The new year didn't start well for the Rock, at Raw is War, January 4, 1999 (taped December 29, 1998) Maivia was forced to take on Mankind in a no DQ match for the title. This was due to Mankind, who had trapped Shane McMahon in a hold, and he wouldn't release until he got the match, which the Corporatin then agreed to.

Later that night the match took place, and it was a hard fought match, which we have become used to from these two.The stairs and interference was the main thing in the match. At one point Maivia hit the Rock Bottom on Mankind through the announcers table and followed up with the Corporate Elbow, but Mankind kicked out at two. Shortly after Mankind gained the advantage, but it didn't last long as Shamrock brained him with a chair. But then Steve Austin made his return and blasted Rocky with a chair, Mankind made the cover and was declared new WWF World Champion.

The next week on Raw is War, the Rock interrupted a interview with Mankind and requested a match against him, but Mankind wouldn't grant him a match, since he felt he had beaten the Rock enough. Maivia then suggested an "I Quit Match," with no Corporate members at ringside, no countout, no DQ's, no stopping the match for excessive blood loss, and no knockouts, which Mankind accepted. Maivia also interfered in a match between Kane and Mankind. Kane had the match won, when Maivia came to the ring and hit Kane causing the DQ, the Rock then hit both men with a chair, before Austin chased him to the back.

At Sunday Night Heat, January 17, 1999, McMahon apologized to the Rock for making the Mankind vs. Kane title match from Raw is War, January 11. The Rock then made fun of Kane, but the Rock got something coming his way, as Shawn Michaels had ordered a match between Maivia and Kane at Raw is War the next day.

Before the Rock took on Kane at Raw is War, he interfered in a match between Mankind and the Big Boss Man, first he drilled Mankind with a chair shot and then followed up with a Rock Bottom on the chair. The McMahon's and the Rock thought thay they could tell Kane what to do during the match, but they were wrong. The Rock used the old "finger of death" maneuver and Kane fell down, but when Vince told Kane to stay down, he flicked him off, this brought the rest of Team Corporate to attack Kane, but Maivia told them to leave, since he wanted to wrestle. When Kane got the advantage again, Team Corporate attacked again, then Mankind made it to the ring and deliverd chair shots to Team Corporate. The Rock went for the hills, but Steve Austin then entered the arena, which got the Rock to stop and he tasted the steel.

At Sunday Night Heat before the Royal Rumble, Mankind had to fight a mystery opponent to soften him up for the Rock. The mystery opponent was Mabel, but he failed to get the job done, so the Rock ran in and attacked Mankind. During the match Mankind had the Mandible Claw on Maivia, but the result was that the Rock was too out of it to say I Quit. Rumors about Foley topping his fall at King of the Ring proved to be right, during the I Quit Match both men used a ladder to climb up on a balcony, the Rock made it up and over the railing and then punched Foley, who fell off the ladder and onto a circuit board, taking the lights out with him as he tumbled amid the sparks. Shane McMahon tried to stop the match, but the Rock continued and put handcuffs on Mankind. But Mankind just wouldn't quit even though Maivia whacked him 11 times with a chair, which knocked him out, eventually the Rock thrusted a microphone into Mankind's mouth and a disembodied voice that sounded like Foley said I Quit, I Quit, I Quit. The Rock thereby became World Champion for a second time. In the battle royal the Rock also made his presence felt, when Austin was manhandling Vince McMahon, the Rock came to ringside and started talking trash to Austin, McMahon eliminated Austin and won the battle royal.

The next night at Raw is War, Vince stated that he would step down as the number one contender for the Rock's WWF World Title, but unfortunately the commissioner Shawn Michaels picked Steve Austin. Triple H challenged the Rock to an I Quit Match. Later that night Maivia accepted the match with Triple H, but his monologue was interrupted by Mankind, who stated that he never said I Quit at the Rumble and that he wanted a rematch with the Rock at Halftime Heat in an empty arena with no fans in it, which the Rock accepted. During the match with Hunter, who clearly had the Rock's number, Team Corporate made it out with Chyna and stated that if Triple H didn't say I Quit, she would be chokeslammed by Kane, this gave another win for the Rock.

The match against Mankind was taped on January 26, but was aired on January 31. Mankind had the control in the start of the match, but the Rock made it out of the ring, where Vince McMahon distracted Mankind by talking to him. Maivia then got the advantage and battled Mankind up some stairs before the Rock kicked him down. They continued fighting in the kitchen area, where the Rock threw Mr. Socko and Mankind in an oven. The match then spilled into the loading bay section, here Mankind regained the advantage and put the Mandible Claw on the Rock, who passed out, Mankind then used a fork lift to place a crate, which was filled with kegs, on the Rock. Mankind then sat on top of the kegs, while the referee counted to three, which meant good bye to the WWF World Title.

The next night at Raw is War Mankind gave away some of the Rock's money to fellow wrestlers, this upset the Rock, who then challenged Mankind to a Last Man Standing Match to take place at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, February 14, which Mankind accepted. At Raw is War, February 8, aired in the USA on February 13, the Rock defeated Steve Blackman.

At St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the Rock and Mankind once again put on a great show, before the pay-per-view event the Rock attacked Mankind. The match spilled back and forth with some great spots, which included a DDT by Mankind on the Rock through a table, suplexes on the concrete floor by Maivia, and the Rock throwing the ring steps down on Mankind's legs. During the match Maivia also did some commentating and sang his own version of the Hearbreak Hotel, which was called the Smackdown Hotel. The end of the match came when Mankind went for the Mandible Claw, Rocky repsonded with the Rock Bottom, both men then got a chair and whacked each other which knocked them silly the referee then counted to ten and the match was declared a draw. After the match both were puth on a stretcher.

The next night at Raw is War, the Rock and Vince McMahon convinced commissioner Shawn Michaels to grant the Rock a match against Mankind, since no winner was declared at the pay-per-view. Shawn granted the match and declared that it would be a Ladder Match. The match took place later that night and the Great One continued his assault on Mankind's injured leg. The Rock also planted Mankind through a table with the Rock Bottom before they made it into the ring, where both men climbed the Ladder. Mankind then slapped on the Mandible Claw, so the Rock had to climb downward, but then Paul Wight came to the ring and he chokeslammed Mankind from the ladder and to the mat. The Great One then retrieved the belt and was declared WWF World Champion for a third time. When the show went of the air, Steve Austin used the Stone Cold Stunner on Maivia.

At Raw is War, February 22, the Rock and Paul Wight got into an arguement regarding Wight helping the Rock. Mankind then appeared an offered to referee the match, Wight then challenged the Rock, who accepted. When the match was about to take place the Rock and Wight teamed up to beat Mankind, McMahon the entered the ring and hit Mankind.

Maivia didn't do much at the Raw is War show, March 1, but he did have the time to defeat the Road Dogg. At Sunday Night Heat the Rock's problems with Paul Wight continued and culminated when the Rock called out Wight, the two were about to get it on when Austin's entrance music played - the Rock then ordered Wight to the entrance, but Austin came through the crowd and hit the Rock with the Stunner.

The problems between the Rock and Paul Wight continued at the following night at Raw is War. During a match between Austin and Mankind officiated by Wight, where the special stipulation was that if Mankind won the match he would be the referee in the showdown between Maivia and Austin at WrestleMania. During the match Austin was on the outside of the ring and Wight counted him out fast, which upset the Rock and also McMahon questioned Wight's motives.

At Sunday Night Heat, March 14, the Rock clearly stated that he was sick and tired of Paul Wight as he gave him three seconds to leave the ring, Wight was then about to deliver the chokeslam, but Mankind attacked Wight. A little while later Austin made his ways out and mentioned that he and Wight could be in cahoots together, which left McMahon and the Rock thinking. Wight then started to shook the ring while the Great One was inside.

The friction between the Great One and Vince McMahon blew out of control the next night on Raw is War, here McMahon accused the Rock for not being grateful for the things McMahon had done for his family. Vince also blasted Paul Wight, but McMahon ended up apologising to both and putting them together in a tag match against Austin and Mankind. Wight and the Rock dominated Mankind until Austin made his way to the ring, Austin then drove Maivia through the announcers table with an elbow.

Sunday Night Heat, March 21, the Rock became paranoid as he wasn't pleased with the rest of Team Corporate and insulted them and then stated that he wanted a match against the Big Boss Man. The match took place later in the show, during the match the Ministry of Darkness attacked the Boss Man - the Rock then left but was confronted by the Undertaker at the entrance.

The next night at Raw is War, Vince McMahon appointed the Rock to be the referee in the match between Steve Austin and Paul Wight, this brought out Mankind, who wanted a match for the spot. The Rock wouldn't grant it, but when Mankind showed him a letter from commissioner Shawn Michaels, the Great One didn't have a choice, later Austin soaked the Great One with beer. When the match took place the Great One and the Deranged One brawled as usual, during the match the referee got knocked out, which brought down Paul Wight, he chokeslammed Mankind, but the referee saw it and disqualified the Rock. After the main event between Austin and Wight, the Rock got some revenge from the soaking when he planted Austin with a Rock Bottom.

At Sunday Night Heat before WrestleMania it was announced that the main event between the Great One and Steve Austin would be a no DQ match. When the match took place the Great One had the initiative for the most part of the match and punished Austin with several damaging blows to the leg. The referees also got their shares of wicked punches from both competitors. Eventually Vince McMahon made it to ringside and distracted Austin - the Rock then followed up with a low blow and a Rock Bottom. Mankind then ejected McMahon - the Rock went for the Peoples Elbow but missed and wanted to follow up with a second Rock Bottom but Austin eluded him and caught him with the Stunner for the three count.

The next night at Raw is War the Rock defeated Billy Gunn and continued his feud with Austin, as the Rock came prancing with Austin's custom made World Title, this evolved into a brawl where the Great One clocked Austin with the belt, the rest of Team Corporate then helped in the stomping, but Paul Wight came to make the save.

At Raw is War, April 5, the Great One along with Triple H took on Paul Wight in a handicap match, but even with the two against one, Wight was able to dominate. Maivia and HHH got themselves disqualified, when Chyna delivered a low blow to Wight. Austin then made his presence felt as he stunned both the Rock and Triple H.

(04/99)