10 Moments You Forgot Happened On WWE Sunday Night Heat

With the WWE firing on all cylinders during the Attitude Era, fans demanded more and more content. With no WWE Network or Peacock in sight, WWE launched more and more programming through cable and network television. One of their most popular secondary shows was Sunday Night Heat. Debuting in 1998 and lasting for several iterations for nearly 10 years, Heat was one better B shows out there.

Generally airing at 7 PM, Sunday Night Heat was not only able to have its own brand of Attitude right before primetime, but it'd also serve as a big countdown show for all of the PPVs during this time. There were plenty of big moments that happened on Heat during the years, but some have gone forgotten with time.

10 “I Am The (Explicative Deleted) Game”

During the Attitude Era, Jim Ross had several big sit-down “shoot style” interviews with the likes of Goldust and Marlena, Mankind, and Triple H. These interviews were generally done in character, but still playing up the real life of the interviewees. It was on Heat that Good Ol’ JR interviewed Triple H on the eve of SummerSlam 1999. Triple H let JR knows what he thinks of the WWE brass who tried to hold him down - students of the game. It is here that Triple H refers to himself as The Game for the first time.

9 Team Bestie Debuts

Trish Stratus And Lita Debut On Sunday Night Heat

Several debuts happened during Sunday Night Heat, most were less than auspicious ones considering the talent involved. But on separate occasions, in very different roles than they’d be remembered for - both members of Team Bestie debuted.

The fiery Lita made her debut at the side of luchador, Essa Rios, and the two would each deliver moonsaults onto their opponents. The other half of the bombshell duo, Trish Stratus also made her debut on the show, scoping out talent to manage.

Lita debuted right before Valentine's Day on the 2/13/2000 episode of Heat, while Trish would make her debut on the 3/19/2000 episode.

8 Triple H In The Lion’s Den

Due to its complicated setup, The Lion’s Den match was seldom used. As a match set up for Ken Shamrock, the match would take place inside a makeshift octagon. But on January 10, 1999, Vince McMahon tossed The Big Bossman and Triple H into The Lion’s Den on Heat. The match was quick and escalated into a Corporation vs. DX brawl. It is also one of the only times that the match didn’t involve The World’s Most Dangerous Man.

7 The Acolytes Destroy The Public Enemy

If you ever want to see how a worked match turns into a shoot brawl, look no further than The Acolytes decimating The Public Enemy from an early edition of Sunday Night Heat. For years, the story of this match has been more interesting than the actual beatdown that took place. Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge had no interest in doing the favors for Faarooq and Bradshaw. Faarooq let his partner know that “we’ll do business for them,” and the APA proceeded to kick the tar out of the hardcore party animals.

6 Kurt Angle Debuts

Kurt Angle Debuts On Sunday Night Heat Cropped

During Kurt Angle’s big match debut at the 1999 Survivor Series, The Olympic Hero turned heel and told us all not to boo him. It created an instant mega heel.

But the future Hall Of Famer had actually made his debut on Sunday Night Heat. While not in a match, the American hero came out to shut up Tiger Ali Singh who was berating the United States.

5 Half Time Heat

The Rock Vs Mankind Sunday Night Heat Cropped

Empty Arena matches have been around in wrestling for a long time now. During the Pandemic Era, every match was an Empty Arena match, but before that, it used to be a bit of a novelty. The most famous one involved Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk. Years later, The Rock (who started in Memphis with Lawler) would take on Mankind (who idolized The Funker) in another chapter of their feud. That match also took place in an empty arena, but during halftime at the 1999 Super Bowl.

4 Jerry Lynn Vs. Rob Van Dam

RVD Vs Jerry Lynn Sunday Night Heat Cropped

Throughout the history of ECW, one feud had enough skill and finesse to captivate the masses - Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn. The two complimented each other so well and even gave Jerry Lynn the spotlight that he deserved. Once both guys were in WWE, it was only a matter of time before the two locked up again and lit up the territory. Or perhaps not, the two only met one time in WWE and it was on Sunday Night Heat.

3 “My Name’s Billy”

While The Rock has a cadre of sayings and epic promos over the course of his career, one promo worked so well that between it and the subsequent match that followed it inadvertently buried Billy Gunn’s in-ring career. On Sunday Night Heat, The People’s Champ headed to the ring to cut a promo on Mr. Ass on the road to SummerSlam 1999, including the now iconic line, “Bob…but my name's Billy, it doesn’t matter what your name is !!”

2 Shane-O-Mac’s On Commentary

Before he became an in-ring performer, Shane McMahon wore many different hats, learning the family business.

That also involved joining Jim Ross on commentary and not just for the inaugural episode of Sunday Night Heat, the boy wonder spent nearly a year on the call with Ross, bringing his unique brand of youthful product to the show.

1 Random Debuts

Aside from the aforementioned debuts of Lita, Trish, and Angle, Sunday Night Heat was a place that gave birth to plenty of superstars. During the early years of the show, Jacqueline defended the women’s title against Starla Saxton aka Molly Holly. In the series later years, a young Indy prospect was given the chance to team up with another prospect, Russell Simpson in a losing effort against Simon Dean and Maven. It would take him years to finally find stardom in AEW as CM Punk.