almost forgot he was in this by the end. That’s fine. Glenn Jacobs is a douchebag anyway.

The storyline of the referees being on strike was a crazy thing to be doing around this time, and I like that it played a role in how this match turned out, with everyone beating the hell out of Jimmy Korderas for being a pussy and crossing the picket line. It was also funny to see Austin intervene and beat up all the refs for screwing with the match. This isn’t an all time classic by any means, but as far as Attitude Era matches go, this is certainly one of the more entertaining and easy matches to watch.