The Ministry of Darkness were one of the top factions in WWE history
The Ministry of Darkness was one of the most powerful factions in WWE during the late 1990s. The success came as a faction for singles wrestlers, after a surprise idea to form a team. The members were: The Undertaker (leader), Bradshaw & Faarooq (bodyguards), Mideon, Viscera and The Brood (Edge, Christian, and Gangrel).
The Ministry of Darkness History
The Ministry of Darkness came into existence after Paul Bearer abandoned Kane instead of The Undertaker at Judgment Day: In Your House in 1998. Kane and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin were the first of The Ministry’s first targets. His first teammates were Bradshaw and Faarooq of The Acolytes. As the bodyguards, they did a tremendous job and looked legitimately tough to beat.
The Ministry grew though painful inductions like Dennis Knight, later known as Mideon. Mabel who was abducted at the 1999 Royal Rumble also joined the faction and changed to Viscera.
Edge, Gangrel & Christian shocked the world after joining with The Ministry of Darkness in early 1999. The Brood and The Ministry of Darkness together dominated the entirety of WWE.
The Ministry of Darkness members
The Undertaker
The Undertaker was part of WWE for three decades. He is one of the biggest legends in wrestling history and created a legacy like no other. The Phenom made his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series and ended his career at the same event 20 years late in 2020.
He is a 7-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time tag team champion and a Royal Rumble Match winner in 2007. The Undertaker also had many firsts in singles action – the first-ever Casket Match at Survivor Series 1992, the first-ever Buried Alive match in 1996 and the inaugural Hell in a Cell Match in October 1997.
Undertaker maintained a winning streak at WrestleMania that reached 21-0, which was finally ended by Brock Lesnar.
The Acolytes Protection Agency – Farooq and John Bradshaw Layfield
The pair were a brutal tag team winning everything in their path. Before joining the faction, they achieved success as a tag team. The APA won their first tag championship by defeating Kane and X—Pac and regained it by beating The Hardy Brothers.
Mideon
he was reborn as Mideon in 1999 in a spooky ceremony by The Undertaker. By 2000, The Ministry but Mideon, moved to singles action carrying an eyeball he carried around in a jar.
He eventually left WWE and is now operating his own catering company.
Viscera
Beginning his WWE career in 1993 under the name Mabel, he won the World Tag Team Championship in 1994. He shockingly returned after a long hiatus joining Undertaker’s fearsome Ministry.
The giant adopted a white mohawk and new creepy demeanor that made him ever so frightening.
The Brood
The Brood was one of the most famous factions in WWE during their time in the Attitude Era in the late 1990s. The team consisted of Gangrel, Christian and Edge. Gangrel joined the WWE in 1998. He introduced the WWE Universe to Christian and convinced Edge to form the faction.
They all made their debut in 1998. The trio’s debuts came in the span of 3 months from June to September that year. They mysteriously aligned with The Ministry of Darkness on the February 1, 1999 edition of Raw. The Brood descended from the rafters to help The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
The Ministry of Darkness split
After the dominance of The Ministry of Darkness, the faction slowly faded away. Shane McMahon merged the Ministry of Darkness to form The Corporate Ministry.
The two factions were feuding for months and would have high profile-matches before finally parting ways. The Ministry collapsed after Vince was “banished” from the WWF when Steve Austin was appointed CEO of the company by Linda McMahon.
The group made a brief reunion when JBL asked for Viscera and Mideon to join The Undertaker.
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