5 Things You Probably Don't Remember About Mankind Vs. The Undertaker - WWE Hell In A Cell
One of pro wrestling's most infamous melees...
Sometimes the physical storytelling is such that the loser of a grueling wrestling match comes out of it the bigger story. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10. Shane McMahon at the 2001 King of the Ring. Jeff Hardy in those early TLC matches. None of them, however, quite equal the mythological boost earned by Mick Foley for his mere survival of a harrowing Hell in a Cell match at the 1998 King of the Ring.
Almost 22 years have passed since Foley, as Mankind, endured two falls from the top of the 16-foot namesake structure, as well as a couple of crash landings onto a pool of thumbtacks. The Undertaker may have been victorious in this titanic struggle, but Foley's real battle was against probability. One of most memorable and infamous matches in the considerable lore of WWE history could've ended far worse than one participant "simply" being mangled and ravaged, with a bevy of injuries to his name.
As we approach the anniversary of the famed Undertaker-Mankind Cell match, let's look back at a few forgotten facts from that battle.
5. Foley Was Intended To Face Stone Cold
For the two previous pay-per-views, Foley (as a "sellout" version of Dude Love) faced Steve Austin for the WWF title. Though he lost decisively to Austin in a thriller at Over the Edge, there were still plans to run the match one more time.
Austin and Foley were to have blown off their feud inside the Cell at King of the Ring, before plans changed, on account of the WWF feeling the match had run its course. Fortunately(?) for Foley, he still got to work the Cell, albeit with The Undertaker. Lucky him.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
