A Month after the unforgettable debut of the Big Red Machine at Bad Blood, the deranged in his own right - Mankind becomes Kane's first opponent at Survivor Series '97. While this may have been Kane's first official match, for those first few weeks since arriving in WWF Kane was leaving carnage in the ring every time he showed up.
Fun fact: Kane was given a special "eerie" red light during his first few appearances much like Sin Cara's, well, Sin Cara botch lights.
Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon - Street Fight - Wrestlemania X-Seven (2001)
What started out as Shane McMahon returning to the WWF to confront his father about the state of his mother, Linda who was in an unconscious state, turned into Shane buying WCW, WWF's biggest rival, right from under his father's feet. To make matters even worse for Mr. McMahon, Shane allowed Mick Foley, the man that Linda let officiate a six-man Hell in a Cell match which was the cause of Mr. McMahon flipping his lid at her to a point of comatose, the chance to be the special guest referee of any match he wanted at Wrestlemania. Naturally, Mick Foley picked Shane and Vince's match to be special referee not only to get under Vince's skin but also because it was right up his alley; a street fight.
Throw in some Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon nonsense, and this match had a bigger build and story behind it than pretty much any Wrestlemania match of this decade. Of course, the match itself was a classic Shane McMahon performs the craziest spots he can think of match but it had no shortage of detailed storyline to it whatsoever!
Big Bossman vs. Mankind - Ladder match for the Hardcore title - Monday Night Raw (1998)
Mankind defends his Hardcore title against the one man 'Shield' for the Corporation, the Big Bossman. During the match, Shawn Michaels, commissioner at the time, provides commentary as well as scores during the match for Mankind's performance a la cue cards. The Rock also happens to makes an appearance in the match.
The Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack (w/missing ear) & Maxx Payne - Chicago Street Fight for the WCW Tag Team Championship - Spring Stampede (1994)
Another one of those Nasty Boy street fights that goes out into the merchandise stand. According to WWE.com it's one of the best WCW matches of all time. What makes it better than the other street fights like this one in 1994? Was it Cactus & Payne? Was it the sheer brutality for '94? Was it the stiffness? Was it the table spot?
Maybe it was the Cactus Jack bump in perfect Mick Foley fashion (that has been well documented on this site) at that end there - from the ramp to the floor - before getting whacked in the head with the shovel against his missing ear (Cactus lost it a month prier in German in his infamous match with Big Van Vader).
I didn't know the Nasty Boys were from Maine... It's spring time and they're still using snow shovels.
The Rock and Sock Connection vs. The British Bulldog and Val Venis - WWF Raw is War (1999)
Recently on NFT Presents, I've brought up some pretty memorable Rock moments and feuds such as his many battles with Mankind to his eventual partnership with the deranged man, but this match right here may be a little less known to some people. In the heart of one of The Rock's lesser-known feuds, the one with the British Bulldog, who now just wears jeans out to the ring because hey, it's the attitude era, Bulldog finds himself in deep, well, doo-doo when he had to take on The Rock, the man he screwed out of the title about a month before.
In anticipation for their one on one match at No Mercy 1999, The British Bulldog teamed up with Val Venis to take on The Rock and Val Venis's rival for a short period of time, Mankind. The match would come to a climactic end when Mankind chased Venis into the back with Mr. Socko leaving The Rock to finish The Bulldog off all by himself. Before the match, The Rock and Mankind had gather a bit of bulldog feces and put it on a big tray to bring to the ring to show Davey Boy just what he was. The tray soon made its way into the ring were The Rock got a hold of The British Bulldog and delivered a Rock Bottom into the dog poop!
The dog poop! The dog poop! The dog poop! - Michael Cole
The Rock and Mankind then get the win via dog poop TKO.
The Rock vs. Mankind - Empty Arena Match for the WWF World Championship - Halftime Heat (1999)
Here's a little something-something for all the halftime lovers out there. Yay, football!
Not satisfied with Beyonce's breathtaking performance tonight? Watch this classic featuring Mankind taking on Th Rock for his World title in a very special Heat that was aired during the halftime of the 1999 Super Bowl on USA.
