This was a one-off match for Michaels’ WWF World Championship, in the midst of “The Heartbreak Kid’s” rivalry with Big Van Vader and Psycho Sid—as well as Mankind’s feud with The Undertaker.
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Mankind, the masked persona of pro-wrestling luminary Mick Foley, was managed by the macabre Paul Bearer—channeling the ethos of every deranged Slasher movie serial killer. Here, his propensity for violence and masochism was on full display, pushing the boundaries of a WWF Championship match.
HBK was six months into his reign as champion and at the peak of his powers, demonstrating his malleability. Not only could Michaels adapt to any style, but he could shift gears at a moment’s notice—conveying a real sense of duress. Like all of Mankind’s opponents who preceded him, Michaels is flummoxed by the monster’s attrition.
The result is a career defining performance in both wrestler’s oeuvres and one of my favorite WWF matches.
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