WWE’s King of the Ring ’98 Revisited: The Undertaker’s Thoughts on Wrestling’s Changing Landscape
The year 1998 marked a pivotal moment in WWE history, with the King of the Ring pay-per-view featuring a match that would forever alter the course of wrestling. Mick Foley’s jaw-dropping fall from the Hell in a Cell structure during his bout with The Undertaker remains etched in the memories of fans worldwide.
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway,” The Undertaker delved into the intense level of violence that characterized his feud with Foley. Reflecting on the era, he acknowledged that their confrontations pushed the boundaries of violence beyond anything seen in wrestling at the time.
For The Undertaker, every violent encounter with Foley was carefully crafted to fit within the narrative of their characters. From Boiler Room Brawls to Buried Alive Matches, each match served a purpose in advancing their storyline. However, he expressed concern over the current state of wrestling, where violence often feels gratuitous and lacks the storytelling depth that defined their era.
Critiquing contemporary wrestling promotions, The Undertaker lamented the prevalence of violence for the sake of shock value. Wrestlers sacrificing their bodies on tables or enduring brutal assaults merely to elicit a reaction detract from the essence of the sport, he argued. While acknowledging the place of violence in wrestling, he emphasized the importance of it being meaningful and integral to the story being told.
As WWE transitions away from the extreme violence of the past, The Undertaker stressed the significance of storytelling and character development in captivating audiences. His reflections offer valuable insights into the changing landscape of wrestling and serve as a reminder of the importance of narrative depth in engaging viewers.
