20 Years Ago Today, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Received Arguably The Biggest Pop In History When He Helped Mankind Win The WWF Championship

Today, January 4th, 2019, marks the twentieth anniversary of one of the greatest underdog championship wins in professional history – and with that, one of the most monstrous crowd pops that ears have ever heard.

After Tony Schiavone spoiled Mankind’s first WWF Championship win, openly mocking it on the live WCW Monday Nitro broadcast going head-to-head with a pre-taped Monday Night RAW, stating…

“If you’re even thinking about changing the channel, fans, do NOT. We understand that Mick Foley – who wrestled here as Cactus Jack – is going to win their world title! Ha! That’ll puts some butts in seats!”

…it was no surprise to the viewers at home what would unfold on-screen. How it unfolded, however, was a different story, and a story that many wrestling fans were interested in. An estimated 600,000 viewers did exactly what Schiavone urged them not to, and changed the channel in an event largely considered one of the most drastic turning points in the Monday Night War of the late 90’s, proving Mankind to indeed, put butts in seats.

When the odds were stacked against Mankind and all hope was starting to fade, one sound united the entire world.

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The sound of glass shattering.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin received just about the loudest pop in professional wrestling history, clocked The Rock over the head with a steel chair, and dragged Mankind’s near-lifeless body over the defending champ for a count of three.

Michael Cole delivered a now iconic call, shouting, “Mankind has achieved his dream, and the dreams of everyone else who’s been told ‘You can’t do it’!”, and the war with WCW was practically over.

When wrestling is at it’s best, there’s nothing better. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, and always stand by that.