Speaking of the ludicrous and over-the-top, the 1994 Royal Rumble event featured one of the most surreal moments in both the Undertaker's career and the history of WWE. During a casket match between he and Yokozuna, Undertaker found himself on the receiving end of a beatdown courtesy of the top heels in WWE at the time. Diesel, Adam Bomb, the Headshrinkers, the Great Kabuki, Tenryu, Crush, Bam Bam Bigelow and Jeff Jarrett (yes, good ol' Double J) joined Yokozuna in assaulting the number one contender to the behemoth's WWE Championship before stuffing him in a casket and securing the win for the champion. Yokozuna watched as the vile villains wheeled the casket out of the arena, his arms raised in victory despite hardly winning in any honorable fashion. Then the lights went out. An image of Undertaker lying motionless inside the casket appeared on the video screen. The gong sounded and a camera zoomed in on the face of the Phenom. His eyes shot open and the crowd erupted. The promo that followed was equal parts absurd and outstanding.
Be not proud. The spirit of the Undertaker lives within the soul of all mankind. The eternal flame of life that cannot be extinguished, the origin of which cannot be explained, the answer lies in the everlasting spirit. Soon all mankind will witness the rebirth of the Undertaker. I will not rest in peace.
Suddenly, the body screen went back and the body of the Undertaker appeared to be electrified. An explosion occurred and Undertaker rose out of the video screen and into the sky above. Sure, it was a harness-wearing Marty Jannetty clad in Undertaker garb but the visual was still cool and unlike anything WWE fans had ever seen before. While the entire scenario was ridiculous in nature, it again fit the supernatural elements of the Undertaker character and injected the Royal Rumble broadcast with some theatricality amid some mighty fine wrestling elsewhere on the card.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
