101 Shocking Wrestling Plans You Won't Believe Almost Happened
3. The WWF’s First Exploding Cage Match
If the WWF wouldn't let Mick Foley and Terry Funk run the gauntlet in ultra-violent 'King Of The Deathmatch' repeats in 1998, then they sure weren't going to let X-Pac and Kane work an 'Exploding Steel Cage' stunt show in 2000. Nonetheless, that's something Sean Waltman put to bosses, because he was up for extending the pair's feud.
According to some reports, the promotion even took explosives for a test drive in empty arenas before deciding that they shouldn't proceed. Controlling the explosions without having them look weak or too tame (stand up, AEW Revolution 2021!) would've been tough, but several companies in Japan managed to pull it off just fine. The WWF, with all their riches, could've done it but got cold feet.
This was near the end of X-Pac's core run as one of the most over stars on the roster too, so maybe Waltman was seeking ways to keep himself relevant and unique. He would've been relied upon to do most of the big bumping in that 'Exploding Steel Cage' gimmick bout too; Kane was no slouch when it came to workrate, but Pac was the smaller guy and thus easier to bump around the place.
Instead of explosions, X-Pac and Kane worked a brief 'No Holds Barred' match at No Way Out in February 2000. Arguably, going with the incendiary cage gimmick would've infringed on what Triple H and Cactus Jack were doing for the main event Hell In A Cell match in that pay-per-view's featured bout.
Would Mick Foley falling through the Cell roof really have hit as hard if fans had witnessed X-Pac being blown to bits earlier in the same card?