by 1996 Mankind debuts after WrestleMania XII to attack The Undertaker
Just like he did the previous year, the night after WrestleMania, Bob Holly began the show by getting his butt kicked. Holly tried to outmuscle and out brawl the debuting Mankind, but the bizarre one was just too much and had no problems mixing it up with Holly inside of the ring and out. Mankind was an instant hit with the fans, and I mean instant!
The mask didn’t hide his identity from the smart fans however, as they quickly figured out who he was and began to chant, “he’s hardcore”. This, a reference to his hardcore days in the ECW. Vince McMahon, doing commentary, seemed more disturbed then impressed, clearly not realizing the millions upon millions Mick Foley would be making him.
It wasn’t the last time we’d see Mankind on this night however, as a little later he would attack The Undertaker after his match with Justin Hawk Bradshaw. The Mankind attack on The Undertaker was a sign of things to come as Mankind would get the best of the feud, to the point where Paul Bearer switched sides, ending a six-year relationship with Taker and turning on him to join Mankind at that years SummerSlam in Cleveland.
