On June 28th, 1998, Mankind was thrown from atop the Hell in a Cell structure by The Undertaker, in a moment that has transcended professional wrestling and defined its so-called Attitude Era. It was a fall that has been a cautionary tale about the danger of chasing the dragon that is the "pop," as it's known in the wrestling business.
On a recent episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, legendary referee Mike Chioda spoke about that night. While he wasn't the referee assigned to the match, he was on hand to assist following Mankind's horrific crash and burn.
"That just brought wrestling to a whole 'nother level," he praised. "What he did for the boys and the business was unbelievable."
He goes on to discuss the fact that his earpiece was one-way in that era, meaning that he and his colleagues couldn't communicate with the producers sitting in "gorilla position," or the area immediately before the curtain at a wrestling show. Chioda was getting screamed at by said producers who were urging him to help get Mankind back onto the stretcher, but in an act of bravery to the point of absurdity, he gets up and ascends the cell, only to get put through the cage roof.
Among the injuries Mankind suffered were a dislocated shoulder and a tooth that was knocked out of his mouth and through his lip, leading to an image that is gratifying and gross all at once.
Check out the clip from the interview below:
And in case you haven't seen the match, check it out below and remedy that, as while it is a shocking display of toughness and determination that arguable went further than it ever should have, it is iconic as a result of that and more.
