9. The Ministry Of Darkness, Sacrifices And The Black Wedding
As 1998 came to a close and WWE set off into the final year of the Millennium, The Undertaker underwent a dark transformation. The leader of the Ministry of Darkness, he led a push to takeover control of the company from Vince McMahon, doing so by recruiting a faction of minions such as Bradshaw and Faarooq (known collectively as the Acolytes) and Viscera. It was the addition of a former pig farmer that led to one of the creepiest and most uncomfortable moments in WWE history. With the man once known as Phineas Godwinn lying prone on a slab, Undertaker engaged in a ritual sacrifice that effectively killed the remnants of his past characters and introduced the world to a darker, more enigmatic character known as Mideon. Not only was it a sign of the depravity of the Ministry but also the danger that waited anyone that opposed them. Undertaker again lit his brother Kane on fire in an Inferno match that took place on Raw. During it,he burnt a teddy bear as a symbolic message to Vince McMahon. It was eventually revealed that the bear belonged to a young, naive and innocent Stephanie McMahon. The prince of darkness stalked after the boss' daughter in an attempt to gain full control of the sports-entertainment empire, going as far as to abduct her at the conclusion of the Backlash pay-per-view in April 1999 and staging a black wedding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-c6wDFjQ8I Luckily, before Undertaker and Stephanie could be pronounced wife and demon (if that is a thing), "Stone Cold" Steve Austin made the save. Still, the images of Stephanie bound to a cross, unable to do anything to stop the proceedings and the audio of her screaming at the top of her lungs is enough to make the moment memorable and chilling.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
