That Time Christopher Daniels Was Nearly The Higher Power

Around the same time, that good ol' Western mortician/undead zombie/supernatural pirate The Undertaker began morphing into the promotion's own version of Satan. His ring gear, which had always been dark, somehow seemed blacker, and the creepy bastard started scouring the roster for those befitting of his new Ministry Of Darkness stable.

This diabolic recruitment drive all came about because 'Taker was buried alive by Austin at Rock Bottom: In Your House the previous December. Just as he had before, 'The Deadman' took a short sabbatical then came back with a fresh update to prolong his relevance. This time, he updated by becoming an infernal overlord who enlisted the help of Paul Bearer, The Acolytes, Mideon, and (eventually) Viscera and The Brood.

Throughout the early knockings of 1999, this Ministry group threatened the established power core of WWF authority and feuded with McMahon. It was an alluring if rather ludicrous story, and it kept people guessing on a weekly basis without really giving away any satisfying answers.

That, fans imagined, was yet to come.

In amongst all of this Undertaker vs. McMahon hullabaloo, there were hangings (of the Big Boss Man at WrestleMania XV), debuts (of Paul Wight, later known as Big Show, at the aforementioned St. Valentine's special) and public floggings for minions who failed their dark lord.

That all came after an attempted embalming, crucifixion and more from the barmy Ministry members. No, this wasn't an episode of American Horror Story, it was late-90s WWF, and, much like Kane and 'Taker in a subsequent 'Inferno' match, it was only getting warmed up.

CONT'D...