In 1996, the live-action cartoon known as WWE was invaded by a deranged, psychotic, unpredictable madman known as Mankind. Clad in brown rags, a hideous mask and brandishing a rare and lethal finisher known as the Mandible Claw, the newcomer wasted little time targeting the biggest dog in the WWE yard when he attacked The Undertaker on his first night with the company. Mankind's psyche was forever affected by the torment and ridicule he endured at the hands of his schoolmates while growing up, as he told Jim Ross in a series of revolutionary promos in the summer of 1997. Those promos launched Mankind into stardom and necessitated a babyface push but the year the preceded them saw the former Cactus Jack make life a living hell for the Phenom, not to mention Shawn Michaels, who he came ever so close to defeating for the WWE Championship at In Your House: Mind Games. The masked man took great pleasure in inflicting pain, letting out squeals of sick pleasure as he pummeled away at his opponent. That he got an equal amount of glee out of enduring the same pain made him even more twisted and disturbing.
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.
