In addition to my weekly recap of WWE TV, I will also look on a weekly basis at an event from WWE history. It could be a classic match, a memorable moment, or even a "What were they thinking" occurence.
The first of these is both a great match and a great moment: King Of The Ring 1998, Mankind vs The Undertaker, Hell In A Cell.
The previous Cell match on PPV, between Taker and Shawn Michaels, was groundbreaking for the era in the then-WWF. Eight months on, an old rivalry was renewed; but, having had so many encounters already, it seemed unlikely that UT and Mankind would have their greatest battle to date at KOTR.
Not to mention the fact that, unlike the UT-HBK match, this Cell encounter wasn't the main event of the PPV (that was a Stone Cold-Kane 1st Blood match for the WWF Title). In addition, Mankind had lost a lot of popularity in the weeks leading up to the show. So, the chances of one of the most memorable matches in company history occuring in Pittsburgh on June 28, 1998 were fairly low.
However, just over a minute into the match came an all-time incredible moment: starting the match on the Cell roof, both men exchanged blows, including chairshots by the masked one, before Taker hurled Mankind off the roof, 16 feet down through the Spanish announcer's table.
Unlike other moments that were to follow, there was no indication that this was about to happen; no dramatic build-up, no teasing the crowd of possibly doing the move. It just happened. And, whereas the tables are usually cleared of equipment such as monitors (to prevent injuries), the table was full of stuff; it wasn't prepared for the move. Had his head connected with a monitor, or if he missed the table, he probably would have been dead.
It was totally unexpected - and it shocked the world.
Fans in the Igloo stood up for minutes to survey the scene, even though a prone body was all that could be visible. The crowd reaction was huge, and chants reverberated for several minutes. But what really made this was Jim Ross on commentary: far from overexaggerating the impact of a move, JR seemed genuinely concerned for Mick Foley's wellbeing:
"Good God Almighty! Good God Almighty! They killed him!"
Mankind was attended to by referees, staff and Vince McMahon for several minutes. The match had already ended, it seemed, and Mankind was stretchered away.
Only, he came back.
The roar was amazing as both wrestlers reclimbed the Cell to fight some more. Within a minute, UT had chokeslammed Mankind through the Cell roof, down to the ring below.
At this point, the Hardcore Legend was knocked unconscious. He suffered many injuries on the night, and after this he seemed lifeless, a point not lost on JR and Jerry Lawler. JR demanded the match be stopped, whilst both the King and, backstage after the match, Taker believed at this point that Mankind was dead.
Somehow, even after this, the match continued, with Foley even coming close to winning at certain times. Then, the stakes were raised even higher as Mankind poured thousands of drawing pins onto the canvas from a bag hidden under the ring - the intention being, to make Taker a human pin cushion.
Except, it backfired: Taker countered the Mandible Claw by lifting Mankind onto his back and dropping him down onto the pins. A chokeslam into the tacks was next, followed by the match-winning Tombstone Piledriver.
Mankind left to cheers and chants of "Foley", at a time when the bad guys were very rarely praised. Astonishingly, he came down the ring during the main event to interfere (as did UT), despite taking a beating that would have killed most people.
I can remember watching this when it first happened, and telling people afterwards that it was the greatest match ever. Technically it wasn't, but it was an unforgettable war, and saw the most punishment that a participant has ever taken in a major wrestling match. Over 13 years on, it still hasn't lost any of its impact.
The stunts haven't been topped since, and it's doubtful they ever will. At KOTR '98, Mankind became the Hardcore Legend - and, despite being pinned, the reputation he gained from taking the falls off and through the Cell mean that he was the real winner.
It was voted #1 on WWE's 50 Most Memorable Incidents In History DVD, and if you can watch it on YouTube or somewhere else, it's worth it. Worthwhile for non-fans who assume that everything in wrestling is "fake", worthwhile for new fans who may not have seen the unbelievable match, and worthwhile for longtime fans who want to relive a match that, no matter what may happen in the future, will never, ever be forgotten.
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