Being the “Billion Dollar Princess” didn’t come without its occupational hazards, initially. McMahon’s first time on WWF television, at just 23 years old in 1999, had her involved in a truly bizarre storyline with The Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness, as well as her own father, then-chairman of the company, Vince McMahon.

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Undertaker and Vince were locked in a bitter feud, which led to the Ministry kidnapping the boss’ daughter. Stephanie played the “damsel in distress” role perfectly, leading to a now-iconic image of her being strapped to a cross bearing the Undertaker’s insignia right before “The Deadman” attempted to force her to marry him in an “Black Wedding” ceremony performed by Paul Bearer. Her father’s arch enemy, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin ended up saving the day. The feud in itself was initially confusing to fans, as Austin and Vince were the primary feud, and Undertaker seemed to come second in Vince’s mind, up until the kidnapping of his daughter.

If the kidnapping and forced marriage angle wasn’t weird enough for fans, it would be later revealed that Vince was the leader of Undertaker’s Ministry. Meaning, it was Stephanie’s own father who had Undertaker kidnap the 20-something, to marry into his cult.

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