[1996-08-19-WWF-Raw] Interview: Mankind & Paul Bearer

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

I know this wasn't a small angle, but it was so well done that it seems like it should have been much bigger. Bearer is explaining his turn and the lights keep flickering. Finally, the Undertaker's music plays and the crowd goes crazy, but he's carted out by druids. Bearer says he's passed away, and it appears that's the case (you know what I mean) until the bell sounds and Undertaker sits up, makes fire come out of all four corners of the ring and Mankind and Bearer head for the hills. This was a great segment.

[Strummer]

Undertaker should have sold his beating (both physically and emotionally) longer and taken a few months off to really sell the angle. That was the original plan IIRC but then he just shows up right away. Still an important angle as Undertaker is becoming "human" for the first time

[El-P]

I was so disapointed that Taker was back just the day after SummerSlam. I think I was getting tired of Taker by that point, and was looking forward to see Mankind get to new things after doing the unthinkable and defeating Taker. That angle told me it was business as always. Didn't like it at the time, don't think it was good now. Taker should have been gone until the build to Survivor Series.

[Zenjo]

This was at a time before the Undertaker took months off after ever storyline beating.

[PeteF3]

Yeah, this was well-done (and a fine interview by Mankind explaining his motivation for going after the title) but it was way too early to do this. There's no reason why they couldn't have saved this for Mind Games. Hell, maybe it would have taken some of the sting out of the DQ finish.

[soup23]

Too early for sure but really effective and felt like the bear bones version of the production WWF would venture into within the Undertaker storyline in the years to come. Ross sold the aura of the moment well when he returned to commentary.

[Exposer]

Bearer never really gets to explain his turn. However, this segment is very effective in getting over that Bearer has joined with Mankind & his gloating about The Undertaker's "death" is great. Mankind is cutting a promo on his match with HBK at Mind Games when the lights go out. The Druids bring Taker to ringside & lay his lifeless body in the aisle. Bearer is great mocking Taker & telling fans to bow their head. I loved that he called it a "wake." Taker sits up in an awesome moment & raises his hands up causing the turnbuckles to light up with pyro. Bearer & Mankind retreat as Taker enters the ring & does his pose. Really cool segment that does a great job of introducing the newest layer of this feud with Bearer's turn & Undertaker being out for revenge. I agree they should have waited until at least Mind Games to bring Taker back, but this was still effective & that's what matters.

[tim]

Really good segment, and the Undertaker schtick is really starting to have an edge to it to keep up with the feel of the WCW product. The more edgy than cartoonish outlandish character of Mankind helps. The flickering of the lights worked really well and Bearer was great getting increasingly nervous. Probably would have been good to keep Undertaker out for a while though, let Mankind focus on the Shawn program and then return with more impact.