To borrow three words from The Rock, "It doesn't matter" whether you're a pro wrestling fan or not because chances are you've heard of Undertaker either way. The ghostly character was brought to life, or rather put to death, by Mark Calloway in 1990 and has since expanded beyond sports entertainment.
From the effigy of the dead that appears as cosplay for Halloween costumes every year, to Bollywood film depictions, Saudi statues and comic books, popular culture often nods to Undertaker. Tonight, after an in-ring career spanning more than 30 exceptional years, one of WWE's most successful and enduring stars will walk the red carpet and claim his rightful place in the company's Hall of Fame.
doubt Calloway's desire to avoid interviews and the media spotlight to keep his Undertaker persona mysterious was one of the keys to his success, but behind the black trench coat and sinister demeanor lies a dedicated athlete who millions of fans are known for his enthusiastic feats of gut strength. Ahead of the Takers' big night of WrestleMania week, M&F takes a look at The Undertaker's long career squared and the moments that changed WWE history.
The Undertaker and the Choke Slam
Courtesy of WWE
Right after his very first pin fall win over Dusty Rhodes at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in the 1990s, Undertaker would call this move one of his signature strikes. When the dead man slammed his huge hands down an opponent's neck before lifting them off the ground and bringing them back to earth with authority, no one was safe from the choke slam.
"You're about to fuss when he hits you with this big hand," says AJ Styles, who faced Undertaker at WrestleMania 37. "I know because it happened to me and he's a legend without a doubt!"
The tombstone
Courtesy of WWE
Another victim of Undertaker in his Survivor Series debut was Koko B Ware. He would prove to be the first of hundreds to suffer the Phenom's "Tombstone" finisher. The move, technically known as the reverse pile driver, has doomed some of WWE's biggest stars. It's a move that requires strength and control to plant your opponent headfirst on the mat.
"It's very devastating, you don't see a lot of people doing that, but when he did it was all over, baby!" says WWE Hall of Famer and legendary ringside manager Jimmy Hart.
Walking the ropes
Courtesy of WWE
Rarely in professional wrestling does a man who is 6ft 10" walk the length of the top rope of the ring, but few "big men" in wrestling have ever been as athletic as Undertaker.
"It was so extraordinary," says Sammi Zayne, who will face Jackass star Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania. "Especially for the time, and now 30 years later we're still talking about it, especially for a man his size. If you see some of the ropes from the early 90's, those ropes were slack and he kept his balance so well. It was ahead of its time, no question, it was ahead of its time.”
The Undertaker breaks Shawn Michael's heart
Courtesy of WWE
After the "Phenom" feuding with Undertaker in many memorable matches, "Heartbreak Kid"'s active in-ring career would finally come to an end at WrestleMania 26 in 2010 in one of the greatest pro wrestling matches of all time. "I was in tears," recalls Beck Lynch, who will defend her WWE RAW Women's Title against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania. "It was one of the greatest games of all time. I watch Undertaker, he's such a legend, and I study everything he does. It's one of the greatest careers in WWE history and I'm thrilled that he's inducted into the Hall of Fame."
Despite burying hundreds of hapless opponents throughout his more than three-decade career, Undertaker's respect for his fellow combatants often brought fans a momentous match that only served to seal his fate as one of WWE's most feared and beloved warriors. With his unmatched combination of strength, speed and intensity, Mark Calloway has created a character who will be memorialized in WWE's Class of 2022 Hall of Fame on Friday night. Congratulations, deadman!
