# Survivor Series (1999)
Survivor Series (1999) was the 13th annual [Survivor Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/survivor-series) professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), held on November 14, 1999 at [Joe Louis Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-louis-arena) in Detroit, Michigan. It is remembered chiefly for its main event, in which [Big Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-show) defeated Triple H and The Rock in a Triple Threat match to win the WWF Championship, and for the hit-and-run angle that removed "Stone Cold" Steve Austin from the advertised main event.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | November 14, 1999, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan[1](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999) |
| Reported attendance | 18,735[1](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999) |
| Main event | Big Show def. Triple H and The Rock in a Triple Threat match to win the WWF Championship[2](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent) |
| Austin replacement | Steve Austin was originally slated for the main event but was hit by a car prior to the event; Big Show was revealed as the mystery replacement only when the match began[2](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent) |
| Debut | Kurt Angle made his WWF debut, defeating Shawn Stasiak[3](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/survivorseries/survivorseries99/) |
| Other title matches | Chyna retained the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho; the New Age Outlaws retained the Tag Team Championship against Mankind and Al Snow[1](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999) |
| Critical standing | Cagematch places the event a little above four out of ten; retrospective reviewers scored it around 4.5 out of 10 or a D+[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/) |
## The main event and the Austin angle
The advertised main event was a WWF Championship Triple Threat match with champion [Triple H](https://www.edgepedia.org/triple-h) facing The Rock and Steve Austin. Austin was hit by a car prior to the event, and it was ruled that a mystery man would occupy the vacant slot; the replacement was not revealed to be Big Show until the match began[2](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent). This was the first time a Triple Threat Match headlined a Survivor Series[2](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent).
In the match, The Rock and Triple H briefly joined forces against Big Show and suplexed him through an announce table. After a series of reversals and run-ins, including [Shane McMahon](https://www.edgepedia.org/shane-mcmahon) taking over as referee and Mr. McMahon striking Triple H, Big Show hit the Chokeslam for the win and his first [WWE Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-championship)[2](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent).
The creative choice was rooted in Austin's actual health: because the WWF had to take its top star out of action for an operation, the hit-and-run storyline supplied a compelling reason for his departure and set up a whodunit that could play out while he was away. As pay-per-view value, it meant the company advertised Austin in a marquee championship match and then replaced him after the show was already underway[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/).
## Big Show's night
Before the main event, Big Show won a 4-on-1 handicap elimination match against [Big Boss Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-boss-man), Prince Albert, Mideon, and Viscera, pinning Mideon at 0:18, Albert at 0:30, and Viscera at 0:55 before Boss Man was counted out at 1:27[3](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/survivorseries/survivorseries99/). The win established his power, but the show spent little time connecting him to Triple H or The Rock before the main event, so the title change felt shocking before it felt earned[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/).
## Kurt Angle's debut
[Kurt Angle](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-angle), the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, made his WWF debut on this card, defeating [Shawn Stasiak](https://www.edgepedia.org/shawn-stasiak) with an Olympic Slam at 5:54[3](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/survivorseries/survivorseries99/) • [5](https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2010/09/09/wwf-survivor-series-1999-11141999/).
## Other matches
Chyna defeated [Chris Jericho](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-jericho) by pinfall to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship, with the finish coming on a low blow and a top-rope Pedigree; reviewers have called the finish pure 1999 excess but noted it preserved Chyna's championship reign[1](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999) • [4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/). Kane defeated X-Pac by disqualification in their grudge match, a bout sacrificed to interference before it could become satisfying[1](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999) • [4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/).
The final traditional elimination match saw The Hollys and [Too Cool](https://www.edgepedia.org/too-cool) defeat Edge, Christian, and The Hardy Boyz, with [Hardcore Holly](https://www.edgepedia.org/hardcore-holly) as the sole survivor; [Jeff Hardy](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-hardy)'s 450 splash was the standout visual[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/). An eight-woman tag in which The Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Tori, and Debra defeated Ivory, Jacqueline, Luna, and Terri has been described as reflecting the era's dismissive treatment of women's wrestling[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/).
## Critical assessment
The critical record is consistent about the gap between the event's historical importance and its wrestling quality. Cagematch currently places the event a little above four out of ten, with recent comments identifying Chyna against Jericho, Angle's debut, and the younger tag-team talent as the useful material. J.D. Dunn scored the event 4.5 and called the card poor, while later Thomas Hall retrospectives settled around a D+ overall assessment. Scott Keith's retrospective described the show as mediocre, Wrestling Recaps landed at C-, and WhatCulture placed it near the bottom of WWF's 1999 pay-per-view slate[4](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/).
## References
1. [WWF Survivor Series 1999 Full Results & Match Card, The SmackDown Hotel](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-survivor-series-1999)
2. [Main Event, WWE.com (Survivor Series 1999)](https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/1999/mainevent)
3. [WWE Survivor Series 1999, Online World of Wrestling](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/survivorseries/survivorseries99/)
4. [Survivor Series 1999 Review & Final Grade, WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/events/survivor-series-1999/)
5. [WWF Survivor Series 1999 11/14/1999, Wrestling Recaps](https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2010/09/09/wwf-survivor-series-1999-11141999/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › Survivor Series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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