The segment occurred at the end of a tag team match pitting “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Mankind against The Undertaker and The Rock . The brawl continued after the match, during which The Undertaker struck Austin with a ring bell and a steel chair, rendering him unconscious. With the help of his druids, he carried Austin up the ramp .
The Crucifixion
On the stage, the druids strapped a helpless Austin to a large, cross-like symbol representing The Undertaker. The symbol was then hoisted into the air, suspending Austin high above the stage while eerie druid chants played over the speakers . The visual of Austin tied with his arms outstretched was immediately and unmistakably compared to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ .
The Aftermath and Controversy
The religious imagery sparked immediate and significant backlash. Religious groups and viewers were outraged, and the WWF (now WWE) received a flood of complaints . The controversy was so intense that it made news in many parts of the country .
- On-Air Reaction: On the original broadcast, commentator Jim Ross explicitly stated that Austin had been “crucified.” This line was changed for international broadcasts to say The Undertaker had merely strapped him to a symbol .
- WWE’s Defense: The company attempted to downplay the religious connotations, suggesting the imagery was meant to represent an Egyptian ceremony, not a crucifixion .
- ECW Precedent: This was not the first time a wrestling promotion used such imagery. In 1996, ECW ran a similar angle where Raven crucified The Sandman .
This moment was a key part of building towards the “Buried Alive” match between Austin and Undertaker at the In Your House: Rock Bottom pay-per-view later that month