Wrestling

List of WrestleMania 15 Pre-Event Build and Key Storyline Moments

A complete list of every key pre-WM15 media moment and promotional event that built toward WrestleMania 15.

5 itemsUpdated Mar 20, 2026

The road to WrestleMania 15 was one of the most elaborate and politically complex builds in WWF history — featuring multiple McMahon manipulations, a legitimate fighting tournament gone wrong, and The Rock's transformation into the Corporate Champion all contributing to WM15's dramatic landscape.

#	Name	Event	Revelation	Consequence
1	Survivor Series 1998 — Rock Won Deadly Games as McMahon's Man November 15, 1998 — Corporate Rock Created At Survivor Series 1998, Vince McMahon revealed The Rock as his chosen Corporate Champion — manipulating the Deadly Games tournament so Rock (not the exhausted Mankind who had fought through it) won the WWF Championship.	Survivor Series 1998 — November 15, 1998	Rock was McMahon's chosen Corporate Champion — tournament...	Corporate Rock vs. People's Hero Austin = WM15 main event...
2	Buried Alive Match — Austin vs. Undertaker McMahon's Stipulation — Austin Had to Win to Enter Royal Rumble Vince McMahon stipulated that Austin must win a Buried Alive match against The Undertaker to enter the 1999 Royal Rumble — Austin won with Kane's assistance.	Buried Alive Match — Austin vs. Undertaker	—	—
3	Royal Rumble 1999 — Austin #1, McMahon #2, Austin Won January 24, 1999 — Austin Won Despite McMahon's Manipulation Vince McMahon drew Austin as #1 entry in Royal Rumble 1999 — Commissioner HBK made McMahon an active competitor (entering #2) as punishment. Despite a $100,000 bounty, Austin survived the entire Rumble and won, earning the WM15 WWF title shot.	Royal Rumble 1999 — January 24, 1999	—	—
4	St. Valentine's Day Massacre — Austin Vs. McMahon Steel Cage February 14, 1999 — Austin vs. McMahon — Big Show Debut At St. Valentine's Day Massacre on February 14, 1999, Austin faced McMahon in a steel cage — The Big Show (debuting) attacked Austin, appearing to cost him the match, though Austin recovered to win. This was Big Show's WWF debut.	St. Valentine's Day Massacre — February 14, 1999	—	—
5	Mankind Won Right to Referee — Confronted by McMahon Pre-WM Mankind's Shifting Loyalty Created WM15's Referee Intrigue Mankind's shifting allegiance between the McMahon Corporation and Austin created the backstory for his WM15 referee role — his eventual loyalty to Austin provided the dramatic question of whether his counting would be fair.	—	—	His referee role was the central question of whether he w...

This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 20, 2026.

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