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Mark William Calaway (born March
24, 1965)[4] is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name
The Undertaker. He is signed to WWE on its SmackDown brand and is the company's
most tenured competitor. Mark Calaway began his wrestling career with World
Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1984. He joined World Championship
Wrestling (WCW) as "Mean" Mark Callous in 1989. When WCW did not renew Calaway's
contract in 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation as Kane the
Undertaker in October and, after tweaking his name to The Undertaker, has
remained with the company since.
The Undertaker has two contrasting
personas: The Deadman, an undead, occult-like figure, which has consisted of
many different versions, beginning with the Western mortician character in
November 1990 and ending with the Ministry of Darkness leader in September 1999
before returning to The Deadman in March 2004 as a hybrid of the previous
incarnations. His other persona is The American Bad Ass, a biker which ran from
May 2000 to November 2003. Because of his gimmicks, Undertaker has a number of
specialty matches associated with him: the Casket match, the Buried Alive match,
the Hell in a Cell and the Last Ride match. An important part of the character
is his half-brother Kane, who was introduced in 1997 and with whom he has both
feuded and teamed as the Brothers of Destruction.
The Undertaker holds an unrivaled
record of being undefeated at WrestleMania, WWE's premier pay-per-view event,
with a 19–0 record. Among other accolades, Calaway is an eight-time World
Champion having won the WWF/E Championship four times and the World Heavyweight
Championship three times as The Undertaker, and the USWA Unified World
Heavyweight Championship once under the Master of Pain character. The Undertaker
is also a seven-time World Tag Team champion: a six-time WWF Tag Team Champion
and one-time WCW Tag Team Champion. The Undertaker was the winner of the 2007
Royal Rumble and became the first man to enter the annual event last and win.
Calaway is the only remaining WWE wrestler to have also appeared on the first
episode of its Raw program.
****
Background Information
Ring name(s) (The) Undertaker
Kane the Undertaker[1]
"Mean" Mark Callous[2]
Punisher Dice Morgan
The Punisher[2]
Texas Red[2]
The Master of Pain[2]
Billed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08
m)[3]
Billed weight 299 lb (136 kg)[3]
Born March 24, 1965 (1965-03-24)
(age 46)[4]
Houston, Texas
Resides Austin, Texas
Billed from Death Valley[3]
Trained by Don Jardine[5]
Debut 1984[6]
****
Professional wrestling career
Early
career (1984–1989)
Calaway made his debut in 1984 for
World Class Championship Wrestling under the ring name "Texas Red".[6] He
wrestled and lost his first match against Bruiser Brody.[6] In 1988, after four
years in the promotion, he left and joined the Continental Wrestling Association
(which became the United States Wrestling Association after Jerry Jarrett merged
CWA with WCCW), wrestling under several gimmicks. On April 1, 1989, he was
booked to win his first professional wrestling title, the USWA Unified World
Heavyweight Championship, defeating Jerry "The King" Lawler, under the stage
name "The Master of Pain". While performing as "The Punisher", Calaway won the
WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship on October 5, 1989 when Eric Embry forfeited
the title.[7]
World
Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)
In 1989, Calaway joined World
Championship Wrestling where he was promptly drafted into the Skyscrapers tag
team to replace an injured Sid Vicious. Calaway adopted the ring name Mean Mark
Callous, a name devised for him by Terry Funk.[8] The new team gained some
notoriety at Clash Of The Champions X when they beat down The Road Warriors
after their match.[9] However Callous' partner Dan Spivey left WCW days before
their Chicago Street Fight against the Warriors at WrestleWar 1990. Callous and
a replacement masked Skyscraper went down to defeat in the Street Fight and the
team broke up soon afterwards.[10] As he went into singles competition, Callous
took on the guidance of Paul E. Dangerously and defeated Johnny Ace at Capital
Combat and defeated Brian Pillman at the Clash of the Champions. In July 1990,
he wrestled against Lex Luger for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
at The Great American Bash, but lost when Luger pinned him after a clothesline.
WCW declined to renew Calaway's contract.
Calaway then briefly wrestled in
New Japan Pro Wrestling as Punisher Dice Morgan. After leaving, he briefly
returned to the USWA to participate in a tournament to determine the new USWA
Unified World Heavyweight Champion; he defeated Bill Dundee in the first round,
but lost to Jerry Lawler in the quarterfinals. In October 1990, he signed with
the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
World
Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
Debut
and various feuds (1990–1994)
Calaway made his WWF debut as "Kane
the Undertaker"[1] at a taping of WWF Superstars on November 19, 1990.[11] It
should be noted, however, that the concept of The Undertaker character was not
presented to Calaway until after he signed with Vince McMahon. The appearance of
The Undertaker's first Deadman persona was modeled after a mortician from old
Western movies, wearing a trench coat and black hat with grey gloves and boot
covers. Under this Deadman persona, he was portrayed as impervious to pain,
something accomplished by Calaway no-selling his opponents' attacks. Calaway
made his official on-camera debut on November 22 at Survivor Series as a heel
when he was the mystery partner of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar team, where he
was called Kane the Undertaker.[12] Approximately one minute into the match, The
Undertaker eliminated Koko B. Ware with his finisher, the Tombstone Piledriver.
He also eliminated Dusty Rhodes before being counted out. The commentary team
for the event referred to him as The Undertaker, neglecting the Kane name.
Shortly after Survivor Series, "Kane" was dropped from his name, and he was
called simply The Undertaker. It was at this time that The Undertaker switched
managers from Brother Love to Paul Bearer — a histrionic, ghostly character,
almost always seen bearing an urn from which The Undertaker was said to draw
mystical power, reviving his strength during his matches. During his heel run,
Undertaker would place his defeated opponents (almost always jobbers) in a
bodybag and carry them to the back.[13]
He made his WrestleMania debut at
WrestleMania VII, quickly defeating "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka.[14] The win was the
first in his undefeated streak at the event. He began his first major feud with
The Ultimate Warrior, when he attacked the Warrior and locked him in an airtight
casket on the set of his manager, Paul Bearer's Funeral Parlor interview
segment. After a year of battles with the Warrior, Randy Savage,[12] Sid
Justice, Sgt. Slaughter, and Hulk Hogan, he defeated Hogan to win his first WWF
Championship at Survivor Series with the help of Ric Flair, and thus became the
youngest WWF Champion in history until having this record broken by Yokozuna in
1993.[15] WWF President Jack Tunney ordered a rematch for This Tuesday in Texas
six days later, where The Undertaker lost the title back to Hogan.[15]
In February 1992, The Undertaker's
ally Jake "The Snake" Roberts tried to attack Randy Savage's manager/wife Miss
Elizabeth with a steel chair when The Undertaker stopped him, becoming a fan
favorite for the first time. Then, Undertaker defeated Roberts at WrestleMania
VIII, continuing his winning streak at the event.[14] He then feuded extensively
with wrestlers managed by Harvey Wippleman throughout 1992 and 1993, such as
Kamala, Giant González and Yokozuna. Also in this time he headlined the first
episode of Monday Night Raw on January 11, 1993 with a victory over Damien
Demento.[16] He faced González at WrestleMania IX, which is notable as
Undertaker's only disqualification win at WrestleMania after the use of
chloroform. His rivalry with Yokozuna culminated in a WWF Championship casket
match at the 1994 Royal Rumble. During the match, champion Yokozuna sealed The
Undertaker in the casket with the assistance of several other villainous
wrestlers to win the match. The Undertaker appeared from inside the casket on
the video screen, representing his spirit, warning that he would return.[17]
Return;
various storylines (1994–1997)
After WrestleMania X, Ted DiBiase
introduced an Undertaker back to the WWF. This Undertaker, however, played by
Brian Lee, was an impostor Undertaker (dubbed the "Underfaker" by fans) and led
to the return of the real Undertaker at SummerSlam, appearing as a new version
of his original Deadman persona, replacing grey with purple. The Undertaker
defeated the impostor after three Tombstone Piledrivers.[17] At Survivor Series,
The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a rematch, another casket match. Throughout
most of 1995, The Undertaker feuded with members of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar
Corporation. At WrestleMania XI, while Undertaker was facing King Kong Bundy,
Kama stole The Undertaker's urn, and antagonized him by melting it into a large
gold necklace and attacking the Undertaker.[17] Later, The Undertaker defeated
Kama in a casket match at SummerSlam.[17] Several weeks later, The Undertaker
injured his orbital bone near his eye, forcing a period of absence for surgery,
until his return at Survivor Series.
The Undertaker returned at the 1995
Survivor Series, wearing a Phantom of the Opera-like, grey upper mask.[17] In
the main event of the 1996 Royal Rumble, The Undertaker was unmasked in a WWF
Championship match against Bret Hart, when Diesel interfered in the match to
cost the Undertaker the championship.[18] A rematch for the title on the
February 5 episode of Raw saw similar interference.[19] At that month's In Your
House: Rage in the Cage, while Diesel was facing Hart in a steel cage match, The
Undertaker burst through the ring and dragged Diesel underneath which allowed
Hart to get the victory.[18] This feud culminated in a match between Diesel and
the Undertaker at WrestleMania XII, in which The Undertaker was victorious.[14]
His next feud commenced the very
next night, when Mankind made his debut, interfering in The Undertaker's match
with Justin Hawk Bradshaw. For the next few months, Mankind ambushed and cost
The Undertaker several matches.[18] The feud intensified, and they began taking
their battles into crowds, backstage areas, and in the boiler rooms of different
arenas. Mankind cost the Undertaker the WWF Intercontinental Championship at In
Your House 8: Beware of Dog, assisting champion Goldust to victory. As a result,
the first ever Boiler Room Brawl was booked between the two at SummerSlam.
During the match, when Undertaker reached for Paul Bearer's urn, Bearer hit him
with it, betraying The Undertaker and allowing Mankind to "incapacitate" The
Undertaker with the Mandible claw, giving him the win.[18] After Bearer's
betrayal, The Undertaker took his rivalry with Mankind to a new level, resulting
in a Buried Alive match in the main event of In Your House: Buried Alive. The
Undertaker won the match after a chokeslam into the open grave, but after
interference from The Executioner, as well as the help of several other
superstars, The Undertaker was ultimately "Buried Alive".[18]
After being buried alive, The
Undertaker returned at the Survivor Series again pitting him against Mankind,
but with a unique stipulation; hanging 20 ft (6.1 m) above the ring was Paul
Bearer, enclosed in a steel cage. If Undertaker won the match, he would be able
to get his hands on Bearer. Even though The Undertaker won the match,
interference from The Executioner enabled Bearer to escape The Undertaker's
clutches.[20] The Undertaker then briefly turned his attention to The
Executioner, who had become a thorn in his side since his arrival and had helped
bury him alive in the eponymous match. At In Your House: It's Time, The
Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon rules match.[20] He then
moved onto a feud Vader. They met at the 1997 Royal Rumble in a singles match,
where Undertaker lost after Bearer interfered on behalf of his new protégé.[20]
The two then clashed in the Royal Rumble match itself as they made it to the
final moments of the match but both were eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin,
who had crept back into the match after his elimination was unseen. He met both
Vader and Austin in a Four Corners Elimination match for the vacant WWF
Championship at In Your House 13: Final Four, but Bret Hart won.[21] However,
the following month The Undertaker managed to win the title for the second time
and continued his undefeated streak by defeating Sycho Sid at WrestleMania
13.[22]
Hell in
a Cell and Brothers of Destruction (1997–1998)
In May 1997, Paul Bearer attempted
to rejoin with The Undertaker, using the threat of revealing The Undertaker's
"biggest secret". In the storyline, Bearer announced that The Undertaker was a
murderer, who as a child had burned down the family funeral home business (where
Bearer worked), killing his parents and his younger half-brother. The Undertaker
claimed there was no way for Bearer to have that information, but Bearer
announced that he was told this by Undertaker's half-brother Kane, who was still
alive but horribly burned and scarred. Bearer raised Kane after the fire, having
him institutionalized. Now, Kane was waiting for revenge after all these years.
In defense, The Undertaker responded that Kane, a pyromaniac, had been the one
to set the fire and could not have possibly survived.
Concurrently, Undertaker began a
new rivalry at SummerSlam when guest referee Shawn Michaels accidentally hit The
Undertaker with a steel chair shot meant for Bret Hart, costing the Undertaker
his WWF Championship.[22] After a double count-out draw during Ground Zero: In
Your House, Undertaker challenged Michaels to the first Hell in a Cell match at
Badd Blood: In Your House. During this match, The Undertaker's storyline
half-brother Kane finally made his debut under the control of Paul Bearer,
ripping off the door to the cell and giving The Undertaker a Tombstone
Piledriver, Undertaker's trademark finisher, allowing Michaels to pin him.[22]
The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer. As the storyline
progressed Kane, through Bearer, challenged The Undertaker to fights, but The
Undertaker consistently refused to fight his brother. The Undertaker's final
encounter with Michaels was in a casket match at the Royal Rumble. The week
before, Kane had seemed to ally with his brother against Michaels' D-Generation
X but at the PPV Kane trapped him in the coffin, padlocking the casket lid, and
setting it ablaze which again gave Michaels the victory. The Undertaker,
however, had disappeared when the casket lid was reopened.[23] After a two month
hiatus, The Undertaker returned and defeated Kane at WrestleMania XIV.[23] The
two had a rematch, the first ever Inferno match, one month later at Unforgiven:
In Your House, which The Undertaker won by setting Kane's right arm on fire.[23]
The Undertaker's feud with Mankind
was renewed afterward, and they faced each other in a Hell in a Cell match at
King of the Ring. During the match, The Undertaker threw Mankind off the roof of
the 16 ft (4.9 m) cell onto the Spanish announce table below, in what was a
preplanned move. He later chokeslammed Mankind through the roof of the cell into
the ring which legitimately knocked Mankind unconscious. Mankind also used
thumbtacks in the match and was backdropped and chokeslammed onto them before
Undertaker won the match with his Tombstone Piledriver[23]
At Fully Loaded, The Undertaker and
Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane and Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team
Championship.[23] The Undertaker and Austin's reign as tag champions lasted for
only two months, as Kane and Mankind regained the titles on an episode of Raw is
War.[24] The Undertaker then became the number one contender for the WWF
Championship at SummerSlam, now held by Austin. Shortly before SummerSlam,
however, The Undertaker revealed that he and Kane were working together as
brothers. Despite this revelation, The Undertaker told Kane that he did not want
him to interfere in the match with Austin, and even though The Undertaker lost
the match, he handed Austin his belt back after the match in a show of
respect.[23] In September, the storyline continued, and The Undertaker began to
show some villainous characteristics when he and Kane revealed the fact that
they were in cahoots to rid Austin of his title for Vince McMahon. At Breakdown:
In Your House, The Undertaker and Kane were booked in a Triple Threat match with
Austin for his WWF Championship; McMahon stated that the brothers were not
allowed to pin each other. The Undertaker and Kane pinned Austin simultaneously
after a double chokeslam,[23] so the title was vacated by McMahon. This event
led to a match at Judgment Day: In Your House between the two brothers for the
title, with Austin as the special guest referee. Near the end of the match, Paul
Bearer seemed about to assist Kane by handing him a steel chair to hit The
Undertaker with, but as Kane had his back turned, both Bearer and The Undertaker
hit Kane with the chair. The Undertaker went for the pin, but Austin refused to
count the fall, attacked the Undertaker, and counted out both brothers.[23]
Finally, The Undertaker became a villain the next night on Raw is War for the
first time in over six years, reconciling with Bearer and claiming that he and
Bearer would unleash their Ministry of Darkness on the World Wrestling
Federation. As part of this new storyline, he admitted that he had indeed set
the fire that killed his parents, for which he had previously blamed Kane.[24]
After Survivor Series, The
Undertaker returned his attention back to his previous feud with Austin for
costing him the title at Judgment Day, hitting Austin in the head with a shovel
during a title match with The Rock, returning the favor for what happened a
month earlier. With this twist in the storyline, McMahon scheduled a Buried
Alive match between The Undertaker and Austin at Rock Bottom: In Your House. In
the weeks leading up to Rock Bottom, The Undertaker attempted to embalm Austin
alive, tried to have Kane committed to a mental asylum, and had his druids chain
Austin to his symbol, raising it high into the arena.[24] The Undertaker,
however, lost the match after Kane interfered.[25]
Ministry of Darkness (1999)
In January 1999, The Undertaker
returned and formed the Ministry of Darkness, developing a more evil, Satanic
and a more frightening persona than ever before. Undertaker stated that he was
taking orders from a "Higher Power". He often appeared in a black robe and sat
on a throne. With the help of his minions, he often performed sacrifices on
various WWE superstars, which were meant to bring out the more evil side of
superstars so as to recruit them into his Ministry. The Ministry eventually
merged with The Corporation alliance to form the Corporate Ministry.[26] During
this time, The Undertaker defeated Austin for his third WWF Championship at Over
the Edge with help from Shane McMahon, the special referee.[27] Two weeks later,
Raw is War revealed that Vince McMahon had been The Undertaker's "Higher Power"
all along. After The Undertaker dropped the WWF Championship back to Austin one
night after King of the Ring,[26] and lost a First Blood match at Fully Loaded,
his relationship with the McMahons dissolved and the Corporate Ministry
disbanded.
The Undertaker then began a
storyline where he teamed with The Big Show in a tag team known as The UnHoly
Alliance, which held the WWF Tag Team Championship twice. In September 1999, The
Undertaker went on a four month hiatus from WWF due to a groin injury. In
January 2000, one month before a scheduled return at the Royal Rumble, he tore a
pectoral muscle.
American Bad Ass/Big Evil (2000–2003)
The Undertaker took on a second
persona during this portion of his WWF career. He abandoned the Gothic
mortician-themed attire, his funeral dirge ring music, allusions to the
supernatural, and the accompanying theatrics of his ring entrance. The
Undertaker now took on the personality of a biker, riding to the ring on a
motorcycle, and wearing sunglasses and bandanas to the ring. His ring music was
now replaced with popular rock songs of the time, like Limp Bizkit's "Rollin'
(Air Raid Vehicle)" and Kid Rock's "American Bad Ass" (from which the name of
The Undertaker's new gimmick originated), though it was accompanied by the
characteristic opening bell gong of The Undertaker's original theme.
Upon his return in May 2000, he
took out all the members of the McMahon-Helmsley Faction, which caused him to
once again be a fan favorite. He also targeted their leader, WWF Champion Triple
H. At King of the Ring, The Undertaker teamed with The Rock and Kane to defeat
the team of Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Vince McMahon.[28] Afterward, he was
booked to team with Kane to contend for the WWF Tag Team Championship. They
defeated Edge and Christian, earning the right to face them the following week
for the tag title, which Edge and Christian retained. Kane betrayed The
Undertaker by chokeslamming him twice on the August 14 episode of Raw is
War.[29] This incident led to another match between the two at SummerSlam, which
ended in a no contest as Kane ran from the ring area after The Undertaker
removed Kane's mask.[28]
The Undertaker then challenged Kurt
Angle for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series.[30] Angle, however, defeated
The Undertaker after Kurt switched places with his real life brother, Eric
Angle. The Undertaker demanded and was awarded a spot in the Six Man Hell in a
Cell match for the WWF Championship at Armageddon. The Undertaker promised to
make someone "famous" and did so when he chokeslamed Rikishi off the roof of the
cell.[30]
In 2001, The Undertaker reunited
with Kane as the Brothers of Destruction, challenging for the WWF Tag Team
Championship once again. They received a shot at the title at No Way Out, facing
Edge and Christian and then champions the Dudley Boyz in a Tables Match. The
Brothers of Destruction dominated almost the entire match but were not the
winners.[30] The Undertaker was then booked to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania
X-Seven, where he improved his WrestleMania winning streak to 9–0.[14] He and
Kane continued a storyline that focused on Triple H, who formed a "surprise
alliance" with WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Brothers of Destruction
were granted an opportunity to face Triple H and Austin for their titles. After
The Undertaker and Kane acquired the WWF Tag Title from Edge and Christian,[31]
Triple H pinned Kane after attacking him with a sledgehammer at Backlash, where
the Brothers of Destruction dropped the title.[32] With Kane injured, The
Undertaker feuded briefly with Steve Austin for his WWF Championship, but at
Judgment Day, Austin retained his title.[32]
As part of "The Invasion"
storyline, The Undertaker's next nemesis was Diamond Dallas Page, who was
obsessively following The Undertaker's wife Sara.[32] (While they were presented
as being married from the start of the storyline, in reality, Mark and Sara got
married during the height of this feud.[33] At SummerSlam, WCW Tag Team
Champions The Undertaker and Kane defeated Page and his partner Chris Kanyon in
a steel cage match to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.[32] At Survivor Series,
The Undertaker teamed with Kane, The Rock, Chris Jericho, and The Big Show to
take on The Alliance's Steve Austin, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon, and
Kurt Angle (this would be the last time that The Undertaker and Kane would team
up until 2006). Angle pinned The Undertaker due to interference by Austin.[32]
After the Alliance was defeated, The Undertaker became a villain once again by
forcing commentator Jim Ross to kiss Vince McMahon's ass.[34] This was the
beginning of a new persona for The Undertaker, as he cut his long hair short and
called himself "Big Evil". At Vengeance, The Undertaker defeated Van Dam to
capture the WWF Hardcore Championship.[35]
The Undertaker's next storyline
began at the Royal Rumble in 2002 when Maven eliminated him by dropkicking him
from behind. Subsequently, The Undertaker eliminated Maven in return and
brutally assaulted him backstage.[35] On an episode of SmackDown!, The Rock
mentioned The Undertaker's elimination at the Royal Rumble, angering The
Undertaker. The Undertaker responded by costing The Rock the number one
contendership for the WWF Undisputed Championship.[36] The storyline continued
when The Rock cost The Undertaker his match with Maven for the Hardcore
Championship.[37] The two faced off at No Way Out, where The Undertaker lost due
to interference from Ric Flair.[35] This interference began a storyline with
Flair, who declined a challenge to wrestle Undertaker at WrestleMania X8,[38]
and, as a result, Undertaker assaulted his son David Flair.[39] Flair eventually
accepted the match after The Undertaker threatened to inflict the same
punishment on Flair's daughter.[39] A no disqualification stipulation was added
to the match, and The Undertaker defeated Flair.[14]
After the storyline with Flair, The
Undertaker defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at Backlash to win the number one
contendership for the WWF Undisputed Championship. Later that night, he helped
Hulk Hogan win his title match against the Undisputed Champion Triple H.[35] The
Undertaker then defeated Hogan for his fourth world championship at Judgment
Day. The following night The Undertaker was defeated by Rob Van Dam for The WWE
Undisputed Championship, however Ric Flair restarted the match and The
Undertaker recaptured his championship.[40] On the July 1 episode of Raw, The
Undertaker turned into a fan favorite again after defeating Jeff Hardy in a
ladder match and raising Hardy's hand as a show of respect. The Undertaker,
however, dropped the title at Vengeance to The Rock in a triple threat match
that also involved Kurt Angle.[40] The Undertaker was then switched from Raw to
SmackDown! (Smackdown! would remain as The Undertakers home since 2002 till
present), alongside former Raw talent Brock Lesnar, Chris Benoit, and Eddie
Guerrero. The Undertaker challenged Lesnar in a title match at Unforgiven that
ended in a double-disqualification.[40] Their feud carried over to No Mercy in a
Hell in a Cell match. The Undertaker performed in the match with a legitimate
broken hand and eventually lost to the champion.[40]
The Undertaker took a leave from
wrestling after the Big Show threw him off the stage, sparking a feud.[41] The
Undertaker returned at the Royal Rumble in 2003.[42] He immediately continued
his feud with Big Show and defeated him by submission at No Way Out with a
triangle choke. A-Train entered the storyline by attempting to attack The
Undertaker after the match, but Nathan Jones came to his aid.[42] The storyline
resumed as The Undertaker began to train Jones to wrestle, and the two were
scheduled to fight Big Show and A-Train in a tag team match at WrestleMania
XIX.[14] Jones, however, was removed prior to the match, making it a handicap
match, which The Undertaker won with the help of Jones.[42]
Over the remainder of the year, The
Undertaker entered a brief feud with John Cena and was booked to have two WWE
Championship opportunities. The first, on the September 4 SmackDown!, against
Kurt Angle, ended in a no contest, due to interference from Brock Lesnar.[43]
The second, at No Mercy, was a Biker Chain match between The Undertaker and
Lesnar, which Lesnar won with the help of Vince McMahon.[44] This match resulted
in a feud with McMahon, culminating at Survivor Series where The Undertaker lost
a Buried Alive match against McMahon when Kane interfered.[44] The Undertaker
disappeared for some time following the match, with Kane claiming that he was
"dead and buried forever."[45]
Return
of the Deadman (2004–2007)
In the storyline leading up to
WrestleMania XX, Kane was haunted by vignettes proclaiming The Undertaker's
return. The first was during the Royal Rumble when The Undertaker's bells
tolled, distracting Kane and allowing Booker T to eliminate him.[44] At
WrestleMania XX, The Undertaker, accompanied by Paul Bearer and in his "Deadman"
persona, returned and defeated Kane.[46] At the following Smackdown!
Pay-Per-View Judgment Day, The Undertaker would go on to defeat Booker T. Three
months later, Bearer was kidnapped by the Dudley Boyz at the direction of Paul
Heyman,[47] who then took "control" of Undertaker.[48] On Smackdown Undertaker
attacked both Rob Van Dam and John Cena. The following week Cena confronted The
Undertaker and was booked into a match by back then General Manager Kurt Angle
to face The Undertaker which The Undertaker went on to win after hitting cena
with his chain and delivered a Tombstone. At The Great American Bash The
Undertaker fought a handicap match against the Dudleys, with the stipulation
that if he didn't lay down and purposely lose, Heyman would bury Bearer in
cement. The Undertaker won and stopped Heyman from burying Bearer, then buried
him anyway, explaining that Bearer was merely a liability now and that he had no
use for him anymore.[46]
After defeating the Dudley Boyz,
The Undertaker began a feud by challenging then WWE Champion John "Bradshaw"
Layfield (JBL) to a title match at SummerSlam, which The Undertaker lost by
disqualification.[46] At No Mercy, The Undertaker and JBL competed in the first
ever "Last Ride" match, although The Undertaker lost after Heidenreich
interfered.[46] After a brief program with Heidenreich,[49] The Undertaker
turned his focus to the WWE Championship once again. Along with Eddie Guerrero
and Booker T, he challenged JBL to a championship rematch at Armageddon in a
Fatal Four-Way match, in which The Undertaker was unsuccessful, again due to
Heidenreich's interference.[49] The feud culminated in a Casket match between
The Undertaker and Heidenreich at the Royal Rumble, where The Undertaker sealed
Heidenreich in a casket for the victory.[49]
Soon afterward, Randy Orton
challenged The Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania 21, in a storyline where
Orton claimed that he would end The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak
(this would be the first Wrestlemania in which the undefeated streak would
become a major selling point for the Undertaker's matches at the marquee event
and for Wrestlemania itself; it was only mentioned in passing before this).[50]
Even with help from his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Randy failed, and The
Undertaker improved his WrestleMania record to 13–0.[49] He returned for the
June 16 episode of SmackDown! but lost to JBL, thanks to interference from Randy
Orton.[51] After The Great American Bash, The Undertaker became the number one
contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, a position that JBL felt he
should have. As part of the feud, on the following SmackDown!, The Undertaker
lost a number one contender match against JBL, once again due to interference
from Orton.[52] With this, The Undertaker resumed his feud with Orton. At
SummerSlam, Orton defeated The Undertaker in a WrestleMania rematch.[53] The
storyline intensified as the two taunted each other with caskets, leading to a
casket match at No Mercy, in which The Undertaker lost to Randy and his father
"Cowboy" Bob Orton.[53] After the match, the Ortons poured gasoline on the
casket and set it on fire. When the charred casket was opened, however, The
Undertaker had once again vanished. He returned at the Survivor Series, emerging
from a burning casket.[54] The Undertaker returned to SmackDown! in early
December to haunt Orton and set up a Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon.[55]
After winning the match,[54] Calaway took a brief hiatus from wrestling.
In early 2006 at the Royal Rumble,
The Undertaker returned during Kurt Angle's celebration of his world title
defense against Mark Henry on a horse drawn cart, signaling for a title shot. As
part of their storyline feud, The Undertaker lost his match with Angle at No Way
Out after a thirty minute bout. Undertaker cornered Angle after the match, and
after a stare down, told Angle that he had his number and that he was not
finished with him yet. The Undertaker had his No Way Out rematch for the World
Heavyweight Championship against Angle on SmackDown! when Henry attacked The
Undertaker from behind, costing him the title. This began an angle between the
duo, as The Undertaker then challenged Henry to a Casket match at WrestleMania
22, and Henry, like Orton a year before him, vowed to end Undertaker's
WrestleMania winning streak. The Undertaker defeated Henry to become 14–0 at
WrestleMania, keeping his storyline undefeated streak alive. During a rematch on
the next episode of SmackDown!, The Great Khali made his debut and assaulted The
Undertaker, signaling the end of one storyline and the beginning of a new one.
The Undertaker was not heard from
until the May 5 episode of SmackDown!, as Theodore Long delivered a challenge
from The Undertaker to Khali for a match at Judgment Day.[56] The Undertaker
lost to Khali,[57][58] and he did not appear again until the July 4 episode of
SmackDown!, when he accepted Khali's challenge to a Punjabi Prison match at The
Great American Bash.[59] Khali, however, was removed from the match and was
replaced by ECW Champion The Big Show, over whom The Undertaker gained the
victory. In the storyline, Teddy Long replaced Khali with Big Show as punishment
for an attack on The Undertaker shortly before the match.[57] Khali was then
challenged to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam after interfering in The
Undertaker's match with World Heavyweight Champion King Booker.[60] Khali
refused the challenge for SummerSlam, though Long made the match official for
the August 18 episode of SmackDown! instead. The Undertaker won the match by
striking Khali with the steel stairs, delivering several chair shots, and
finishing him with a chokeslam.[61]
The Undertaker's next match was
with WWE United States Champion Mr. Kennedy at No Mercy but was disqualified in
the match after he hit Kennedy with the championship belt.[62] On the November 3
episode of SmackDown!, The Undertaker reunited with Kane to form the Brothers of
Destruction for the first time in five years, defeating the reluctant opposition
team of Mr. Kennedy and MVP, with whom Kane was feuding with at the time.[63] As
part of the storyline, Kennedy defeated The Undertaker in a First Blood match at
Survivor Series after interference from MVP,[62] but finally defeated Kennedy in
a Last Ride match at Armageddon.[62] The two continued to feud into 2007 as
Kennedy cost The Undertaker two World Heavyweight Championship opportunities for
a championship match at the Royal Rumble.[64][65]
World
Heavyweight Champion (2007–2010)
The Undertaker won his first Royal
Rumble match at the 2007 event,[65] becoming the first man to enter the Rumble
at number 30 and win the match.[66] He then began a storyline with Batista, whom
he defeated at WrestleMania 23 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.
At Backlash in a Last Man Standing match, they had a rematch that ended in a
draw when neither man was able to answer the ten-count, resulting in The
Undertaker retaining the Championship. On the May 11 episode of SmackDown!, The
Undertaker and Batista participated in a steel cage match that ended in a draw
when both men's feet touched the floor at the same time. After the match, Mark
Henry returned and assaulted The Undertaker. Immediately after the assault, Edge
cashed in his Money in the Bank title shot, and The Undertaker dropped the World
Heavyweight Championship to Edge. As The Undertaker laid in the ring, druids
appeared and carried him to the backstage area.
During Calaway's rehabilitation,
Henry quickly defeated local jobbers and bragged about his assault on
Undertaker, until vignettes began playing promoting The Undertaker's return. The
Undertaker returned at Unforgiven, successfully defeating Henry and again on
SmackDown! two weeks later.[67] Batista and The Undertaker reignited their feud
at Cyber Sunday with the fans choosing the special guest referee Stone Cold
Steve Austin, but Batista retained the world title.[68] They battled again
inside a Hell in a Cell at Survivor Series where Edge returned and interfered to
help Batista retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[69] In response to this,
The Undertaker delivered a Tombstone piledriver to General Manager Vickie
Guerrero, on the next SmackDown!, sending her to the hospital. Returning
Assistant-General Manager Theodore Long declared a Triple Threat match for the
title at Armageddon, which Edge won.
At No Way Out, The Undertaker
defeated Batista, Finlay, The Great Khali, Montel Vontavious Porter, and Big
Daddy V in an Elimination Chamber, to become the number one contender for Edge's
World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXIV. He defeated Edge at
WrestleMania with his Hell's Gate submission hold, to win his second World
Heavyweight Championship and elevate his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to
16–0.[70] In a WrestleMania rematch, The Undertaker defeated Edge once again at
Backlash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[71] Vickie Guerrero
announced that The Undertaker's Hell's Gate was an illegal hold and stripped him
of the title. The Undertaker battled Edge for the vacant title at Judgment Day,
which he won by countout. Vickie ordered that the title remain vacant, because
titles cannot change hands in this way. Edge and The Undertaker faced each other
again for the vacant championship at One Night Stand in a Tables, Ladders, and
Chairs match, which The Undertaker lost after interference from La Familia. As a
result of the stipulation, Undertaker was forced to leave WWE.
On the July 25, 2008 episode of
SmackDown, Vickie Guerrero announced that she had reinstated The Undertaker, and
that Edge would face him at SummerSlam in a Hell in a Cell match,[72] which The
Undertaker won. After the match, The Undertaker chokeslammed Edge from the top
of a ladder and through the ring canvas.[73] Following this match, Guerrero
tried to make a peace offering with The Undertaker on SmackDown by apologizing,
but The Undertaker told her that he is not the forgiving kind. At Unforgiven, as
The Undertaker approached the ring to "take Guerrero's soul" and take her in a
casket, the Big Show, who appeared at first to aid the Undertaker, betrayed and
assaulted him.[74] As a result of this altercation, The Undertaker and Big Show
faced each other in a match at No Mercy, where the Big Show knocked The
Undertaker out with a punch to the back of The Undertaker's head.[75] At Cyber
Sunday, The Undertaker defeated the Big Show in a Last Man Standing match after
applying Hell's Gate.[76] The Undertaker then went on to defeat the Big Show at
Survivor Series in a casket match, to end the feud.[77] At No Way Out The
Undertaker was part of the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match, However
he was unsuccessful at winning the match. He then became embroiled in a long
time feud with Shawn Michaels over his WrestleMania undefeated streak and the
fact that The Undertaker had never defeated Michaels in a singles match
previously. The feud culminated in a match at WrestleMania XXV which The
Undertaker won to extend his WrestleMania streak to a perfect record of
17–0.[78] On the April 24 episode of SmackDown, Big Show defeated him in a
singles match by knockout after the match, Undertaker attacked Big Show. After
SmackDown, Undertaker took another hiatus from WWE on April 25, 2009.
After the four month hiatus, The
Undertaker returned at SummerSlam in August by attacking CM Punk, who had just
won the World Heavyweight Championship from Jeff Hardy in a Tables, Ladders, and
Chairs match.[79] At Breaking Point, The Undertaker faced Punk in a submission
match. The Undertaker had originally won the match with his Hell's Gate
submission hold, but the match was restarted by SmackDown General Manager
Theodore Long, who ruled that the ban placed on the move by Vickie Guerrero was
still in effect. Punk went on to win the match with his Anaconda Vise when
referee Scott Armstrong called for the bell, despite Undertaker never submitting
in a recreation of the Montreal Screwjob, which took place in the same venue in
1997.[80] On the September 25 episode of SmackDown, Theodore Long announced that
the ban had now been officially lifted, after being released from a casket that
The Undertaker had apparently placed him in.[81] The feud between the two
continued and at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, The Undertaker won the World
Heavyweight Championship from Punk in a Hell in a Cell match.[82] The Undertaker
successfully defended the title against CM Punk on SmackDown, in a Fatal Four
Way match at Bragging Rights, and in a Triple Threat match at Survivor
Series.[83][84] He faced Batista at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs for the
championship, and won when the match was restarted by Long, after Batista had
originally won after utilising a low blow.[85]
At the Elimination Chamber
pay-per-view, a pyrotechnics malfunction momentarily engulfed The Undertaker in
flames during his ring entrance. He was able to continue with his scheduled
match, with a burn on his chest that "looked like a bad sunburn" according to a
WWE spokesman.[86] He lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Chris Jericho
after interference from Shawn Michaels.[87] Undertaker had been rebuffing
Michaels' requests for a WrestleMania rematch, but the night after Elimination
Chamber he agreed to the match on the condition that Michaels' career was on the
line.[88] At WrestleMania, The Undertaker defeated Michaels to end his career in
a match with no countouts or disqualifications.[89]
After a hiatus (which included
wrestling two matches on Raw), he returned to SmackDown on May 28, defeating Rey
Mysterio to qualify for a spot in the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view to compete for
the World Heavyweight Championship.[90] During the match, The Undertaker
suffered a concussion, broken orbital bone, and broken nose; he was visibly
bleeding profusely on camera by the end of the match.[91] To cover for the
injury, Kane revealed The Undertaker had been found in a vegetative state;[92]
Mysterio took his place in the match and won the World Heavyweight Championship.
While attempting to learn which superstar had attacked The Undertaker, Kane
defeated Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Kane and Mysterio
continued to clash as they accused one another of being the assailant behind the
attack.[93]
At SummerSlam, the Undertaker
returned to confront Kane and Rey Mysterio, only to be overpowered and
Tombstoned by Kane.[94] With Kane revealed as his attacker, the two feuded for
the next few months over the World Heavyweight Championship. After losing to
Kane at Night of Champions, Paul Bearer returned as Undertaker's manager on an
episode of SmackDown.[95] However, Bearer attacked him at Hell in a Cell to help
Kane win once again. The feud ended at Bragging Rights when The Nexus helped
Kane defeat Undertaker in a Buried Alive match. In reality, he needed medical
treatment for his injury.
Feud
with Triple H (2011–present)
After the 2011 Royal Rumble, promos
showing The Undertaker entering and standing within an old house began airing.
Each promo would end with the date 2–21–11 being burned into the screen. On the
February 21 episode of Raw The Undertaker returned to Raw; after his lengthy
entrance but before he could speak, Triple H returned after an eleven month
absence and confronted The Undertaker. In a unique interaction involving no
verbal or physical exchanges, the two stared each other down, performed their
signature intimidation actions towards each other before Triple H set his eyes
upon the WrestleMania XXVII marquee. The Undertaker responded by turning his
attention toward the marquee as well. The Undertaker initially scoffed at Triple
H's apparent challenge but later accepted. The match was later announced as a No
Holds Barred match on WWE's official website. At WrestleMania XXVII, after
surviving three Pedigrees and a Tombstone Piledriver, Undertaker forced Triple H
to tap out to Hell's Gate, extending his streak to 19–0. Following the match,
The Undertaker was carried away from the ring on a stretcher.[96]
On the January 30, 2012 episode of
Raw, The Undertaker returned after a ten month hiatus to confront Triple H. In a
scene reminiscent of their February 21, 2011 meeting, the two men stared each
other down before Undertaker set his attention on the WrestleMania XXVIII
marquee. Triple H responded by patting Undertaker on the shoulder before exiting
the ring.[97]
Personal life
Calaway graduated from Waltrip High
School in 1983 where he was a member of the basketball team.[98] Calaway married
his first wife, Jodi Lynn, in 1989, and they had a son, Gunner, born in 1993,
before the marriage ended in 1999. Calaway married his second wife, Sara, in St
Petersburg, Florida on July 21, 2000.[citation needed] The couple had two
daughters together: Chasey (born on November 21, 2002) and Gracie (born on May
15, 2005).[citation needed] As of 2007, he and Sara were divorced, and he was
romantically linked to former wrestler Michelle McCool, whom he married on June
26, 2010, in Houston, Texas.[99][100]
Calaway is an avid boxing fan and
carried the Flag of the United States while leading Team Pacquiao to the ring
during the Pacquiao vs. Velázquez fight in 2005.[101] This was also confirmed by
fellow wrestler Batista in a televised interview for the Philippine news program
TV Patrol World. Calaway is also an avid mixed martial arts fan and has attended
several Ultimate Fighting Championship shows, including a show where Calaway had
a confrontation with former WWE star Brock Lesnar. During an interview that an
internet show conducted with Calaway after UFC 121, Lesnar walked past him, with
Calaway answering Lesnar's stare with "you wanna do it?".[100][102] He is a
close friend of mixed martial artists, Pat Miletich, Jeremy Horn, Matt Hughes
and the actor, Tony Longo. [100]
Calaway invests in real estate with
business partner Scott Everhart. Calaway and Everhart finished construction on a
$2.7m building in Loveland, Colorado called "The Calahart," a portmanteau of
their last names.[103] Calaway and his ex-wife Sara established The Zeus Compton
Calaway Save the Animals fund at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine &
Biomedical Sciences to help pay for lifesaving treatments for large-breed
dogs.[104]
Other
media
Calaway made his motion picture
debut in a supporting role as Hutch in the 1991 film, Suburban Commando opposite
Hulk Hogan and Christopher Lloyd. He filmed guest roles on Poltergeist: The
Legacy, where he played the Soul Chaser Demon and Celebrity Deathmatch. In 2001,
Calaway appeared out of character on the Canadian sports show Off the Record
with Michael Landsberg.
Filmography
Films
Year Film Role
1991 Suburban Commando Hutch
1999 Beyond the Mat Himself
Television
Year Title Role
1999
Poltergeist: The Legacy Soul Chaser
Demon Downtown The Undertaker (voice)
Celebrity Deathmatch The Undertaker
(voice)
2001
Off the Record with Michael
Landsberg Himself
In
wrestling
Finishing moves
As The Undertaker
Chokeslam[3][5]
Hell's Gate (Modified gogoplata) –
2008–present
Last Ride (Elevated powerbomb) –
2000–present
Tombstone Piledriver (Kneeling
reverse piledriver, followed by a modified pin)
Triangle choke – 2003–2008
As "Mean" Mark Callous
Callous Clutch (Jaw clutch)[5]
Heart punch[5]
Signature moves
Back body drop
Ballistic punching combination[5]
Big boot[5]
Fujiwara armbar[5]
Flying clothesline[5]
Guillotine leg drop onto the chest
of an apron-hung opponent[5]
Heatseeking Missile[5] (Missile
dropkick) – 1984–1990
One-handed clawhold[5] – 1984–1990
Kneebar[5]
No-handed over the top rope suicide
dive[105]
Old School[106] (Arm twist ropewalk
chop)[5]
Reverse STO[5]
Running DDT[5]
Running flying clothesline,
sometimes with a cornered opponent[5]
Running leg drop[5]
Sidewalk slam[5]
Snake Eyes,[5] followed by a
running big boot[5]
Takin' Care of Business (Standing
dragon sleeper)[5] – 2002–2007
Wrist lock followed by multiple
shoulder blocks[5]
Managers
General Skandor Akbar[6][107]
Paul Bearer[6][107]
Paul E. Dangerously[6][107]
Theodore Long[6][107]
Brother Love[6][107]
Dutch Mantell[6][107]
Downtown Bruno[6][107]
Nicknames
"The Phenom"[3][108]
"The Deadman"[3][108]
"The Lord of Darkness"[109]
"The Last Outlaw"[110]
"The American Bad Ass"[108]
"The Conscience of the WWF/E"
"The Red Devil"[108]
"Big Evil"[108]
"The Demon of Death Valley"
Entrance themes
New Japan Pro Wrestling
"Miracle Man" by Ozzy Osbourne
National Wrestling Alliance
"China White" by Scorpions
World Championship Wrestling
"China White" by Scorpions
World Wrestling
Federation/Entertainment/WWE
"Funeral Dirge" by Jim Johnston
(November 19, 1990 – August 19, 1991)
"Funeral March" by Jim Johnston
(August 26, 1991 – January 22, 1994)
"The Grim Reaper" by Jim Johnston
(August 29, 1994 – November 13, 1995)
"Graveyard Symphony" by Jim
Johnston (November 19, 1995 – July 20, 1998; January 11, 1999 – March 22, 1999)
"Dark Side" by Jim Johnston (July
26, 1998 – December 13, 1998)
"Ministry" by Jim Johnston (March
28, 1999 – September 23, 1999)
"American Bad Ass" by Kid Rock (May
21, 2000 – December 4, 2000)
"Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by
Limp Bizkit (December 10, 2000 – May 6, 2002; March 30 2003)
"Dead Man" by Jim Johnston (May 19,
2002 – September 19, 2002)
"You're Gonna Pay" by Jim Johnston
(September 22, 2002 – November 16, 2003)
"Rest in Peace" by Jim Johnston
(March 14, 2004 – February 21, 2011, January 30, 2012 - Present)
"Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold This
Body Down)" by Johnny Cash (March 7, 2011 – April 3, 2011)[111]
Championships and accomplishments
The Mirror
7th greatest winning streak in
sports.[112]
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Feud of the Year (1991)[113]
vs. The Ultimate Warrior
PWI Match of the Year (1998)[114]
vs. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring
PWI Match of the Year
(2009)[115]vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV
PWI Match of the Year (2010) vs.
Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI
PWI ranked him #2 of the 500 best
singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002[116]
PWI ranked him #21 of the top 500
singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[117]
United States Wrestling Association
USWA Unified World Heavyweight
Championship (1 time)[5]
World Class Wrestling Association
WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
(1 time)[7]
World Wrestling Federation / World
Wrestling Entertainment
World Heavyweight Championship (3
times)[118]
WWF/E Championship (4 times)2[119]
WWF Hardcore Championship (1
time)[120]
WWF Tag Team Championship (6 times)
– with Steve Austin (1), The Big Show (2), The Rock (1) and Kane (2)[121]
WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
– with Kane1[122]
Royal Rumble (2007)
Slammy Award for WWF's Greatest Hit
(1996) Sucking Diesel into the abyss
Slammy Award for Best Tattoo (1997)
Slammy Award for Best Entrance
Music (1997)
Slammy Award for Star of the
Highest Magnitude (1997)
Slammy Award for Match of the Year
(2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV
Slammy Award for Moment of the Year
(2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI
Slammy Award OMG Moment of the Year
(2011) Kicking out of Triple H's Tombstone Piledriver at WrestleMania XXVII
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
5 Star Match (1997) vs. Shawn
Michaels in a Hell in a Cell at Badd Blood.
Best Gimmick (1990–1994)[123]
Best Heel (1991)[123]
Feud of the Year (2007) vs.
Batista[123]
Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn
Michaels at WrestleMania XXV[123]
Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn
Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI[123]
Most Overrated (2001)[123]
Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler
(2001)[123]
Worst Feud of the Year (1993) vs.
Giant González[123]
Worst Worked Match of the Year
(2001) with Kane vs. KroniK at Unforgiven[123]
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall
of Fame (Class of 2004)
1 ^ Won during The Invasion.
2 ^ The Undertaker's fourth reign
was as WWE Undisputed Champion.
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