Post by mattsdmf on Dec 29, 2018 21:44:47 GMT -5
Undertaker vs Mankind (Buried Alive Match) WWF In Your House: Buried Alive October 20, 1996
This is very much a personal pick for me and maybe hopefully others here dig this match too. While I got into wrestling a couple years after this, I saw this on a tape and it helped cement my fandom for wrestling. As someone who is primarily a fan of cult and horror films, comic books and heavy metal growing up, this hit a sweet spot for me.
As far as the work of the match, I just finished rewatching it and I think it holds up still. Undertaker really blends his old zombie type character but adds in more flare with dives and bigger moves. Foley bumps his ass off like usual but with some really cringeworthy spots like the head first bump into the barricade. I also loved the use of the spike in this as it gives a more heated feel to the match that makes it look more like a life or death battle for these guys. I liked that they kept it around the ring for the most part but teased the grave as well. When they did get to the dirt, the use of the cradle pin down the dirt pile was quite inventive. The ending is pretty iconic too and unfortunately it wasn’t the blow off for the main portion of the feud.
I know this match isn’t as iconic as their Hell in a Cell match, but I do think some discussion is warranted for this. I just absolutely love this one.
This is very much a personal pick for me and maybe hopefully others here dig this match too. While I got into wrestling a couple years after this, I saw this on a tape and it helped cement my fandom for wrestling. As someone who is primarily a fan of cult and horror films, comic books and heavy metal growing up, this hit a sweet spot for me.
As far as the work of the match, I just finished rewatching it and I think it holds up still. Undertaker really blends his old zombie type character but adds in more flare with dives and bigger moves. Foley bumps his ass off like usual but with some really cringeworthy spots like the head first bump into the barricade. I also loved the use of the spike in this as it gives a more heated feel to the match that makes it look more like a life or death battle for these guys. I liked that they kept it around the ring for the most part but teased the grave as well. When they did get to the dirt, the use of the cradle pin down the dirt pile was quite inventive. The ending is pretty iconic too and unfortunately it wasn’t the blow off for the main portion of the feud.
I know this match isn’t as iconic as their Hell in a Cell match, but I do think some discussion is warranted for this. I just absolutely love this one.
