In late 1998, The Undertaker reunited with Paul Bearer for the first time in two years, and The Deadman turned heel. Undertaker led his army into battle, and some of the all-time greats were members of this demonic stable. The likes of Edge, Christian, and Bradshaw benefitted from being in this group as they went on to become world champions in WWE. Moreover, The Undertaker wanted to take control of Mr. McMahon's WWE, which naturally saw The Ministry feud with The Corporation.
RELATED: 10 Things About The Ministry Of Darkness That Made No Sense
Everyone fondly remembers, The Undertaker hanging Big Boss Man in a lackluster Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XV. They even remember The Ministry merging with The Corporation to become The Corporate Ministry. However, it was great to see Undertaker become a leader as he was usually on his lonesome but there were some moments in The Ministry of Darkness that some fans forget even happened.
10 Mabel Stole Mosh's Spot In The 1999 Royal Rumble Before He Joined The Faction
Hours before the 1999 Royal Rumble match occurred, The Undertaker made a rare appearance on Heat. Undertaker alongside Paul Bearer, The Acolytes, and Mideon announced that there would be a sacrifice during the Royal Rumble match.
That person ended up being Mabel. Mabel stole Mosh's spot and he eliminated several wrestlers before the lights went out. The Ministry emerged with The Acolytes and Mideon assaulting Mabel. Mabel would become Viscera as the latest person to join The Ministry. The main focus on the Royal Rumble match was Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon so this moment often gets overlooked.
9 The Undertaker Returned To Using Graveyard Symphony
On the January 11, 1999 edition of Raw, Undertaker returned to WWE after a one-month absence. Undertaker sported a new look with a goatee and he looked sinister. The Ministry of Darkness was finally started to take shape with Undertaker back in the fold.
Another footnote that often gets forgotten is that Undertaker returned to using his "Graveyard Symphony" theme song. The Phenom originally debuted that theme at Survivor Series 1995. It's synonymous with his Lord of Darkness gimmick. The Deadman used it for two-and-a-half years until July 1998 when he began using different versions of his "Dark Side" theme.
8 Gangrel Almost Died On Raw In February 1999
It seemed a natural fit that The Brood would end up joining The Ministry of Darkness. Gangrel, Edge, and Christian were one of the most popular trios in the Attitude Era. However, on the February 1, 1999 edition of Raw, The Brood collided with Mideon, Viscera, and Undertaker in a six-man tag team match. Although Undertaker was announced, he watched from his throne on the top of the ramp.
It became a brawl when The Acolytes got involved and laid out The Brood. The Brood refused help from the referees and continued to get beaten. Unfortunately, a noose was involved and Gangrel recalls that he almost died. On his Fangin n Bangin with Gangrel YouTube show, Gangrel revealed that he was fading away. Until he pinched Mideon, Mideon realized that Gangrel was in trouble and pulled him up to avoid a catastrophe from happening.
7 The Undertaker & Paul Bearer Reunited At Judgment Day: In Your House
The Undertaker and Kane battled for the vacant WWE Championship at Judgment Day: In Your House. There was a caveat as if Steve Austin did not crown Undertaker or Kane, as the new WWE Champion he would be fired.
RELATED: 10 Things Most Fans Forget About The Kane vs. Undertaker Rivalry
Paul Bearer entered the ring with a steel chair in hand. He did the unthinkable by clocking Kane in the back and reunited with Undertaker. The Phenom was closing in on regaining the WWE Championship but Austin laid him out and counted both Kane and Undertaker's shoulders down. Their reunion at this event often gets forgotten since Austin was going to be fired from WWE.
6 Michael Cole Thought Mideon Was Levitating
The Undertaker recruited The Acolytes as his henchmen in the Ministry of Darkness. However, Dennis Knight was rechristened as Mideon on the January 11, 1999 edition of Raw. Mideon was sacrificed and Undertaker sliced his wrist with Mideon drinking his blood in a cup.
It was a weird sight to behold but Michael Cole thought that Mideon was levitating. Cole is one of the greatest commentators but this wasn't one of his finest moments as Mideon did not levitate.
5 The Undertaker's Inferno Match Was His First Match Back In Two Months
The second Inferno match in WWE history once again featured The Undertaker and Kane. This time the demonic brothers battled on the February 22, 1999 edition of Raw. Undertaker represented The Ministry of Darkness whilst Kane was a member of The Corporation.
Unfortunately, this inferno match failed to match the expectations of the first one. Undertaker was a little ring rusty considering it was his first match since he lost to Steve Austin in a Buried Alive match at Rock Bottom: In Your House two months prior.
4 No Titles Were Won Until They Merged With The Corporation
Factions are supposed to be dominant and claiming as many championships as possible is a must. Surprisingly, The Ministry of Darkness did not win a single title throughout their existent. That all changed when they merged with The Corporation to form The Corporate Ministry.
RELATED: 10 Factions That Held Multiple Titles At The Same Time
Undertaker added the WWE Championship to the group. Both Shane McMahon and Mideon had stints as European Champion, Big Boss Man captured the Hardcore Championship, and The Acolytes clinched two WWE Tag Team titles during the faction's two-month run. Some fans would have forgotten this since The Ministry should have won countless titles.
3 No Clear Winner In The Ministry & Corporation Feud
There was a potential to make something special in The Ministry and The Corporation's feud. However, the reason why the feud failed was that both factions were heels. Mr. McMahon was feuding with Steve Austin simultaneously, and The Rock was not involved as he had bigger fish to fry in WWE Title matches with Mankind and Austin.
The Ministry and The Corporation only battled in two six-man tag team matches with no definitive winner. The first time around was on the February 15, 1999 edition of Raw with Undertaker abducting Shane McMahon. A month later on the final Raw before WrestleMania XV, Undertaker and The Acolytes clashed with Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock, and Test. Again there was no clear-cut winner with the brawl spilling onto the outside.
2 The Undertaker's Buried Alive Match With Steve Austin Was To Enter The 1999 Royal Rumble Match
The final pay-per-view main event of 1998 saw The Undertaker and Steve Austin collide in the second Buried Alive match at Rock Bottom: In Your House. There was another hidden caveat that fans fail to recall about this match as the winner would enter the 1999 Royal Rumble match.
For some reason, Undertaker and Austin's matches were never the best but this was a slugfest. They certainly utilized the gravesite as their battlefield with never man holding back. Ultimately, The Texas Rattlesnake prevailed all thanks to Kane and thus he secured his spot in the Royal Rumble match.
1 The Corporate Ministry Was Formed On The Pilot Episode Of SmackDown
The pilot episode of SmackDown took place on April 26, 1999. Fast forward 23 years later, and SmackDown is arguably the flagship show, despite starting six years after Raw.
In a shocking turn of events, The Undertaker and The Corporation's new leader Shane McMahon stood side by side. The rest of their respective faction members emerged and The Corporate Ministry was born. Considering the factions were feuding for the first part of 1999, it certainly would have been interesting to see how The Corporation led by Shane would have faired against Undertaker's Ministry.
