Gimmick Some (Wrestlemania) Lovin': Hall of Pain Edition
In each edition of Gimmick Some Lovin', we take a look at one iteration of a gimmick match available on the WWE Network. Some are iconic for their success, others for the extent to which they flopped, and some just... happened.
We defined a "gimmick match" as, in any way, adding a rule/stipulation to or removing a rule from a match, changing the physical environment of a match, changing the conditions which define a "win", or in any way moving past the simple requirement of two men/women/teams whose contest must end via a single pinfall, submission, count out, or disqualification.
This weekend, eagle-eyed fans spotted an announcement buried in official Wrestlemania 34 print materials: the subtle announcement that 1996 Olympian Mark Henry will be part of this year's WWE Hall of Fame Class. It's a well-deserved honour for the man who, 22 years ago, signed a gigantic promotional and talent deal with the World Wrestling Federation and has, in one form or another, been an employee of the company ever since.
He's impregnated octagenarians, helped start the YES! movement, and held numerous titles, in addition to orchestrating one of the greatest John Cena sneak attacks in WWE history. He's also in the storied ranks of the 23 in 23-2 and, since that number looks to have gained a 24th in the aforementioned Dr. of Thugonomics this week, today we're looking at Mark Henry's attempt to put the Deadman to rest in Wrestlemania 22's casket match.