The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 8

Stone Cold Steve Austin (March 28, 1999 - May 23, 1999)

Stone Cold holds the WWE and Smoking Skull Championship belts aloft

WrestleMania XV: The Rock versus Stone Cold Steve Austin.

That was a marquee match like no other and became the most financially successfully headline attraction in WWE history.

After Stone Cold won his third WWE Championship, he would meet The Rock again in a re-match at Backlash 1999, on April 25, 1999. That contest was superior to their WrestleMania collision. Fought under No Holds Barred rules, the pair engaged in a terrific all round the arena brawl.

The Austin/Rock magic was still there at the box office, with the B show pulling in a massive 398,000 orders on pay per view.

With Rock vanquished, Stone Cold moved on to face old foe, The Undertaker in the main event of Over The Edge held on May 23, 1999.

That card will forever be remembered for the tragic demise of Owen Hart, who was tragically killed when he fell 90 feet from the ceiling after his safety harness opened prematurely.

For that reason, this Stone Cold/Undertaker match is barely remembered or discussed. In truth, the pair contested a pedestrian bout by their standards under the shadow of the tragedy. They would contest much improved encounters the following month on Raw and at Fully Loaded in July.