This week in WWE history: One of Vince McMahon's most bizarre decisions, brand new pay-per-view concept (October 14-October 20)
WWE had a strong week. Monday Night RAW primarily focused on building up Crown Jewel in a program that was taped the prior week. SmackDown had a similar focus, alongside the debuts of The Motor City Machine Guns.
Crown Jewel is one of the final two big premium live events planned for 2024, at least as far as the main roster goes. Survivor Series WarGames will air afterward, although the next big show will technically be NXT's Halloween Havoc event next weekend.
Until those big shows come around, fans can reminisce and look back on major matches, moments, and events from the company's past. World Wrestling Entertainment has been around in some form for over 70 years now, meaning there is a long and illustrious history with the promotion.
For those wanting to look down memory lane, you're in luck. This article will take a look at four major events from this week in the company's past, which include two shows from the Attitude Era and two from the Ruthless Aggression Era. What went down?
Below are major matches and moments from this week in WWE history:
#4. The first-ever Tag Team Ladder Match was held at No Mercy on October 17, 1999
The first entry on this list is an event that featured a historic first. WWE held its No Mercy pay-per-view on October 17, 1999, live from the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and 18,000 fans were in attendance for the big show during the prime of the Attitude Era.
The show was notable for a few reasons. Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin clashed in the main event, plus Jeff Jarrett infamously "held up" Vince McMahon and WWE behind the scenes before moving to WCW. Still, the most important and historic part of the night came through a mid-card match.
The New Brood, aka Matt and Jeff Hardy, took on Edge and Christian in a Tag Team Ladder Match for the managerial services of Terri Runnels. What followed was a 16-minute classic. While The Hardys ultimately won, the bout laid the foundation for the creation of the TLC Match in 2000, and it changed the industry forever.
#3. The Undertaker and Kane clashed at Judgment Day on October 18, 1998
The next entry on this list is one of the final In Your House-themed pay-per-views from WWE. The promotion put on In Your House: Judgment Day on October 18, 1998, in front of over 18,000 fans.
The show took place at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago and featured nine main card matches. The main event saw The Undertaker and Kane battle it out for the WWE Championship, with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee.
Vince McMahon had warned The Texas Rattlesnake that if he didn't call the match down the middle, he would be fired. He ultimately didn't, and the match ended in a messy double pinfall. This led to McMahon firing Austin, though Stone Cold returned quickly. Still, the 17-minute main event was quite entertaining.
#2. Vince McMahon wrestled his daughter at No Mercy on October 19, 2003, in an I Quit Match
One of Vince McMahon's most bizarre booking decisions took place on October 19, 2003. WWE No Mercy was held live from the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, on that date, and around 8,500 fans were in attendance.
On this show, the Mr. McMahon character wrestled with his real-life daughter, Stephanie McMahon. Not only did they wrestle, but they did so in an I Quit Loser Gets Fired Match. Stephanie was the WWE SmackDown General Manager at this point.
The two wrestled for almost ten minutes, and it only ended when the elder McMahon was choking his daughter with a steel pipe, only for Linda McMahon to step in and quit on Stephanie's behalf. It was extremely strange and looks only odd in retrospect with the benefit of hindsight.
#1. The first-ever WWE Taboo Tuesday event took place on October 19, 2004
The final entry on this list is one of the most unique pay-per-view concepts in WWE history. The company held the Taboo Tuesday event on October 19, 2004. The show took place at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Just 3,500 fans were in attendance for this unique WWE pay-per-view. This show took place on a Tuesday instead of the weekend, with the theme of each match being voted on by fans. This could mean the competitors involved or even the stipulation of the bout.
The main event of the night featured Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair. The fans voted for the two to clash inside a steel cage. After just around 10 minutes, The Legend Killer defeated his former Evolution stablemate in one of the better matches of the show.