How The Undertaker Crucified Steve Austin On WWE Raw, Explained
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The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin had one of the most brutal rivalries of WWE's Attitude Era, as it paved the way for The Undertaker to take on a more sadistic side of his character. After turning heel and creating the Ministry of Darkness in late 1998, The Undertaker became more bloodthirsty as Steve Austin became among his first targets. In one of the most infamous angles on Monday Night Raw, The Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness crucified on Austin on live TV.
Related: The Undertaker: "Sami Zayn Has Never Been A Bigger Star"
The Undertaker And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's Rivalry Dominated WWE In Late 1998
Regarding the superstars who represented WWE's Attitude Era, no one topped "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Two men who were main-event superstars during the beginning and end of that era, from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, The Undertaker and Steve Austin went through many battles with each other, with both men scoring victories on each other.
With that said, Steve Austin was one of the few men in WWE history to push The Undertaker to his limits, going as far as even beating him clean in the middle of the ring. After Steve Austin screwed The Undertaker out of winning the WWE Championship at Judgment Day 1998, their rivalry kicked into another gear with The Undertaker turning heel and joining forces with Paul Bearer to unleash the Ministry of Darkness. The Undertaker and Steve Austin's rivalry became personal upon The Undertaker's heel turn, especially as the two got set to face off in a Buried Alive match at Rock Bottom 1998. The winner of that match would earn a spot in the upcoming Royal Rumble match.
Related: The Undertaker's Forgotten Reign As WWE Hardcore Champion, Explained
The Infamous "Crucifixion" Angle On Raw Is War
On a December 1998 episode of Raw is War, the final Raw episode before Rock Bottom, The Undertaker and WWE Champion The Rock teamed up to take on Steve Austin and Mankind in a star-driven tag team main event. After the match ended by disqualification, The Undertaker and Steve Austin continued to brawl outside of the ring. Unfortunately for Steve Austin, The Undertaker managed to get the upper hand after clocking Steve Austin with the ring bell, later dragging him into the entrance ramp.
The Undertaker's druids arrived by tying up Steve Austin to a giant wooden symbol representing The Undertaker, with Steve Austin appearing in a crucifixion position. The Undertaker's wooden symbol with Steve Austin tied to it began to rise to the video titantron while The Undertaker's entrance theme started playing. With Steve Austin tied up and raised in the air, The Undertaker crucifying him was a way to send a bone-chilling message about what was to come in their upcoming Buried Alive match at Rock Bottom. From that point, The Undertaker would continue doing the same crucifixion practice on different personalities as his Ministry of Darkness became more powerful.
Related: How "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Almost Died In A Monday Night Raw Stunt, Explained
The Aftermath Of Steve Austin's Run-In With The Undertaker on Raw In Late 1998
Steve Austin went on to defeat The Undertaker in their Buried Alive match with the help of Kane, who The Undertaker had been trying to get committed to an asylum. After that, Steve Austin focused on other things, like going after the WWE Championship. His win against The Undertaker earned him the right to enter the 1999 Royal rumble match at the next PPV, although Vince McMahon went on to win the Royal Rumble match by screwing Steve Austin once again.
Meanwhile, The Undertaker had other plans in mind. As he returned on a January 1999 episode of Raw is War with a new facial look expanding his Ministry of Darkness, The Undertaker decided to hold off from targeting Steve Austin and went after Vince McMahon and The Corporation instead, going as far as targeting Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon. The Undertaker's rivalry with The Corporation later evolved into a Championship feud with Steve Austin in mid-1999.
Even though Steve Austin won back the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 15, he eventually had to defend his belt against a more sadistic Undertaker. On an April 1999 episode of Raw is War, Steve Austin's rivalry with The Undertaker resumed after he stopped him from forcing Stephanie McMahon into marriage. After that, both men engaged in a series of WWE Championship bouts in the summer of 1999, with Steve Austin getting his title back in the end while providing some of the most entertaining television of the Attitude Era.
