10 Wrestling Debuts That Changed Everything

9. Mankind

Mankind The Undertaker
WWE.com

Jim Ross knew what he was getting from Mick Foley when he ignored Vince McMahon's talk of 'getting his heart broken by a talent' and signed the former Cactus Jack in 1996. Ross wanted fresh opponents on house shows for The Undertaker, and he knew that Foley's dedication to a big-bump style would bring out something new in 'The Deadman'.

That ol' cowboy was absolutely right.

Foley, as the deranged Mankind, fit the bill of that almost-supernatural monster persona the WWF liked to program 'Taker with. At the same time, Mick's more athletic working style (at least when compared to plodding oafs like King Kong Bundy and Giant González that had come before) brought out the best in his peer and allowed 'Taker to remould his own approach to matches.

It's no accident that Mankind's association with The Undertaker changed the latter's style permanently; 'Taker was able to kick up the pace of his once-zombified ring speed and shed the limiting aspects of his character for good. He was never the same.

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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.