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| The day after WrestleMania XII proved to be one of the most monumental days in World Wrestling Federation history. On that date -- April 1, 1996 -- a mysterious superstar made his debut. Making his way to the ring to the sounds of haunting music, Mankind appeared in the Federation for the first time. After making quick work of Bob Holly (now known as Hardcore Holly), Mankind would return later in the night to brutally assault the Undertaker. It was an odd choice for the newcomer to make -- to attack the Phenom of the World Wrestling Federation. But Mankind proved he wasn't in over his head -- far from it. In fact, Mankind pinned the Undertaker at that year's King of the Ring -- and then defeated him again in a Boiler Room Brawl at SummerSlam when the Undertaker's manager, Paul Bearer, joined forces with the maniac. The character of Mankind was haunting, devilish and evil. But after the man behind Mankind -- Mick Foley -- did a series of interviews with Jim Ross on Federation programming, he was allowed to expose a different side of himself, a fun side which fans loved. In June 1998, Mankind was part of the most infamous match in the history of the World Wrestling Federation. Competing against the Undertaker in Hell In A Cell, Mankind put in a legendary performance, including two hideous falls and a bag of thumbtacks. The images from that battle still live in the minds of Federation fans everywhere. The following month, Mankind formed an alliance with Kane, and the duo twice won the Federation Tag Team Championship. But as the leaves changed, so did Mankind. When Mr. McMahon announced that he was seeking a corporate champion to topple Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind answered the call. He started wearing a shirt and tie, and tried to become what Mr. McMahon described as an ideal champ. He even called the evil chairman "Dad." At the 1998 Survivor Series, Mankind made it to the finals of the "Deadly Game" tournament. It seemed like Mr. McMahon had set up the brackets to make things easier on Mankind -- until the finals. In the ultimate corporate screwjob, Mr. McMahon made a fool of Mankind as The Rock was crowned Corporate Champion. Mankind vowed revenge. The revenge came on a cold, winter night in Worcester, Mass., on Dec. 29, 1998. As the Corporation and DX watched at ringside, Mankind pinned The Rock to become World Wrestling Federation Champion! Tears flowed from Mankind's eyes, as his boyhood dream became a reality! Mankind and The Rock traded the title over the first few months of 1999: The Rock regained the belt in a brutal match at the Royal Rumble, Mankind won it back in an Empty Arena Match at Halftime HEAT, and The Rock regained the title in a Ladder Match on RAW. After a feud with the Big Show, who cost him the title in the Ladder Match, Mankind was put out of action following a brutal sledgehammer attack by Triple H. Mankind would be out of action for three months, before finally returning to ruin Triple H's big day at SummerSlam 1999! "The Game" vowed that SummerSlam would be his crowning moment, when he would win the Federation Championship from Stone Cold Steve Austin, and special referee Jesse "The Body" Ventura would raise his hand in victory. But Mankind managed to sneak into the match as a third participant, and when the night was through, he was a three-time champion! The reign would be short-lived, however, as Triple H stacked the deck against Mankind and won the title the very next night. After their bitter feud earlier in the year, no one ever thought that Mankind and The Rock would become allies, but that's exactly what happened in September when the two found they had common enemies in the Big Show and the Undertaker. The "Rock 'n' Sock Connection" would go on to become three-time Federation Tag Team Champions! In what Mankind has since called his finest accomplishment, he penned his autobiography late in 1999. Entitled "Have a Nice Day! A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks," the book reached No. 1 on the New York Times hardcover non-faction bestseller list! Following that achievement, Mankind would go on to win the Tag Team Championship with his friend Al Snow, before Al turned his back on the Boiler Room Dweller. As the McMahon-Helmsley era began in December 1999, Mankind was the first superstar to step up against the alliance. The ensuing punishments brought out Mick Foley's most maniacal persona, Cactus Jack. Mankind has not been seen since then. Will Mankind return to make us laugh again? Probably. The only question is when. |
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