10 Most Shocking Things That Happened On Post-WrestleMania WWE Raws

9. Mankind Debuts (1 April 1996)

The post-'Mania Raw has always been a great place to debut new wrestlers and gimmicks, and spoiler alert: this won't be the last on our list.

Mankind's grand arrival was one of the most troubling in WWE history. Introduced by the announcers, this deranged, shambling husk of a man came down the ramp for a bout with Bob Holly, whom he promptly battered in just over three minutes. A solid start, and so far, so straightforward, as it showed glimpses of Mick Foley's new character while spotlighting what he could do between the ropes.

This may have been an effective enough introduction on its own, but things got more intense later in the evening. Mankind ambushed the fearsome Undertaker following a win over Justin 'Hawk' Bradshaw, battering, abusing, and bludgeoning 'The Phenom' in ways the fans weren't used to. Having been built up as an icon of invincibility, seeing 'Taker picked apart by a brand new character was a galling sight, and in doing this, WWE laid the groundwork for what would eventually become a legendary feud.

A character unlike anything else the fans knew was born, and his debut was so effective that Mankind looked credible against ‘Taker from day one.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.