[1999-11-22-WWF-Raw] The Rock & ?? vs Big Show & Prince Albert

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Rock has no tag team partner for the main event. He's now the top star and the fans absolutely LOVE him. Rock reveals that there's only one partner he trusts - The People. He goes it alone against both guys and the crowd is incredibly hot for him. Finally, Mankind comes out and stands in Rock's corner after Rock is getting pummeled. What a great storyline! He finally makes the tag and Mick cleans house. Mankind holds Boss Man at bay with the mandible claw while Rock finishes off Albert with the People's Elbow. Such an amazing feel-good segment that this company used to do so well. Rock is still skeptical of Mankind. The booking is so much better now.

[Tim Evans]

I don't remember Albert with Bossman at all. Nice to see him in a big time match. The crowd is absolutely bonkers for Rock. This is probably his peak time in the company. Mankind's save was excellent. Good stuff all around.

[tim]

Really fun segment. It kind of feels like this whole arc could set up a Mankind/Rock feud with Mankind as the heel, which would have been interesting. It especially felt that way a month ago with Foley sulking over Rock throwing away his book. I wonder if that was ever the intended direction.

[PeteF3]

Yes, Foley absolutely wanted to turn heel on Rock at some point, but it took too long for Rock's character to budge (he had to grow to like him first before there could be a turn) and Vince didn't have faith in Foley physically to pull it off. Anyway, this is a really fun and energetic match that shows what a megastar Rock was becoming--it's not like BBM and Albert had all that much heat even with the Big Show father angle and the semi-desperate pinning of Rock the previous week, but this crowd is treating them as main eventers simply because of who their opponent is.