Fully Loaded 1999: Austin vs Taker - First Blood

[héad.casé]

I remember loving this match so much. A First Blood Match for the WWF Title. If Austin lost, he could never again wrestle for the WWF Title, if Taker lost, Vince McMahon was gone (I think they made it clear that he was just gone from TV, not the company). They really built this as the end of the McMahon/Austin rivalry whatever happened with the "End of an Era" tagline. I think it was the end for a while. Am I right in remembering that Austin was the only one who could have Vince appear on TV again by waiving the stipulation a few months later when Vince turned face?

Anyway, this match was an awesome brawl. Typical overbooked finish with Shane O'Mac getting involved, X-Pac kicking a chair into Taker's face. I however didn't like that Taker lost the match by Hebner waking up from a ref bump, seeing Taker's bloody face as he has Austin in position for a Tombstone. Maybe it was to protect Taker in defeat, but Taker didn't need protecting. Still love it though.

[Deleted]

Speaking of first blood matches, when was the last one? Has there been one since Angle/Cena?

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2013 16:52:25 GMT -5 @dax said:

Speaking of first blood matches, when was the last one? Has there been one since Angle/Cena?

I believe the last one was John Cena vs JBL from One Night Stand 2008, a month before WWE went PG.

[Deleted]

The whole thing with Austin being busted open on Heat makes the match make no sense since the slightest touch should have him bleeding all over again, but that's easily enough ignored and if you do put that out of mind it's a damn fine match. Which for that point in time with Taker was weird. The train wreck with Rock the month prior's a good example of what was more typical at the time, though then, I think he was working injured so it makes sense and his gimmick was probably at its most awesome.

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2013 17:19:58 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

The whole thing with Austin being busted open on Heat makes the match make no sense since the slightest touch should have him bleeding all over again, but that's easily enough ignored and if you do put that out of mind it's a damn fine match. Which for that point in time with Taker was weird. The train wreck with Rock the month prior's a good example of what was more typical at the time, though then, I think he was working injured so it makes sense and his gimmick was probably at its most awesome.

yeah, if I'm not mistaken he was working through a pretty bad groin injury around that time.

[JTG Fan]

I have a soft spot for the match because Fully Loaded 99 was one of the first WWF VHS' I ever bought and I watched it a thousand times. I love Taker's line from the video package "What it is I want, is your blood" and Vince's reaction at the commentary table to Shane taking a steel chair to the skull. But I just don't think the match is very good. Taker and Austin just could never connect at the right time in their careers despite both of their immense talent. Taker was just awful in the ring in 1999. SummerSlam 98 was probably their best chance for a great match together (their A Cold Day in Hell match was good, but not really great in my book), but Austin got knocked loopy in the first minute and ruined any chance of that.

[crowwreak was WRONG]

It's a lot better than the Austin vs Kane "Holy cow we managed to book a guy who wears a mask and a full body suit in a First Blood match for the WWE title we really suck at thinking things through" match

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2013 7:19:07 GMT -5 crowwreak was WRONG said:

It's a lot better than the Austin vs Kane "Holy cow we managed to book a guy who wears a mask and a full body suit in a First Blood match for the WWE title we really suck at thinking things through" match

And then to boot, "Holy shit, we had him promise to set himself on fire if he loses, what the hell are we going to do?!"

[Kayfabe FAN don't want none]

The chairshot Shane O'Mac took was brutal as hell.

[4real]

This match features one of the most obvious bladejobs ever by Austin in the aftermatch brawl.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

First WWF PPV I ever saw. It was on VHS. And whoever was watching it kept swapping between the PPV and Television X. Or that might have been KOTR 99. I genuinely remember the porn more vividly.