5 Insane ways WWE characters were killed off on TV

The WWE can often be a strange tv show.

Where else on primetime television can you find an Undead mortician attempt to marry the innocent daughter of an evil corporate overlord, only to be thwarted by a beer-swilling redneck who said overlord despises already?

Throughout the annals of WWE history, there have been countless characters in the illustrious WWE roster, some of which have been immortalized forever, whilst others have faded into obscurity.

Some characters have even been shockingly killed off live on TV, much to the surprise of the fans watching.

Here are five insane ways the characters of WWE Superstars have been killed off on TV.

Note: Like many TV shows, being killed off very rarely means you're gone forever, as several of these WWE Superstars somehow came back to life.

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5: Paul Bearer (Buried in cement)

Bearer was buried in a cement tomb in 2004, but returned years later.

When The Undertaker returned to WWE in March 2004, he didn't come alone.

Re-emerging as his traditional Deadman persona, the Phenom was flanked by Paul Bearer, who had managed him for the early years of his career.

Together, the pair was unstoppable, though it was the conniving Paul Heyman who wanted the Deadman's powers for himself, and had Bearer kidnapped.

Facing the Dudley Boyz in a unique match at the Great American Bash 2004, Undertaker was instructed to "do the right thing", or Bearer would be buried in cement.

Defeating the Dudleys, the Phenom went to confront Heyman, and it seemed that Bearer (now up to his neck in cement) would be saved.

Instead, The Undertaker said that Bearer had been shown to be his weakness, and after realising he couldn't afford to be weak, sealed Bearer's fate himself.

4: Big Boss Man (hanged)

WWE avoid discussing the hanging of the Big Boss Man.

When WrestleMania 15 rolled around in early 1999, the company wanted to do something big.

In order to do this, a huge match was made, pitting The Undertaker against the Big Boss Man, in the very first Hell in a Cell match in WrestleMania history.

Though the match was a decent affair, the main reason the match is remembered is what came afterwards.

Defeating the Boss Man, The Phenom would show just how twisted he was, having a noose fall from the ceiling.

With the help of Edge, Christian and Gangrel of the Brood, the group hung Boss Man, who dangled from the rafters until he no longer moved.

The shocking image of Boss Man (who died in 2004), being hung, the match is often overlooked by the company as they try to maintain their PG image.

3: Mickie James (Pushed in front of a train)

James has done well for herself after being pushed in front of a train.

This may not have taken place in WWE, but it did feature one of the company's most iconic women: Mickie James.

During her final few months in Impact Wrestling, husband Nick 'Magnus' Aldis would engage in a feud with James Storm, though Mickie would try and calm the tensions between both men.

In a frankly bizarre segment, James and Storm appeared at a train station, and after talking for a bit, the Cowboy threw the former Women's and Knockouts Champion into the path of a train.

A weird segment, James would spend several weeks away from Impact, before returning to team with Aldis to defeat Storm and Serena.

Amazingly being able to recover from being hit by a train, it wouldn't be long before she found herself back in WWE.

2: Mr. McMahon (limo explosion)

The Boss met a grisly end in 2007 when his limo exploded.

After losing his hair and the ECW World Championship in mid-2007, Mr. McMahon was not well.

On a June 2007 episode of RAW, the boss seemed particularly deranged, walking to his limousine, almost in a trance.

Stepping inside the limo, the automobile would instantly explode, seemingly killing the chairman.

As WWE stock plummetted, the company had to say McMahon was "presumed dead", as investors couldn't quite tell what was real and what wasn't.

An investigation was held that saw many Superstars become suspects in snuffing out the much-despised boss.

Unfortunately, real life tragedy would end this story, as on the night of his 'funeral', the WWE would host a tribute to the Benoit family who had been found dead that weekend, before the reality of Chris Benoit's actions came to light mere hours after the broadcast.

1: The Undertaker (Buried Alive)

The Deadman has survived four burials.

The Undertaker has had a career unlike anyone else.

A multiple-time World Champion, the Demon of Death Valley is also a former Hardcore and Tag Champion, as well as a Royal Rumble winner.

A surefire Hall of Famer, it's amazing that The Phenom has had this career, despite being killed off in buried alive matches four times.

Appearing in every single Buried Alive match, The Deadman boasts a 1-4 win record, and has come up short against the likes of Mankind, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, his brother Kane and even Mr. McMahon.

The only win that The Deadman can boast came on a 1999 edition of SmackDown, when he and the Big Show toppled the Rock & Sock connection.

Despite being killed our four times in Buried Alive matches, The Deadman has always bounced back, proving you can't kill what's already dead.