The whole Ministry of Darkness angle.

[agent817]

Did anybody else think that during that time, the whole angle felt like you were watching a dark fantasy movie than a wrestling show? Now I know that the Undertaker's character before that was supposed to be a walking dead man and all that stuff and that was just his character. However, I still remember watching Live Wire back in 1999 when it showed some footage of Dennis Knight (Before he became Mideon) with his arms cuffed like if he was in some dungeon and then the Acolytes throw him into some room with some kind of evil being or something so that he could be tortured. I know that, kayfabe-wise, it was all part of some initiation process of Mideon becoming one with the Ministry. But it felt like I was watching some fantasy movie rather than wrestling.

Of course, before that whole angle started, Undertaker and Paul Bearer were going to embalm Austin alive, which I thought was crazy looking back. I think at that point, the angle was kind of going off the deep end, and I thought that crucifying Austin on the Undertaker symbol was a little much. But then again, Russo was still writing for the WWF at the time, right?

[Hit Girl]

It was a great angle. I always liked Undertaker's "Emperor Palpatine" look

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

It'd probably be silly as hell if I went back and watched it today, but at the time I loved it. It was the type of gonzo lunacy that you only get from wrestling. I'm generally of the opinion that wrestling should be down-and-gritty or presented as a realistic sporting competition that's always on the verge of going off the rails (ECW, WCW when done right), but the Ministry angle is something that could only be done with the glossy production angles of WWE.

It also marks the last time I really dug the Undertaker. It was the ultimate interpretation of the character: A balls-out '70s exploitation movie Satanic cult leader. The watered down throwback version we've had since 2005 or so just pales after you remember the crucifixion of Steve Austin or the abduction of Stephanie. As for the Biker Taker, I've never been a fan of what's essentially a main event version of the Harris Brothers.

Honestly, the Wyatt Family is the first time in 14 years that WWE has captured that same kind of creepy dread that I got when Ministry Undertaker strolled out on stage. Well, that and Miz's title reign.

[RAW IS GWAR]

Best angle ever

[Desi]

While it was happening (I was 10/11 years old), I hated it because it was so corny and over the top, even for Taker. Looking back at it now, I can appreciate it more because I find it easier to suspend my belief with the angle now than when I was younger.

Or maybe it's because I didn't want to boo Taker, as he was/is my second favorite behind Austin.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Ministry Undertaker was the best Taker. They gave us all the crazy dark stuff, but at the same time acknowledged that Taker was human.

[GuyOfOwnage]

I'll always remember the Ministry Taker angle as the one that almost got me banned from watching wrestling when I was 10/11 years old. Somehow, blood, profanity, and overt sexuality were perfectly fine for a prepubescent boy, but a storyline with mild Satanic undertones apparently was not. I'll never completely understand my parents.

[JTG Fan]

I believe CRZ (a notable wrestling reviewer) used to refer to them as 'The Ministry of Comic Book Sales', which seemed to be the target audience for those weird segments.

[Ben Wyatt]

The higher power reveal pretty much made the previous 6 months really screwey.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

It was Undertaker's worst period for wrestling, though.

Well, until his first run as babyface Bikertaker.

[Dave the Dave]

WHERE TO STEPHANIE?

[agent817]

Aug 21, 2013 10:57:39 GMT -5 Dave the Dave said:

WHERE TO STEPHANIE?

DAAAAAAAAD!!!!!

I still laugh at that sequence. Not laugh AT, but you get what I mean.

[Bub (BLM)]

Aug 21, 2013 10:54:40 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

It was Undertaker's worst period for wrestling, though.

Well, until his first run as babyface Bikertaker.

It really was. He seemed to lack any drive or motivation in the ring during his Ministry days. The fact that he's had better matches now with his body being held together with tape and glue as opposed to back then in his prime just shows how little he cared then.

[Juice]

I really liked it. I was in like 5th grade at the time I think. (im almost 26 now). and I remember thinking I was really weird for siding with taker. Been my favorite pretty much my entire life as a wrestling fan. And I loved the ministry and Brood. And then there was that implied rape scene of Steph and I was like, woa man these are the guys im rooting fr this is f***ed up.

[rapidfire187]

The Ministry was cool but I really preferred taker from 1998. Especially later in 98 when he got the new theme that eventually became the Ministry theme. I preferred the original version of that theme without the talking in the background.

[Allie Kitsune]

Aug 21, 2013 10:57:39 GMT -5 Dave the Dave said:

WHERE TO STEPHANIE?

I still can't believe they made Taker do the EXACT SAME THING a few years later...

"BUCKLE UP, TEDDY."

[Lupin the Third]

Well, if you think about it, Undertaker's current attire has that "Ministry" feel to it. So since the Corporation has returned, do we see a return of the Ministry?

[thegame415]

I think this was to capitalize on the mainstream infatuation with cults in the '90's.

[Deleted]

I think they need to use more of that hyper-stylized fantasy stuff for the Wyatt Family.

[lildude8218]

I still wonder what it would have been like if Marc Mero had become "Lazarus" like it was rumored