The Undertaker Vs. Mankind rivalry is one of the greatest feuds in WWE history. It's always nice to take a trip down memory lane to revisit the feud between The Phenom and Mrs. Foley's baby boy.
When The Undertaker debuted in WWE at Survivor Series 1990, Undertaker hardly had any notable rivals to boot in the early stages of his WWE career. That all changed the night after WrestleMania XII, when Mankind made his WWE debut, and the two went on to have one of the most iconic feuds spanning between 1996-1998.
Their high-profile match at the 1998 King of the Ring is memorable for Mankind's horrific bump off the top of the cell, and a Chokeslam through the top of the cell which gave way. Nevertheless, their rivalry had more highlights filled with WWE Championship matches, betrayals, and first-time-ever matches which made both men certified main eventers.
10 Mankind Debuts & Assaults The Undertaker
The Raw after WrestleMania is notorious for being a special night as it is the fallout of The Show of Shows, which usually has debuts and returns. Mankind defeated Bob Holly on the April 1, 1996 edition of Raw, and he utilized his Mandible Claw for the win.
However, Undertaker finally had a meaningful rivalry to sink his teeth into something as Mankind assaulted The Deadman from behind in his one-on-one match with Bradshaw. Mankind took out Undertaker with the Mandible Claw, and referees had to restrain Mankind from doing further damage to The Undertaker.
9 In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog
At In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, The Undertaker challenged Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship in a casket match. Whilst, Paul Bearer made his way down the aisle, Undertaker snuck up behind The Bizarre One to gain the early advantage.
This was a competitive match, and Goldust proved that he can hang with someone of the caliber of Undertaker. The Deadman Tombstoned Goldust, and was closing in on his first Intercontinental Championship until Mankind emerged from the casket. Mankind locked the Mandible Claw on Undertaker which allowed Goldust to regain the title.
8 King Of The Ring 1996
Finally, The Undertaker and Mankind had their first match together at the 1996 King of the Ring. Similar to Undertaker's match with Goldust, The Undertaker played mind games by sneaking up behind Mankind with a clothesline to get proceedings underway.
This was a hard-hitting affair between the two, and it is actually one of their best matches which is sadly overlooked. Nonetheless, Paul Bearer accidentally nailed Undertaker in the head with the urn, and Mankind took advantage by prevailing with the Mandible Claw.
7 SummerSlam 1996
A couple of months later, The Undertaker and Mankind collided once again, but this time it was in the first-ever Boiler Room Brawl at SummerSlam 1996. The way to obtain victory was to escape from the boiler room and retrieve the urn from Paul Bearer who was at ringside.
The pair brawled around the boiler room, and Mankind took a nasty bump with Undertaker pulling him off a ladder. However, in a shocking turn of events, Bearer and Undertaker's five-and-a-half-year partnership ended. Bearer refused to hand the urn to Undertaker. Mankind locked Undertaker in the debilitating Mandible Claw and Bearer hit Undertaker in the head with the urn, handing it over to Mankind who won the match.
6 In Your House 10: Mind Games
Mankind had the biggest match in his career to date by challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at In Your House 10: Mind Games. Mankind certainly impressed, which is why it is no surprise that Mankind captured three WWE Titles later on in his career.
Ultimately, Michaels retained the title by disqualification, and there was a casket at ringside. Mankind intended to put HBK in there but Bearer lifted the casket and Undertaker appeared out of it. Bearer and Mankind hightailed it with Undertaker in hot pursuit.
5 In Your House 11: Buried Alive
Mankind and Undertaker continued their feud at In Your House 11: Buried Alive, and the title of this iteration of In Your House was appropriate. The bitter rivals collided in the first-ever Buried Alive match.
Mankind was seeking a third successive victory over Undertaker which was unheard of. Neither man held back by using weapons and fighting on the gravesite in this enthralling contest. Finally, Undertaker got his first win over Mankind, but Mankind had the last laugh as he and other heels buried The Deadman alive.
4 Survivor Series 1996
Undertaker returned to action at Survivor Series 1996, sporting a leather black attire, and he was hellbent on gaining some revenge on Mankind and Paul Bearer after getting buried alive. The Undertaker descended Madison Square Garden in an interesting entrance which was fun to watch.
Moreover, Bearer was hoisted above the ring in a Shark Cage, so he could not get involved in this encounter in any shape or form. Once again, Undertaker and Mankind delivered a high-level contest, which encapsulated the greatness of both men in this era. The Undertaker was victorious, and he extended his unbeaten record at Survivor Series to a flawless 7-0.
3 In Your House 14: Revenge Of The Taker
At WrestleMania 13, The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid for his second WWE Championship reign, which ended a near six-year drought as champion. The Phenom's first significant title defense came at In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker against Mankind.
The Phenom and his nemesis had another brutal battle and it was by far the biggest match in their rivalry with the WWE Championship on the line. Undertaker swung the pendulum in his favor by defeating the deranged one with his patented Tombstone Piledriver. However, in retaliation for getting a fireball in his face, Undertaker shot a fireball in Bearer's face.
2 Mankind Costs Undertaker A Shot At The WWE Championship
Failing to wrestle the WWE Championship away from Stone Cold Steve Austin at Over The Edge: In Your House, Mr. McMahon fired Dude Love. Foley's night wasn't over as he interfered in The Undertaker and Kane's number one contender's match for Austin's WWE Title on the June 1, 1998, edition of Raw.
Once again, Foley reverted to his Mankind character, and he reignited his feud with Undertaker for the first time in a year. Mankind's interference allowed Kane to earn a rare victory over his brother, who went on to face Austin for the WWE Championship at the King of the Ring.
1 King Of The Ring 1998
Undertaker and Mankind finally settled the score inside Hell in a Cell at the 1998 King of the Ring. The Deadman wanted to inflict pain on Mankind as he was the sole reason why Undertaker was not challenging for the WWE Championship.
Right from the word go, there was drama in this Hell in a Cell match. Undertaker threw Mankind off the top of the cell and he crashed through the announce table. Mankind was not done yet, and he took a Chokeslam through the top of the cell. It's a miracle that Mankind managed to finish off this brutal encounter after taking two brutal bumps. Undertaker prevailed with the Tombstone Piledriver, but this Hell in a Cell match has not been topped in terms of brutality.