5 Things You Probably Don't Remember About Mankind Vs. The Undertaker - WWE Hell In A Cell

Sometimes the physical storytelling is such that the loser of a grueling wrestling match comes out of it the bigger story. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10. Shane McMahon at the 2001 King of the Ring. Jeff Hardy in those early TLC matches. None of them, however, quite equal the mythological boost earned by Mick Foley for his mere survival of a harrowing Hell in a Cell match at the 1998 King of the Ring.

Almost 22 years have passed since Foley, as Mankind, endured two falls from the top of the 16-foot namesake structure, as well as a couple of crash landings onto a pool of thumbtacks. The Undertaker may have been victorious in this titanic struggle, but Foley's real battle was against probability. One of most memorable and infamous matches in the considerable lore of WWE history could've ended far worse than one participant "simply" being mangled and ravaged, with a bevy of injuries to his name.

As we approach the anniversary of the famed Undertaker-Mankind Cell match, let's look back at a few forgotten facts from that battle.

Sometimes the physical storytelling is such that the loser of a grueling wrestling match comes out of it the bigger story. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 10. Shane McMahon at the 2001 King of the Ring. Jeff Hardy in those early TLC matches. None of them, however, quite equal the mythological boost earned by Mick Foley for his mere survival of a harrowing Hell in a Cell match at the 1998 King of the Ring.

Almost 22 years have passed since Foley, as Mankind, endured two falls from the top of the 16-foot namesake structure, as well as a couple of crash landings onto a pool of thumbtacks. The Undertaker may have been victorious in this titanic struggle, but Foley's real battle was against probability. One of most memorable and infamous matches in the considerable lore of WWE history could've ended far worse than one participant "simply" being mangled and ravaged, with a bevy of injuries to his name.

As we approach the anniversary of the famed Undertaker-Mankind Cell match, let's look back at a few forgotten facts from that battle.

5. Foley Was Intended To Face Stone Cold

For the two previous pay-per-views, Foley (as a "sellout" version of Dude Love) faced Steve Austin for the WWF title. Though he lost decisively to Austin in a thriller at Over the Edge, there were still plans to run the match one more time.

Austin and Foley were to have blown off their feud inside the Cell at King of the Ring, before plans changed, on account of the WWF feeling the match had run its course. Fortunately(?) for Foley, he still got to work the Cell, albeit with The Undertaker. Lucky him.

4. Undertaker Worked The Match Hurt

Compared to the trauma Foley was about to amass, The Undertaker's ailments seem rather preferable. He didn't have to take any exorbitant stuntman bumps, but "The Phenom" entered the Cell match with his own issues. Specifically, he had a broken foot.

The hobbled Undertaker last wrestled nine days before the pay-per-view, working with Kane at a house show in Houston. Foley was feeling less than optimistic about the match due to the injury, with no way of knowing just how relevant it would end up being.

3. What Was Supposed To Happen?

The first fall from the Cell was planned, but the Chokeslam through the panel wasn't supposed to send Mankind careening perilously down to the mat below. Foley even contests that had he gone up high for the move, he'd have landed on his head, and would've likely died.

So how *were* Mankind and Taker supposed to get down from the Cell after Foley went back up? The panel was designed to sag enough for Mankind to be kicked through it, where he could dangle a bit before taking a controlled fall into the ring, with Taker then climbing down in tow.

2. Undertaker Wanted To End It Early

After two high impact falls (one of which Foley wasn't planning on taking, and surprised Undertaker as much as it did him), there wasn't much strength left in Foley's body. The fact that he was able to regain his vertical base almost defies logic.

When Mankind was finally able to stand minutes after that second fall, Undertaker delivered a punch, and a ravaged Foley sank to the mat, almost in slow motion. According to Foley, Undertaker suggested then that they go to the finish, but Foley insisted he was okay, and thus they continued.

1. Foley Got Some Talkings-To

If Twitter existed in 1998, Mick Foley would've been the number one trend all through the night and well into the next day. That's how impactful (in more than one sense) his performance in the 1998 King of the Ring was. But his bosses were extremely concerned.

After the match, Vince McMahon thanked Foley for his ballsy efforts, but told him, "Don't ever do anything like that again." Jim Ross himself had a heart to heart with his close friend days later, reminding him he doesn't have to kill himself to enjoy the paydays he deserves.