10 Things You Learn From Watching 1996 On WWE Network
6. The Undertaker Really Needed Mankind
During a live spoken word show in London, Jim Ross said that he head-hunted Mick Foley because he felt the wrestler could mesh well with The Undertaker. Armed with that knowledge, it's hard not to agree when looking back at the WWF's pay-per-view output in 1996.
Undertaker definitely benefited from the presence of Mankind as a regular foe because Foley was a different kind of monster for 'Taker to work with. At King Of The Ring, SummerSlam, In Your House 11, and Survivor Series, the pair produced exciting brawls that really helped revamp the in-ring style of 'The Deadman' and bring him up to date.
Even without the words of JR and his reasoning behind wanting to hire Foley, it's clear that Undertaker badly needed someone to bring the best out in him. 1995 had been a relatively dull year, and even a match at the Royal Rumble opposite Bret Hart felt slow and uninspiring.
In desperate need of something fresh, The Undertaker was helped immensely by the arrival of Mankind on the scene. Without that rival, 1996 may have been another dud.