The WORST Moment From Every WWE WrestleMania
27. Big Boss Man Hangs Around (WrestleMania XV)
WWE don't put on a ton of Hell In A Cell matches nowadays. Thankfully, they've realised that annual Cell PPVs/PLEs strangle (ahem) the match type's appeal. It's way better when one falls naturally within the framework of a hot feud that needs a major gimmick bout. Saying, 'Oh hey, it's October' and shoving weak rivalries into HIAC sucks.
Is this necessarily a new thing? No, not really. The Undertaker's feud with Big Boss Man didn't merit the cage back in 1999. The WWF put it inside the Cell at WrestleMania XV anyway, and it turned out to be one of the poorest fans would ever see. Keep in mind that this was only the 5th HIAC match too.
No, Mankind vs. Kane on the 24 August 1998 Raw hadn’t been as good as its predecessors, but it was Hart vs. Austin compared to this trash at XV. Both guys barely even used the cage as a crutch whilst brawling, then the infamous hanging spot was plain awkward come the end. The WWF transitioning from that right into footage of fans loving WrestleMania weekend proved jarring as well.
Nothing says party mode like watching a heel dangling helplessly by the neck before going limp, eh?
Shock value was the sole intention here, which is fine, but shocks still have to play before significant interest from a switched on audience. Boss Man's so-called fate (he was fine shortly afterwards) did not. People didn't give a toss about it, and they hated that the Cell gimmick had been frittered away on a midcard storyline like this one.