10 Most Influential Moments That Were Precursors To The WWE Attitude Era
9. Diesel Gives Undertaker The Middle Finger
One day after losing the WWF Championship to The Hitman in one of the greatest matches of his career, Big Daddy Cool Diesel gave a rare worked-shoot promo towards Vince McMahon on the Monday Night RAW after Survivor Series '95. As surprising as this move was, there was another moment on the show that would be even more shocking that we'll expound upon later.
Two months after Survivor Series saw Diesel come face-to-face with The Undertaker as The Deadman was making his way to the ring for the main event of the 1996 Royal Rumble. After the two had an impromptu aisle-way brawl and were separated by numerous officials, Diesel returned to ringside for the conclusion of The Undertaker's championship match against Bret Hart.
Undertaker appeared to have the title won after Tombstoning Bret, but saw the referee yanked out of the ring just before he could count the 3. Not only did Diesel then reveal himself to be the cause of the DQ finish, the 7-footer gave the middle finger to The Undertaker from outside the ring, in clear view of the cameras.
Such an obscene gesture had never been shown on WWE television before and, although it would be blurred on repeated airings, it had become clear that Vince McMahon was heading in a new direction.