Survivor Series (1999) - Background

Background

Survivor Series featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that were played out on Raw is War and SmackDown—World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain or a hero as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The main rivalry heading into the event was between Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock over the WWF Championship. At No Mercy, Rock defeated British Bulldog in a standard wrestling match. Later that night, Rock challenged the winner of the WWF Championship Anything Goes match between Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin for the title. After issuing the challenge, Rock was attacked by Triple H through a sledgehammer. Later that night, Triple H defeated Austin to retain the title. On October 18, 1999 episode of Raw is War, Rock challenged Triple H to a match for the title at Survivor Series, because Rock was angered at the previous night's attack. Austin also issued a challenge and claimed that he deserved a title shot instead of Rock. The WWF Chairman Vince McMahon solved the situation by making a Triple Threat match between Triple H, Austin and Rock for the WWF Championship.

Another predominant rivalry heading into the event was between New Age Outlaws (Mr. Ass and Road Dogg) and Al Snow and Mankind for the WWF Tag Team Championship. On October 18 episode of Raw is War, Mick Foley gave his Rock 'n' Sock Connection partner Rock, a copy of his book "Have A Nice Day!". However, later that night, the same copy was discovered by Al Snow in a trashcan. He informed Foley about it. Foley confronted Rock about it. Rock denied doing so but Foley broke up the Rock 'n' Sock Connection. Later that night, Foley cost Rock and himself, the Tag Team Championship against The Hollys (Hardcore and Crash) by coming out for the match without wearing Mankind gear and leaving Rock to wrestle on his own. This allowed Hollys to defeat Rock and win the titles. On October 21 episode of SmackDown, Mankind and Rock had a match which ended in a disqualification when Val Venis interfered and attacked Mankind with his book. On October 25 episode of Raw is War, Mankind wrestled Triple H for the WWF Championship. Triple H was disqualified when Venis assaulted Mankind again, earning Mankind, a disqualification win. However, Al Snow came out to rescue Mankind from the assault. On October 28 episode of SmackDown, Mankind defeated Venis after distraction from Snow. As a result, Mankind and Snow formed a tag team. On November 4 episode of SmackDown, Mankind and Snow defeated The Hollys to win the Tag Team Championship. On November 8 episode of Raw is War, New Age Outlaws defeated Mankind and Snow for the Tag Team Championship. This led to a title match between New Age Outlaws and Mankind and Snow for the Tag Team Championship.

At No Mercy, Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett in a Good Housekeeping match to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. On October 18 episode of Raw is War, Chyna issued an open challenge to any wrestler for the Intercontinental Championship. Chris Jericho answered the challenge and insulted Chyna, prompting Chyna to attack him. After weeks of involvement by Stevie Richards in Chyna and Jericho's rivalry, it was announced by Jericho on November 8 episode of Raw is War that he would wrestle Chyna for the Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series.

On the October 18 episode of Raw is War, Big Boss Man challenged The Big Show to a match and agreed to defend the WWF Hardcore Championship. The Big Show accepted the challenge. However, before the match occurred, The Big Show was told by a police officer that his father had died (in storyline). As a result, The Big Show left the arena to check on his father. It was later revealed to be a plan of Boss Man and the police officer. On the October 21 episode of SmackDown, an enraged The Big Show attempted to attack Boss Man but Boss Man escaped. The Big Show then assaulted the police officer. On the October 25 episode of Raw is War, Boss Man distracted The Big Show during his match with Prince Albert. Albert attacked The Big Show from behind and Boss Man broke The Big Show's father's watch with a hammer. As a result, Boss Man and Albert formed a new alliance. On the October 28 episode of SmackDown, Al Snow had a match with Boss Man. However, Boss Man's ally, Albert continuously interfered in the match and the two attacked Snow, leading him to challenge both men to a Hardcore match in the parking lot. Later that night, Boss Man and Albert went to the parking lot to wrestle Snow but instead of Snow, The Big Show appeared. He trapped Boss Man and Albert in a car and smashed it into pieces and pushed a dumpster on the top of the car. On the November 1 episode of Raw is War, Boss Man and Albert interrupted an interview of The Big Show and attacked him. On the November 8 episode of Raw is War, a tribute was paid to The Big Show's father on his death. Boss Man came out and insulted The Big Show and his father. On the November 11 episode of SmackDown, a footage was shown of The Big Show's father's funeral, in which Boss Man interrupted the funeral and ruined it by attacking The Big Show and ruining his father's grave. This led to a Survivor Series match between a team captained by The Big Show and a team captained by Boss Man. The Big Show's team consisted of Kai En Tai (Funaki and Taka Michinoku) and Blue Meanie and Boss Man's team consisted of Prince Albert, Viscera and Mideon. On the November 14 episode of Sunday Night Heat, The Big Show attacked all of his team members and was the only remaining member of his team, making it a 4-on-1 Survivor Series match.

At No Mercy, the New Brood (Matt and Jeff Hardy) defeated Edge and Christian in a Ladder match, which was the final round match of a tournament, in which the winning team earned the managerial services of Terri Runnels and received $100,000. However, on the October 18 episode of Raw is War, New Brood announced that they were no longer part of Gangrel's faction and turned into fan favorites. They reverted their tag team name back to Hardy Boyz. Edge and Christian ended their rivalry with Hardy Boyz by showing them respect and formed an alliance with Hardy Boyz. On the October 21 episode of SmackDown, The Hollys defeated Hardy Boyz to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. On the October 25 episode of Raw is War, Hollys defended the Tag Team Championship against Edge and Christian. Edge and Christian had almost won the match until Too Cool (Grand Master Sexay and Scotty Too Hotty) returned and interfered in the match, costing Edge and Christian, their title shot. Hardy Boyz came out to rescue Edge and Christian and the four wrestlers cleared the ring of Too Cool and Hollys. This led to the formation of a villainous alliance of Too Cool and Hollys. As a result, the teams of Edge and Christian and Hardy Boyz began a rivalry with Too Cool and Hollys, as the four teams battled each other in several tag team matches and standard wrestling matches, leading to a Survivor Series match at Survivor Series.

On the October 18 episode of Raw is War, The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) distracted Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) during their match against X-Pac and Kane, costing Dudley Boyz, the match. On the October 25 episode of Raw is War, Dudley Boyz made fun of The Godfather's hos for being attacked by Viscera, after Viscera defeated Godfather in a "Winner Takes Hos" match. The following week on Raw is War, The Headbangers defeated Dudley Boyz in a tag team match. On the November 11 episode of SmackDown, Dudley Boyz defeated Godfather and D'Lo Brown. It led to a Survivor Series match pitting Dudley Boyz and Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) against Headbangers, Godfather and Brown.

At No Mercy, X-Pac defeated Kane, Faarooq and Bradshaw in a Four Corners Elimination match. As a result of losing to X-Pac, Kane started showing jealousy towards X-Pac and their team started to breakup. On the October 28 episode of SmackDown, X-Pac betrayed Kane during a tag team match against Dudley Boyz by low blowing Kane and allowing Dudley Boyz to pin Kane for the win. After the match, X-Pac proclaimed that Kane did not deserve to be a member of D-Generation X, a faction that X-Pac was a part of during that time. On the November 1 episode of Raw is War, the entirety of DX attacked Kane during a match between Kane and X-Pac. This led to a match between Kane and X-Pac at Survivor Series.

At No Mercy, Mae Young helped her friend The Fabulous Moolah in defeating Ivory to win the WWF Women's Championship. On the October 21 episode of SmackDown, Moolah defended the Women's Championship against Young, but Ivory interfered in the match and attacked both Moolah and Young. Jacqueline and Luna joined Ivory in the assault and Tori came out and joined Young and Moolah. On the October 25 episode of Raw is War, Moolah decided to vacate her title and retire from professional wrestling. However, Ivory reminded Moolah of her rematch clause and easily defeated Moolah for the Women's Championship. On the November 11 episode of SmackDown, it was announced that the team of Ivory, Jacqueline, Luna and Terri Runnels would wrestle the team of Moolah, Young, Tori and Debra at Survivor Series.

Throughout November 1999, vignettes aired that hyped the WWF debut of Kurt Angle who represented the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling. It was announced that Angle would make his WWF debut at Survivor Series.