STW

[@MJV08]

The ministry music Taker had was by far the best.

[@youngstezievlogs611]

Scary but cool and danceable

[@DUFFYISBACK]

4:58 It starts

[@MasGood]

The hanging Big Boss Man from the Hell In The Cell was the most badass shit ever. Taker leading that group was gold

[@nateputerbaugh5709]

Jesus Christ Conrad, could you at least not plug your ads in literally mid-sentence?

[@TheWWEfanatic93]

Ministry Undertaker was his peak in my opinion in terms of his character. This should be a fun one to listen to.

[@blueblur2329]

1999 was the peak of most of the characters in the WWF

[@shinobi887]

His ministry entrance music kicked ass.

[@shamsingh6190]

Prob my greatest year in wrestling, loved ministry of darkness

[@blueblur2329]

Yep it just ended terribly

[@LALakersNornIron]

My favourite version of the Undertaker

[@codykueker4372]

I’ve always been curious about this side of Undertaker’s gimmick. I’ve always wanted to know more about his perspective on the 1999 run, and knowing the behind the scenes is fascinating. Thanks for all you guys do!

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

In The Undertaker's 'This Is My Yard' 2001 dvd documentary, he explains how very proud he was of the Ministry Of Darkness but has gone on record to say that he absolutely hated the whole merging with The Corporation into the Corporate Ministry with Vince McMahon as it took everything way from The Undertaker character and considers it to be a low point in his career.

[@marcusroper5561]

Favorite time of WWF. So glad they did this.

[@josephboza7448]

MIne too. Even though Taker had bad luck with injuries, he was still able to make an impact in 99.

[@TheGodinme88]

90-94 and ‘99 Taker were the best!🔥

[@theallamericannightmare4163]

Can we agree Stephanie should of done Playboy with the other ladies. Definitely would of got that copy of Playboy. Stephanie always smoking hot 🥵

[@heatman233223]

Ministry undertaker was my introduction to the undertaker since i started watching wrestling in jan 99.

[@andrewbowyer5043]

I'll never forget when The Undertaker came out to the ring for his match against Austin at Over The Edge 99, it was 1000 times more eerie given what happened a few minutes earlier

[@mikematthews3409]

Agreed with the evil satanic music

[@smokingthereefer92]

I've always wondered taker's thoughts on that. Hope somebody is able to ask him that one day. How hard was it to keep character playing someone surrounded by death with the incident that occurred minutes before

[@mikematthews3409]

@@smokingthereefer92 exactly maybe that's one of the reasons he turned into a biker shortly after

[@MBM1117727]

It was more like 2 hours later

[@MBM1117727]

It was more like 2 hours later

[@garydevlin8178]

We need a ‘where to Stephanie!’ Meme with Conrad’s face and laugh from the intro 😆

[@Super122291]

Please no. Gary ❤

[@kennedyclarkjrpg]

The higher power should’ve been ultimate warrior using the power of destrucity

[@thedoctor8]

I started watching WWF in early 1999 and this was the first version of Undertaker I saw and as a 6-7 year old man it at times scared the hell out of me!

[@marlonnicholson8410]

My favorite version of the undertaker especially the ministry theme. The look also looked sweet as hell

[@luisdel4059]

The match with Shamrock was Backlash 99...not Breakdown

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

Absolutely loved the Ministry Undertaker and the whole Ministry of Darkness faction, this to me was Undertaker at his darkest and most evil, he was an absolute monster heel even though he was still getting big pops and cheers from fans. The whole look with the hooded robe, the long devilish goatee and the giant spike caped that he came out in at Wrestlemania 15 made my jaw drop combined with the dark lights and scary music, his promo work during this era was top notch and it's my second favourite look of his career. Everyone from Undertaker to Paul Bearer to the Acolytes to Mideon and Viscera played their characters perfectly especially The Brood who had a gothic vampire gimmick, they fitted in perfectly with Undertaker's satanic persona. I hated the whole Ministry and Corporation merging to become the Corporate Ministry with Vince McMahon as the higher power, it made no sense and was completely stupid. Even though the Ministry gimmick was short lived, October 1998 - April 99 was some of Undertaker's best work. He truly was an evil force of nature.

[@blueblur2329]

Yep the corporation and ministry merger ruined everything and diminished Undertaker, turning him into a henchmen. In a fantasy world Sting would have been the higher power and that would have set up an invasion storyline with WCW.

[@chessduncan1864]

This taker was his FINAL FORM.🔥🔥🔥🤘🏾🌌🌌🌌

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

@@chessduncan1864 💯

[@blueblur2329]

@John 15:12 Considering the whole point of the Higher Power was to take over the WWF from Vince Mcmahon, it actually doesn't make any sense especially when Vince being the higher power gave him no tactical advantage whatsoever.

[@blueblur2329]

@John 15:12 Like?

[@MattDeMille]

1:23:58: Taker lift the lyrics from Excalibur (Borrman, 1981). The Charm Of Making.

[@IggyStardust1967]

I was only of the only people I knew that picked up on that. Most hadn't even seen Excalibur.

[@MattDeMille]

@@IggyStardust1967 Awesome film. Apparently Mr Calloway has good taste in movies. "Old school" indeed.

[@andrewalverez1238]

I think Takers lines when he is speaking in tongues is a spell Merlin says from the movie "Excalibur", sure sounds like it to me. Something about waking a sleeping dragon.

[@martintraphagen3698]

This podcast was 1,000,000X better when Bruce wasn't a WWE employee. Like this comment if you agree, fellow smart marks

[@CraigSmithII]

Agreed

[@deepblue8143]

The podcast is still great.

[@jimzee6214]

Remember when Bruce used to seem like he enjoyed doing this show?

[@deepblue8143]

Seems like he still enjoys it.

[@MikeD974]

Ministry taker was my favorite

[@ckdx98]

Sounds like Bruce's pissed!

[@keijikicksass]

Even when talking about Taker's 1999, Conrad still manages to talk about Ric Flair haha...and to think he used to rag on Bruce for mentioning HHH.

[@samadagoat7769]

I was born in 93 can remember watching wwf as early as 95 with my mom all the time so my first introduction of taker was the purple version I also knew of the grey and black version through wwf reruns on syndicated tv by that time but when taker morphed into ministry taker that was by far the most drastic turn ever for me .. he was on a whole other level of badass and final boss level .. that version of taker is the peak of what wwf could ever produce

[@33apeiro]

Hey Conrad, the ppv was Backlash, not Breakdown.

[@eddead4235]

Podcast of yr yeh right

[@deepblue8143]

Ok Clint from Hershey.

[@Ahmad.KSA85]

You're right , Breakdown was in 1998

[@josephlascola6592]

He's gonna take the rock to the learning tree. Lmao I just started working out and when i get close to the end of my set i put on the ministry theme and power through it

[@Super122291]

So cute. Joseph 😮

[@IggyStardust1967]

A nice cold beer. An ice cold beer. Same letters, same order, different meaning.

[@chessduncan1864]

Undertaker at that time MY LORD HE WAS eliteeeee LEVEL THIS WAS MY FAVOURITE VERSION OF EM

[@jayclifford9700]

Been waiting for this one for so long

[@gcgc6381]

" She probably measured from the a$$hole." 😂 lost it.

[@M0wi11_89]

Taker vs shamrock backlash 1999 was a good match. Idc what anyone thinks

[@thedoctor8]

Love both guys but it just felt slow paced.

[@M0wi11_89]

@@thedoctor8 it was but it was technical as hell. I guess thay crowd wasn't into that and they just wanted to skip to the rematch with Austin and Rock

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

This is my favorite incarnation of the Undertaker.

[@400fabo]

My two favorite undertakers are big evil and ministry taker he looked scary and cool to me as a kid.

[@scottshaffer7296]

Best look the undertaker had not a fan of the ministry but scariest undertaker ever

[@Adelman330]

Ministry was 🔥.. Bradshaw, Edge, Christian, Viscera, all future world champions, Farooq first black world champion, only weak links were mideon and gangrel. And they were both solid workers. Easy argument could be made that the ministry was one of the best and stacked factions of all time.

[@bonesbrigader]

Went to that RAW show in May of '99 at the then National car rental center arena and I remember my bud who was with me was trying to get us to go to the RAW taping in Orlando the day before but we couldn't logistically make it happen. Blew my mind tho that you could see two RAW shows weeks before anyone else. The audio was terrible in the arena. But I got to see Test & Val Venis walk into our Denny's after the show which was pretty f**king awesome. Was also two weeks before Owen died. Such a cool and sad time all at the same time.

[@crushthewrestlingchampion4669]

I love the ministry undertaker in wrestling

[@dkbarbados4540]

Loved ministry taker.

[@gregharper6382]

5:07 it starts!

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

49:22-JRs call was so good!

[@kresienm9031]

undertaker returned with a similar look except the hair for WM 30 when he lost the streak.

[@budlybeerburgler8083]

17:04 can you elaborate on, (steph was coming around)? Details please.

[@kingofkings69ner]

The Undertaker Ken Shamrock match was at Backlash 99, not at Breakdown! X Pac Road Dogg match went on before Rock Undertaker championship match, now X Pac did have another match after the wwf championship match which was the KOTR finals between X Pac Billy Gunn

[@Super122291]

Wtf. Conrad

[@mikeyreu5285]

Fan of the pod....but holy crap man, how many times can Conrad ask the same damn questions, I've heard that cornette/stephanie story at least 5 times on STW...."GODDDAAAAAAAAMN"

[@blueblur2329]

😒 It's really not that hard. They have new listeners coming in everyday who haven't heard the story. Therefore it's done for their benefit.

[@joetweed5909]

The ministry Undertaker is my favorite year of wrestling forealz same wit the American bad ass was my favorite as well 1999 from early 2000s are my favorite years of professional wrestling

[@Rschr101]

Highest rated match of all time, 9.5 Ministry Taker vs Austin.

[@koffinradio]

I never thought anyone but Mcmahon couldve been the higher power in hindsight. Maybe a clean jake the snake. but no one had star power to just jump in and be a top guy while WWE is at their hottest run in like 8 years. I know theres plot holes but i dont see anyone else working.

[@Snarka09]

Big Show if they waited and let him debut as a darker character. Even if they just used him as he was in 1999 it would've been better than Vince.

[@BuffdatRatt]

"Heyyy Conrad Thomas" ...

[@retepoteil]

The problem with the hell in a cell match with taker and boss man was there was such high expectations. Hell in a cell with michaels and mankind were amazing. I was expecting a match on par with those not a fucking hanging

[@TheWWEfanatic93]

The only reason they made it a Hell in a Cell match at WM 15 was to do the "hanging" angle. Many people got hyped up about it and expected there to be bigger bumps than Taker/Mankind at KOTR 1998. Neither Bossman or Taker were in condition to bump from the top of the cell so they were doomed from the start really.

[@retepoteil]

@@TheWWEfanatic93 very true. Probably should’ve just a regular match

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

The hanging is probably the coolest spot in all of the HITC’s.

[@shinobi887]

Don Callis came out with Acolytes a few times as the Jackyl. I wonder if he was supposed to be a part of the ministry and why he disappeared?

[@shane-irish]

I see undertaker i watch listen

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

It funny how so many ppl are now saying they liked Ministry Undertaker cuz I remember a time when i felt i was the only person on the planet that liked Ministry Undertaker.

[@marklupo3441]

Does anyone know the real higher power story? I’ve heard it was supposed to be either hbk or jake Robert’s. But both were too screwed up on drugs.

[@nickcox1408]

At first, i didnt think vince was the higher power because that was too obvious. So, the only person i could possibly be the higher power was Jake the snake Roberts.

[@CeemPlay]

Preach hard

[@Little88Mac]

Imagine if Hulk Hogan couldve left WCW and join WWF at the time to be the higher power. Back to destroy the WWF

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

That would have been cool!

[@nateputerbaugh5709]

It shows the difference in WWE where Mabel got chance after chance after push after rub for 15 years despite never once showing charisma or having talent, and Tommy End just gets shoved aside instantly

[@eddieroche8176]

Wasn’t Don Callis supposed to be the Higher Power?

[@andrewbowyer5043]

Christopher Daniels was talked about being the Higher Power, then Vince took a look at him lol

[@scottshaffer7296]

Don as the jackal could have worked

[@eddead4235]

@@andrewbowyer5043 thats wat russo claims

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@andrewbowyer5043 Well I don't think anyone really cared about Daniels in 1999, apart from indie fans. 2009 however he was making waves in TNA.

[@danwilliams4051]

Conrad keeps using the term "crucify"... might be a better choice to say "Sacrifice" which is what it was called back then. Just a tip lol.

[@All_eyez_on_me1]

What was the purpose of the undertaker/ Sarah angel since she never wrestled???

[@lotokiba851]

Hey guys you never did the rock 2000 which was promised last year.

[@garydevlin8178]

I would least swap bossman for backlash and Shamrock for mania instead as I felt that was a bit underrated as a match and best match wise Minstry taker had

[@MyFootballManagerSeasonsnStuff]

The best most menacing / evil version and most terrifying version of the Undertaker character it was too edgy for even the attitude era

[@SonnyO]

Corporate Ministry was kinda dumb, but their music was amazing.

[@danielescalera6638]

The mean street posse and their music was the best part

[@BLB138]

Brother Love as the higher power would’ve been money

[@johnharmon536]

"A fresh paint of coat" at 11:50 lol. Then Bruce repeats it lol.

[@TheBrister]

Come on, Conrad. The April '99 ppv was Backlash, not Breakdown.

[@TheBrister]

@Bryan Mack that doesn't bother me as much. Because unforgiven eventually turned into a fall ppv regular and backlash was the April ppv regular for a long time. I guess why Conrad getting the ppv name wrong is that he doesn't dig nearly as deep in his research for his shows as he used to. This would have been a 3 hour long episode a few years ago. Both Conrad and Bruce are spread way too thin these days.

[@TheBlindEye90]

@@TheBrister lazy researching in my opinion. And doing too many podcasts.

[@CeemPlay]

You will remember him

[@bearcathampton5844]

It would've been cool if Bobby Heenan could have been tbe higher power. Imagine an Evil Heenan with his hair dyed Black lol.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Authority IS evil. In the real world. Righteous authority. Not like boss to employee, or parent to kid.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

What’s sad is that phennias fared better than Henry… and that doesn’t say much.

[@WhatwouldRoddyPiperdo]

Not a fan of ministry taker every promo to me back then felt like, something something dark side something something force. But at least it gave us the APA

[@pmfg11]

Thank you Vince Russo for all of the great writing in 1999, if it was up to Brucy it would suck like it always did when he wrote. Already replaced from Smackdown's head of creative spot lmao

[@deepblue8143]

Goodness you sound jealous and bitter.

[@Splattered_Rat79]

Two words: Brother Love. Don't try to act like Bruce Prichard hasn't had more hits then misses. How else did he get to his spot in professional wrestling?

[@pmfg11]

@@Splattered_Rat79 He's an ass kisser

[@countryboyred]

@@Splattered_Rat79 by being the biggest yes-man in the history of the business and kissing Vince’s ass

[@victorcastillo2416]

1:23:54

[@victorcastillo2416]

1:23:48 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelpitt57]

Chat me up

[@KenDelloSandro7565]

This reminds me just how much i hate "sports entertainment". Where the hell can I watch WRESTLING??? AEW , impact and RoH are a bust.....

[@day1mediapros]

The olympics?

[@day1mediapros]

High school?

[@Songman87]

Why are you calling Backlash "Breakdown"? How dare you in my hometown

[@bearcathampton5844]

They dropped the ball with Ron Simmons from the start! Putting him in that goofy outfit and calling him Farooq. When all the fans knew him. Ron Simmons...former All American...beast...first Black World Champion in the business. They should have just kept him as himself. He could talk...didn't need a manager....but hell, put him with Jim Cornette who was there at the time. Let Cornette get him over as a Monster type Heel...put him in a program with the Babyface Shawn or Babyface Sid at the time who were thw champions in 1996. But they always had to give Black wrestlers these dumb gimmicks and not put them in serious spots. Only guy they half-tried it with back then was Ahmed Johnson. Ahmed Johnson wasn't in Ron Simmons league in any category as a performer.

[@Super122291]

DAMN ! - Ron Simmons

[@tomseville1057]

I am into female bondage in TV/film, so any wrestling gimmick/angle that gets two women tied up on-screen is a godsend (ironically with this character) and I would kill to see an angle like this today, as up-in-arms as the current wrestling world would be...it SHOULD have happened to Alexa, Eve, Kelly et al in the years since they last did an angle like this (in 2006)...

[@freemind6954]

The Higher Power should have been Mick Foley.

[@blueblur2329]

🤔 Nah that's not working. Foley was a major babyface at the time. Fans wouldn't have bought it. It would have been as bad as the idea of Rikishi being the driver who hit Austin. It just wouldn't be believable that a character like Undertaker would be taking orders from Mankind. It just comes off like a bad joke. I mean you want Mankind, while you're at it why not make Mr. Socko the Higher Power.

[@freemind6954]

@@blueblur2329 None of your comparisons make any sense. Maybe you should be a writer for WWE there guy.

[@footguy215]

People like this, but say the Bray Wyatt thing sucks?

[@Jukeboxster]

I want to listen to this topic, but not Bruce Pitchard. Can you re-do it with JR?

[@davey3884]

All this sci fi bullshit sucked in my opinion....

[@sulliking5465]

Had bad ugly matches

[@pmfg11]

Drew (and helped draw) ton of money, that's what matters

[@M0wi11_89]

Nah

[@Cableguy15]

He was very injured during this time. But like Pedro said, he was a huge draw. Him and Austin drew the highest number for any wrestling match/segment ever on a June 1999 Raw.

[@MattSingh1]

@@pmfg11 Actually, he was *never* a huge draw. Not on his own, anyway.

[@MattSingh1]

@@Cableguy15 Yes, a title match. I always like to remind Russo smarks of this fact, that a pro wrestling match drew a bigger TV number than any of Russo's skits/angles.