10 WWE Classics That Never Should Have Worked
4. Mankind Vs. The Undertaker (King Of The Ring 1998)
Some rather confused criticisms of this match at the time reduced it to little more than two bumps, blithely unaware at the time of just how significant said falls would go on to be in the rich history of the industry.
Structuring a contest around two horrific falls for Mick Foley (or, for the most part, one) wasn't the only reason this iconic clash between two company icons shouldn't have clicked. 'Mrs Foley's Baby Boy' went in knowing he couldn't top 'The Deadman's incredible effort against Shawn Michaels in the same stipulation six months prior - it was that drive that resulted in the pair starting on top of the structure in the first place. Undertaker's broken foot was why Foley twice took the fastest route back down.
Injuries, expectations and very little reason for the match to even take place should have rendered it little more than an overbooked footnote on a mid-1998 Stone Cold Steve Austin card. Instead, it irreversibly altered the careers of both and left behind feats of awe never really bettered.