clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

On this date in WWF history: The gruesome 'I Quit' match between Mankind and The Rock

One of the most brutally grotesque "I Quit" matches to take ever place went down on this date in WWF history when The Rock went overboard with a chair on Mankind's skull at the Royal Rumble.

On January 24, 1999, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) unleashed its annual Royal Rumble event from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. Vince McMahon would embrace his heel persona and put himself over as the winner, but that's not why this date in WWF history is worth noting.

Not even close.

That's because Mick Foley and The Rock would engage in the now-infamous "I Quit" match for the WWF title in the main event, which helped throw back the curtain on what took place that night thanks to Barry Blaustein's Beyond the Mat documentary.

Wrestling is fake? Watch the reaction from Foley's wife and kids during any one of his 11 unprotected chairshots.

The Rock would go on to win the bout (and the title) over an unconscious Mankind by playing a recording of his opponent's voice over the public address system, using the phrase "I Quit" from an earlier broadcast.

See the gruesome bout in its entirety:


The footage from Beyond the Mat:

How about it Cagesiders, too far, even for the "Attitude" era? Or a necessary evil to put these guys over?

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Cageside Seats Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of all your pro wrestling news from Cageside Seats