10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 1996

3. Mankind's Coincidental April Fool's Day Debut

Mankind WWF Debut
WWE.com

Did you know that Mick Foley's WWF debut came across as a rib?

Probably not. Foley's Mankind character was introduced on the 1 April '96 edition of Raw, and he defeated Bob 'Don't Call Me Thurman' Holly in a short bout. On commentary, Vince McMahon drew attention to the date and said it was "fitting" that Mankind was debuting on April Fool's Day.

McMahon's announcing probs wasn't supposed to, but he made it sound like the WWF were pulling everyone's leg with the gimmick and that Mick would be doing something else soon. Of course, that wasn't the case - Mankind was there to stay, and he'd go on to become a vital opponent for The Undertaker all year.

Anyone who has read Foley's first book will know that he had to fight to make some changes to McMahon's original vision for the Mankind persona. Was this Vince's way of pushing back and suggesting that the character Mick wanted to play would be short-lived?

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.