WWF Over the Edge (professional wrestling pay-per-view)

Format and presentation

The event followed the standard pay-per-view format used by the WWF in the late 1990s: a card of matches featuring existing storylines, championship contests and special attractions intended to draw a national television audience. Production emphasized theatrical entrances and staging, which in one instance involved a performer being lowered from the arena rafters as part of an entrance routine.

Events

• 1998: Over the Edge: In Your House — the inaugural show, held under the established In Your House banner.
• 1999: Over the Edge — a stand-alone pay-per-view that became the final event under the Over the Edge title.

Accident and aftermath

During the 1999 Over the Edge show, wrestler Owen Hart was being lowered into the ring as part of a character entrance when a rigging failure caused him to fall from a significant height. He suffered fatal injuries, an event that deeply affected fans, performers and the wrestling industry. In the wake of the accident the WWF completed the scheduled broadcast but later faced intense criticism and legal action. The Hart family filed a lawsuit that was subsequently settled out of court.

Legacy and notable facts

Following the incident, WWF discontinued the Over the Edge name and replaced the May pay-per-view slot with other branded events in subsequent years. The accident prompted changes in safety procedures for stunts and entrances across the industry and remains one of the most significant and somber moments in modern professional wrestling history.