35 Years Of WWE WrestleMania Mistakes

21. WrestleMania XV - Big Boss Man's Hanging

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With the 'Attitude Era' in full-swing, 1999 was a divisive year for wrestling fans. Whilst many - particularly the key demographic of now-teenage childhood WWF fans - were enthralled by the promotion's mixture of increased violence, sexualised titillation, and 'mature' themes, there remained a significant subset turned off by the puerility which had largely replaced top-drawer wrestling.

The sight of a satanic Undertaker and his Brood brethren 'hanging' The Big Boss Man at WrestleMania XV epitomised the tasteless nature of the late '90s product. Though a frenzied Michael Cole questioned whether the execution was 'symbolic', the Boss Man limply playing dead left no-one in any doubt as to the intended image.

Angles such as this confirmed for many that kayfabe was well and truly dead, and wrestling was now just a crass, shock television show for adolescents. The Boss Man turning up on TV not long after, entirely unscathed, did little to mollify such complaints.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.