What was the first Triple Threat match

[Guest MideonMark]

I'm thinking it was possibly Kane vs Taker vs Austin at Unforgiven 98(I think that was the PPV anyway), although I'm probably wrong. So what was the first triple threat match in WWF history?

[Guest JHawk]

The first advertised ones were Diesel vs. Undertaker vs. Bret Hart, but most of those didn't take place due to an injury to Nash's elbow or shoulder.

 

There were a series of HBK vs. Sid vs. Bret matches at house shows in early 1997, so that would be my guess.

 

The first televised one was on Raw in 1997, and it had Goldust and HHH in it, but I'm blanking on the third guy.

[Guest Boo_Bradley]

Cawthon could tell us for sure, but he's on vacation for a few weeks.

[Guest bravesfan]

The first televised one was on Raw in 1997, and it had Goldust and HHH in it, but I'm blanking on the third guy.

 

June 23rd, and it was Owen Hart (who at that point held the Intercontinental Championship.) Owen went on to win that match.

 

The next televised "three-way" (as it was known then) took place 371 days later, as the "King of the Ring Invitational" between Shamrock, Owen and HHH was won by Shamrock. This RAW match occured the night after KOTR, where Shamrock had prevailed (with an injured HHH providing commentary for the finals).

 

Austin v. Kane v. Undertaker was at the Breakdown PPV in September of 1998; the April PPV of that year (Unforgiven) has now taken Breakdown's place in the PPV order.

 

 

 

EDIT:

Credit: Graham (cawthon777) and his magnificent website.

WWF @ Oklahoma City, OK - January 23, 1997 (house show)

Ahmed Johnson defeated Mankind and Farooq via count-out in a triple threat match

WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart and Psycho Sid in a triple threat match

 

THAT would be the first instance(s) of the gimmick, albeit at a house show.

[Guest DeputyHawk]

First WWF triple-threat on PPV was Faarooq vs. Crush vs. Savio Vega at IYH: Ground Zero in September 97.

[Guest Alex Nelson]

The first televised one was on Raw in 1997, and it had Goldust and HHH in it, but I'm blanking on the third guy.

I'm pretty sure it was The Patriot.

[Guest BAR]

No, the first televised one was Owen/HHH/Goldust - summer '97, on Raw: it's on Best Of Raw 6.

[Guest BAR]

..and it was for the I.C. title.

[Guest Aero]

Yeah, it was Owen vs. HHH vs. Goldust (as the first TV match), with Pat Patterson as guest referee. IIRC, Goldust won the match, but Owen or HHH (whoever he pinned) got his foot on the ropes, so the match was restarted and Owen won.

[Guest DarkHollywood]

Theres a best of RAW 6? I thought they were only at #3 (unless its outside united states, then I have no clue)

[Guest bravesfan]

Theres a best of RAW 6? I thought they were only at #3 (unless its outside united states, then I have no clue)

Everything after Volume 3 are PAL tapes (UK-only).

[Guest Retro Rob]

I think Bret, Shawn, Diesel, Undertaker had a series of Triple Threats on house shows for a while.

[Guest DarkHollywood]

What was the first ECW Triple Threat Match ever? LOL

[Guest Retro Rob]

Wasn't it Douglas vs. Sabu vs. Funk?

[Guest drdrainoscott]

I can't believe it took the WWF so long to use a triple threat match. I remember WCW doing them years before the WWF did. The first one I can think of was a Sting vs. Vader vs. The Boss (or whatever Bossman's name was in WCW in 93) for the number one contender label, and the awesome Flair vs. Luger vs. Sting from Starrcade (95?).

 

What other early three ways were there in WCW?

[Guest DeputyHawk]

I'm pretty sure Sting-Vader-Boss was in mid-94ish, after ECW ran Funk-Sabu-Douglas in February 94, which to my recollection was the first ECW three-way.

[Guest TheGame2705]

The first one on TV was Owen beating Hunter and Goldust on RAW in 1997 to keep the IC title. There was one shortly after involving Bulldog, Savio, and Hunter.

[Guest DeputyHawk]

Raw 6-23-97: Intercontinental champion Owen Hart beat Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Goldust in a Triple Threat Match

 

Raw 7-21-97: The Godwinns beat The Headangers and The New Blackjacks in a Triple Threat Tag Team match to become no.1 tag contenders (dunno if this one counts)

 

IYH Ground Zero 9-7-97: Savio Vega beat Faarooq and Crush in a Triple Threat Match

 

Raw 9-8-97: Hunter Hearst Helmsley beat The Patriot and British Bulldog in a Triple Threat Match (DX took out Bulldog before the bell, Savio Vega then inserted himself into the match in Bulldog'splace because he was the 'King of Triple Threat' after winning his match against Faarooq & Crush the previous night on PPV)

[Guest Tod deKindes]

IYH Ground Zero 9-7-97: Savio Vega beat Faarooq and Crush in a Triple Threat Match

I still remember Faarooq's classic spot where he took a swinging neckbreaker by swinging the OTHER way.

 

All right, Ron.