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Jan. 4, 1999 - The night that changed wrestling: photos
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* R2 Z3 b% Y$ J3 X% ZNorman Smiley battled Chavo Guerrero on the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Nitro.
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In a match between two future WWE Superstars, Chris Jericho faced off with Perry Saturn on the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Nitro.
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* U: U+ a ] ~' ]8 K% y" H/ L![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/16_Nitro_01041999_0168.jpg)
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![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/17_Nitro_01041999_0115.jpg)
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+ J! H+ w/ G+ F4 E. v/ w0 o![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/18_Nitro_01041999_0187.jpg)
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On the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Nitro, WCW TV Champion Scott Steiner took on Konnan with Buff Bagwell looking on. u9 u& G2 ]+ e
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Bagwell made his presence felt during the matchup.( |9 [4 O3 i2 H7 }- o0 L
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$ ^9 G1 m9 E7 }. r5 o+ oTwo powerhouses, Bam Bam Bigelow and Wrath, collided on Nitro on Jan. 4, 1999.
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Brian Adams, formerly known as Crush in WWE, took on Diamond Dallas Page on the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Nitro.$ C$ o/ D8 r+ z- t# Y0 s6 [
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In the infamous Nitro main event on Jan. 4, 1999, Kevin Nash defended the WCW Championship against Hollywood Hogan.1 ~: S/ w7 z0 _2 r
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In a moment that became known as the "Fingerpoke of Doom," Hogan touched Nash in the chest and pinned Big Sexy to win the title.( c! d* t/ P/ j- g0 w$ A0 t
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2 S+ w5 C. [; A; pGoldberg, who had been arrested earlier in the evening, returned to the Georgia Dome and attached the newly reformed nWo.
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* H$ s/ @$ ~) H! V![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/07_Nitro_01041999_0087.jpg)
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The nWo soon overpowered Goldberg as Nitro went off the air.1 L# H0 z9 g9 B& ?- p: Y1 a8 c3 j; H9 D
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Off the air, Goldberg stood tall with members of the Atlanta Falcons on the Nitro stage.
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![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/30_RAW_12291998_0011.jpg)
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* h& |% Z9 d0 K! d, ROn the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Raw, the show began with Shawn Michaels and D-Generation X confronting Mr. McMahon's Corporation.
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" v: D( t8 z7 T8 J6 m8 @; s. D" ^![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/34_RAW_12291998_0044.jpg)
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Mankind was forced to battle Triple H to earn entry into the Royal Rumble Match.
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Z0 W3 a g+ I5 \2 U, e![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/37_RAW_12291998_0055.jpg)
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! v B: q b8 M( e, kMankind lost due to referee Shane McMahon's sleazy officiating, but took The Boy Wonder hostage after the bout and demanded a WWE Title Match against The Rock for later that night.
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, E# h7 H; B5 O/ o9 L/ s; gFuture WWE Champion Edge took on D'Lo Brown on the Jan. 4, 1999, edition of Raw.
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* L S% v6 S6 C9 _![](http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2013/01/25_RAW_12291998_0007.jpg)
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* m- ]2 q& y# B7 G: H( X+ wOn Jan. 4, 1999, Road Dogg successfully defended the Hardcore Championship against Al Snow on Raw.
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0 `( L! [, t6 BIn the main event, Mankind met The Rock for the WWE Championship in a No Disqualification Match.. B! o. Y3 D; e2 ~
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; t( a* \8 H) k"Stone Cold" Steve Austin appeared late in the matchup, nailing The Brahma Bull with a steel chair.2 C3 q/ j% K* n- Q) i
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& Y; |: r0 A: `The devastating blow enabled Mankind to pin The Rock and win the WWE Championship for the first time.
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