BANK ON HISTORY #9 - Mideon Unretires The WWF European Championship
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
A few months ago, after writing my BANK ON HISTORY about Chris Jericho’s one day reign as WWF European Champion, I got to thinking about the history of that particular belt.
My goodness, as it came to how certain individuals became titleholders, it might actually be the most convoluted and outrageous championship of all time.
For the five year legacy of the title, examples of European Championship victories include being awarded the title after beating an “imposter” (Owen Hart), in a tag team match (Shane McMahon), handed off to (Mark Henry), and in a match that was actually cut from a SmackDown broadcast in 2001 and had never been seen until 22 years later on a Facebook post. (Christian).
However, there might be one European Championship “victory” that really takes the cake.
We go back to the Summer of 1999, during the peak of the Attitude Era, when Mideon was awarded, and subsequently unretired, the European Title because he couldn’t hold up his pants
Go with me here, it’s a wild ride.
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The story began on April 4, 1999, on the first Sunday Night Heat following WrestleMania XV.
Shane McMahon, fresh off a European Title defense against X-Pac, loaded with interference from Test, the Mean Street Posse, and the heel turn of Triple H, decided to up the ante and make a surprising decision regarding the title.
“As a competitor in the World Wrestling Federation, I have absolutely nothing else to prove. I am undefeated and have an unblemished record. So therefore, and it pains me to say this, but after much contemplation, after much sleepless nights, I am officially retiring the World Wrestling Federation European Championship title. It is…no more.”
He took the belt off from around his waist and laid it on the canvas, with an approving Triple H, two time former titleholder, Chyna, and the Rock looking on.
For more than two months, the championship remained out of sight, out of mind. The WWF, in the midst of its hottest period, kept moving forward. The Corporation, now under Shane McMahon, merged with the Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness to form the superpower Corporate Ministry, while feuding with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vince McMahon, and the Rock, who was excommunicated from the Corporation following Backlash.
Then, in one of the most talked about moments of all time, Mr. McMahon swerved everyone and turned out to be the Undertaker’s “Greater Power”, all in a master plan to play head games with Stone Cold. Austin, in return, one-upped the McMahon men and became the WWF CEO, all while working together with Commissioner Shawn Michaels.
On the June 21 Raw is War, following a major in-ring promo, the group was backstage discussing strategy, when Mideon, one of Undertaker’s vicious disciples of destruction, innocently asked Shane McMahon a question.
“I saw your bag over there and saw you had a big belt. I lost mine, can I have it?”
Shane, perplexed and fully focused on the task at hand, brushed Mideon aside and said yes. Ironically enough, Mideon’s pants were more of a drawstring and definitely not in need of a belt. Regardless, as incredulous as the Ministry was, especially Acolyte Bradshaw, Mideon got approval.
Minutes later, following the Gorilla Press Challenge between Mark Henry and Viscera, Viscera was climbing the top turnbuckles, preparing to finish off “Sexual Chocolate”. D’Lo Brown, Mark Henry’s best friend, made his way down to the ring and made the save, tossing the monster off the ropes.
As D’Lo and Mark Henry celebrated, Mideon made his way to the ring with a familiar belt in tow. Once in the ring, Mideon walloped both men with the title belt. Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler marveled at which championship Mideon had now possessed in his hand.
It was indeed the European Title.
The next week on Raw, following the 1999 King of the Ring, Mideon, while making his entrance with the Corporate Ministry, was wearing the European Championship belt around his waist. A hell of a way to keep his pants up indeed.
If there was any question about whether or not the European Title was unretired in the WWF, the July 4, 1999 Sunday Night Heat answered all questions. Mideon made his first, and surprisingly only, European Title defense on television against Hardcore Champion Al Snow.
When asked by interviewer Terry Taylor about why he was suddenly champion, Mideon had this to say.
The match wasn’t that long, as within moments, chaos became prevalent. D’Lo Brown, a two-time former European Champion and annoyed with the disrespect of how the belt was treated, made his way to ringside. Mideon promptly responded by spitting in his face. Moments later, D’Lo entered and gave Mideon a Sky High. Snow, mad that he couldn’t become a double champion, attacked D’Lo.
On the July 9 and 10 live events from Philadelphia, PA and Evansville, IN, Mideon made two final successful defenses of the European Title against Test. In non-title matches on a California loop through San Jose, Anaheim, and Bakersfield from 7/16-7/18, as well as a live event in the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 24, D’Lo defeated Mideon in non-title matches.
Finally, D’Lo, a man who wanted to EARN the European Title, not be awarded it by going into someone’s bag, defeated Mideon on the Fully Loaded pay-per-view on July 25, 1999 to win the title, subsequently ending the Corporate Ministry disciple’s reign, as well as finally forcing him to go and purchase an actual belt to hold up his trousers.
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I don’t know why, but for literally decades, I’ve waited for someone to discuss this short but interesting run for Mideon. As it was for everyone in the Attitude Era, it was an opportunity to give all the talent an opportunity to shine.
Also, in the wildest of ways, it was such a heel thing to do. Using the “corporate stroke” to become a champion. Mideon literally did that and reestablished a championship, as unorthodox as it was.
Many fans, who take their professional wrestling very seriously, hate stuff like this. I, although not the biggest fan of it, understand why. It got characters on the program, especially a fun character like Mideon.
Perhaps, that’s just the “eye of the beholder”.
Bankie Bruce
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