The Undertaker
Mark Calaway (also spelled [incorrectly] as either Callaway or Calloway; born March 24, 1965 in Houston, Texas), better known by his stage name of The Undertaker, is an American professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a four-time WWE Champion and a six-time WWE World Tag Team Champion. He also holds a unique record: he is currently undefeated in matches at the yearly WrestleMania events, with a record of 13-0. He is one of the few wrestlers to be consistently promoted (or pushed) throughout his career, and is frequently seen as a company loyalist and prominent 'ambassador' for WWE, not least because he is the company's longest-serving superstar, having wrestled with the WWE for almost 15 years. He currently lives on his Texan ranch with his wife Sara - whose name he has tattooed on his neck - and their two daughters.
Wrestling history
Pre-professional wrestling
Mark Calaway experienced his first-ever wrestling training session in 1984. However, Calaway went on to begin his wrestling career properly by training and wrestling at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas, wrestling in Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). He would later go on to wrestle in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), winning the USWA Heavyweight and USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship before signing with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in late 1989. During the mid to late 1980s, Calaway used a number of wrestling names: The Commando, The Punisher, Texas Red, The Master of Pain, and "The Punisher" Dice Morgan.
Early career in NWA & WCW
Mark Calaway's professional wrestling career and shot at fame began properly with a short stint from late 1989 until late 1990 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, which by the end of his run had become WCW. While there, he was known as "Mean" Mark Callous. He wrestled as part of the Skyscrapers tag team along with "Dangerous" Dan Spivey and then as a singles wrestler. His most famous match in WCW was against Lex Luger for the NWA United States Title (Mid-Atlantic version) at the 1990 Great American Bash, which he lost. At the end of 1990, WCW declined to renew Calaway's contract, thus he went to seek work with Vince McMahon's WWF.
Career in the WWF/WWE
Calaway debuted at Survivor Series 1990 as The Undertaker. The look of the 'Taker was modelled on undertakers from classic Western movies, with the basic idea being that the character was impervious to pain and possibly supernatural. In subsequent weeks, he used the name Kain The Undertaker at house shows and on WWF television. The Kain part was dropped shortly after, and Calaway was again referred to as simply The Undertaker, the name he has used to this day.
The Phenom
It was also at this time that Undertaker switched managers from Brother Love to Paul Bearer. The story given on WWF television was that Paul Bearer simply bought out Undertaker's contract from Brother Love.
Throughout 1991, The Undertaker's popularity began to quietly grow, despite being a heel. After an "undefeated" year and high-profile feuds with Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan, he toppled Hogan at the 1991 Survivor Series in November, with assistance from Ric Flair, to win his first of four WWF Titles. He would lose the title a week later to Hogan at the one time only pay-per-view This Tuesday In Texas.
It would be six years before The Undertaker would win another WWF Title. His second WWF Title victory came at the expense of Psycho Sid at WrestleMania 13. He would hold on to the title until August 3, 1997 at SummerSlam when he would lose the title to Bret Hart with some help from "The Heartbreak Kid" (HBK), Shawn Michaels. This match led into a classic feud with HBK that would culminate in one of the most memorable gimmick matches ever, Hell in a Cell. The Undertaker would win his third WWF Title at the infamous 1999 pay-per-view, Over the Edge defeating Steve Austin in a match that had both Vince and Shane McMahon as guest referees. Austin would regain the title from the Undertaker a month later. His final (as of 2005) WWF Title came in May 2002, beating the same man he defeated for his first title eleven years earlier—Hulk Hogan—at Judgment Day in Nashville, Tennessee. He would later lose it to The Rock at Vengeance in a Triple Threat Match also involving Kurt Angle.
Over the course of his long WWF career The Undertaker would go on to have a number of memorable feuds that gave birth to some of the most classic gimmick matches of all time. After losing his first belt back to Hulk Hogan in 1991, he went on to have spats with Jake Roberts, Kamala and Giant Gonzales. In 1994 he feuded with then WWF Champion Yokozuna that presented two of the best known Casket Matches in WWF history at the 1994 Royal Rumble and 1994 Survivor Series. At the Royal Rumble in 1994, no thanks to interference by over a dozen heel wrestlers, Yokozuna sealed Undertaker in the casket. The Undertaker's "spirit" appeared from inside the casket and warned he would return, then rose from behind the TitanTron. This began Undertaker's first hiatus.
An evil "clone" of himself, also billed as The Undertaker, appeared after WrestleMania X, led by Ted DiBiase, and played by Brian Lee. This led to the resurrection of the real Undertaker and an epic battle at SummerSlam, where the real Undertaker was victorious. His popularity rising, Undertaker then battled such villians as Kama Mustafa, Goldust, King Mabel, Mankind and King Kong Bundy on and off from 1995 to 1997. His late-1997 feud with high-flying prettyboy Shawn Michaels gave fans the first ever Hell in a Cell Match in October 1997, which ended with the introduction of The Undertaker's on-screen brother, Kane. Among Hell in the Cell matches, this was only overshadowed by a 1998 match with Mankind that left fans with the enduring image on Mankind being thrown from the top of the cell. The Undertaker has also participated in classic "Buried Alive" matches with Mankind, Steve Austin, and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
In 1999, Undertaker turned heel once more and formed the Ministry of Darkness. Eventually it would merge with Vince McMahon's Corporation to form the Corporate Ministry. The merger occurred after a spot where Undertaker had Stephanie McMahon, in one of her earliest on-screen appearances, bound to a crucifix, prepared to marry her to take control of the WWF/WWE. Stone Cold Steve Austin broke the wedding up, prompting the Undertaker to ally with Shane McMahon to form the Corporate Ministry. Some time after Backlash 1999, when the Undertaker lost to Austin, the Ministry split from the Corporation, and it died fully when Undertaker suffered a groin injury, knocking him out of action for several months.
American Bad Ass
The Undertaker's gimmick was modified when he returned in 2000 at WWE Judgement Day, in line with wrestling's change to a more realistic approach. His gimmick became that of an intimidating redneck biker, first referred to as the "American Bad Ass" (pictured) due to his new entrance music, the Kid Rock song of the same name. Unlike many gimmick changes, this was generally well-received by fans. In fact it was one of the most popular gimmicks of all time, considering that it was basically his real-life persona.
In 2001, The Undertaker reunited with Kane as the Brothers of Destruction and went for the WWF Tag-Team Championship. The two turned out to be a successful duo, defeating Rikishi and Haku in a brutal First Blood Match. They would then get a shot at the Tag titles at No Way Out, facing then champions Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian in a Tables Match. The Brothers of Destruction dominated the entire match, and nearly had the match won until Rikishi and Haku interfered.
The Undertaker and Kane started focusing on then Intercontinental Champion Triple H, who'd soon make a surprise alliance with WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. After the duo injured Kane's arm in a Hardcore Match against Rhyno, Kane threatened then Commisioner William Regal, and the pair was granted an opportunity to face Steve Austin and Triple H at Backlash if they first defeated Edge and Christian in a no-disqualification Match. Despite interference by Steve Austin and Triple H, Undertaker and Kane managed to win the WWF Tag titles and the right to face Steve Austin and Triple H (Two Man Power Trip). At Backlash, Triple H pinned Kane after using a sledgehammer, thus making he and Austin the new WWF Tag Team Champions.
With Kane injured, Undertaker began targetting Steve Austin and his WWF Championship. On an episode of RAW, Undertaker was told by police officers that his wife Sara had been involved in a car accident. Undertaker arrived home, only to find out that it was all a set up by Austin. At Judgment Day, Undertaker dominated his WWF Championship match with Austin. However, Triple H interfered, once more using his sledgehammer, allowing Austin to pin The Undertaker and retain his championship.
Another man got in Undertaker's way, and his name was Diamond Dallas Page. DDP wanted to become as big a star as the Dead Man, and so started a feud with him, taking Undertaker's slogan, "I'll make you famous" quite literally. The basis of this feud involved Page stalking Undertaker's wife Sara. At SummerSlam, Undertaker and Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon in a Steel Cage Match to unify the WCW World Tag Team Championship and WWF Tag-Team Championship (now called the World Tag-Team Championship).
Undertaker challenged the legendary Ric Flair to a match at Wrestlemania 18. Flair declined so Taker assaulted son David Flair. Flair finally accepted and Vince McMahon decided the match will be No Holds Barred. Undertaker won with a Tombstone despite an interference by Arn Anderson.
Undertaker defeated Steve Austin at "Backlash" to win the #1 contender spot at the WWE Championship gold. Later on the night he helped Hulk Hogan win his title match against Triple H. At "Judgment Day", Taker used the steel chair and got the Chokeslam for the victory.
His reign as champion is not common, as he's not scared to take any challenge. He put his title on the line, anytime, anywhere. Most champions don't have this material. One of his notable title matches was on Monday Night Raw, facing Jeff Hardy in his first-ever Ladder Match. After the match, he raised Jeff's arm as a sign of respect. He'd then lose his title at Vengeance to The Rock, who pinned Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match.
After pinning Test at SummerSlam, Undertaker started going for the WWE Championship again, held by Brock Lesnar who just defeated The Rock. He would then defeat Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match to earn the contender spot at the title. The match ended in a double-DQ. The feud carried over to No Mercy. Undertaker decided the match would be inside Hell in a Cell. Despite Taker entering the ring with a broken arm, he managed to overpower Lesnar, until Lesnar countered his Tombstone Piledriver into the F-5.
After the match Big Show, injured Taker by attacking him from behind. The two fought to settle their differences at "No Way Out" 2003. Despite an interference by A-Train, Taker managed to win via submission. Nathan Jones would then come in Taker's aid, saving him from assault by Big Show and A-Train. The two fought Big Show and A-Train in a Tag Team Match at Wrestlemania 19, which ended in a victory for Taker and Jones.
2 Pay-per-view victories follow: "Vengeance" against John Cena and "SummerSlam" against A-Train.
Return of the Dead Man
At Survivor Series 2003, Undertaker lost his Buried-Alive Match against Vince McMahon when his half-brother, Kane, interfered. At the Wrestlemania XX pay-per-view event, he would return in the Deadman Undertaker gimmick, again accompanied by Paul Bearer, to defeat Kane. Currently, his gimmick could be best described as a hybrid of the classic Taker and American Bad Ass gimmicks. Several months later, Paul Bearer was kidnapped by The Dudley Boyz at the direction of Paul Heyman, who then took "control" of Undertaker in the storyline. At the June 2004 WWE PPV The Great American Bash, Taker buried Bearer under liquid cement after winning a handicap match against the Dudley Boyz, as a means of removing his "weakness" so that Heyman or others could no longer control him. Fans were later told that Bearer was merely "seriously injured".
After defeating The Dudley Boyz, he challenged WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield into a championship match. After losing at SummerSlam, Taker chokeslammed Bradshaw right through the top of Bradshaw's limousine. Bradshaw, despite getting injured, was happy enough that he wouldn't have to face The Undertaker again. But then SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long said that there will be a rematch between the two at No Mercy. It will be a Hearse Match. Taker seemingly had won the match by Chokeslamming Bradshaw through the announcer's table. However, Heidenreich interfered. Taker managed to handle Heidenreich, but this allowed Bradshaw to hit his finishing move, the Clothesline From Hell.
This led to a match against Heidenreich at Survivor Series, which Undertaker won after hitting all his three patented maneuvers, Chokeslam, The Last Ride, and finally Tombstone Piledriver.
After taking care of Heidenreich, Undertaker focused on the WWE Championship again. Along with Eddie Guerrero and Booker T, he challenged Bradshaw to a championship rematch. The match turned into a Fatal Four Way, which Taker nearly won after knocking down all three men. Howver, Heidenreich interfered once again, taking out Taker with a Cobra Clutch.
This led to the signing of a Casket Match at Royal Rumble 2005. In the leadup, Heidenreich revealed that, though not afraid of the Undertaker, he hated caskets. That led to a spot on SmackDown! where Undertaker appeared on the TitanTron with a casket, opening it to reveal a lifelike dummy of Heidenreich. At another SmackDown!, in a Handicap Match against Heidenreich and Paul Heyman, the Undertaker summoned druids to bring out two caskets, assumedly one for each of his foes. When one casket magically opened, Heidenreich tagged in Heyman and ran into the stands and out of the arena. Heyman was then Tombstoned and sealed in one of the caskets.
Despite interference from Gene Snitsky (which was cancelled out by Kane, who was hiding in the casket), Undertaker sealed Heidenreich in a casket at the Royal Rumble on January 30, 2005.
The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton at WrestleMania 21 after Orton challenged him on RAW, claiming that he would defeat Undertaker and thus end his WrestleMania winning streak. It was billed as "Legend vs. Legend Killer," and included interference from Orton's father, legendary wrestler Cowboy Bob Orton. In actual fact, Calaway is believed to have requested this match due to his antipathy towards the original plans for him, which would have seen him teaming with Kane to face Gene Snitsky and Heidenreich.
Following WrestleMania 21 The Undertaker took a two month hiatus from wrestling, likely linked to the birth of his second daughter with wife Sara, Gracie Calaway, in late May 2005. He returned for the June 30 episode of SmackDown! in the SmackDown! Championship six-way elimination match. However, he got met by Muhammad Hassan, who tried to use a chair on him. He took the chair and hit Hassan instead, getting disqualified. Hassan was counted out as he ran to the back away from him. On the July 7 episode of SmackDown!, general manager Theodore Long put Muhammad Hassan in a match against The Undertaker at The Great American Bash, and Hassan's manager Daivari in a match that night against the Undertaker. Daivari was squashed easily, after which Hassan began to pray on the ramp, summoning five masked men to the ring. The masked men beat and strangled the Undertaker into submission, and Hassan put him in the Camel Clutch. Afterward, the masked men carried Daivari off like a martyr. At The Great American Bash, The Undertaker defeated Muhammad Hassan following a chokeslam, despite further interference from the masked men. Following the match, The Undertaker fought off Daivari and the masked men and chokeslammed Hassan onto the stage before removing a floor panel and powerbombing Hassan through the hole to the ground below. As a result of the win, The Undertaker is number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship (held by Batista). On the following Smackdown Undertaker was placed in another No 1 contenders match against JBL. Undertaker was dominant most of the match until a Randy Orton showed up to RKO Taker. This allowed JBL to pick up the win. After that event, Calaway resumed his feud with Orton at this year's Summerslam on August 21st, in which Orton won with help from his father, Cowboy Bob Orton. Rumor has it that the Undertaker is nearing retirement, although the way his match with Orton ended would probably dispense this rumor.
His next appearance will be at the Manny Pacquiao boxing match at Staples Center on September 11, 2005.
WrestleMania winning streak
The Undertaker has won every match so far at WWE's top Pay-Per-View, WrestleMania. This has given him a 13-0 winning streak, which has consisted of wins over Superfly Jimmy Snuka (1991), Jake 'The Snake' Roberts (1992), Giant Gonzales (1993), King Kong Bundy (1995), Diesel (1996), Sycho Sid (WWF Title win) (1997), Kane (twice, 1998 and 2004), The Big Boss Man (Hell in a Cell Match; 1999), Triple H (2001), Ric Flair (2002), A-Train/The Big Show (2003; nominally a Tag Team Match with Nathan Jones, but a de facto handicap match as Jones did not appear until the closing moments of the match), and Randy Orton (2005).
Profile
Undertaker Pseudonyms
- The Man From The Dark Side
- The Advance Man for the Grim Reaper
- The Phenom
- The Deadman
- The Lord of Darkness
- The Personification of Evil
- The Minister of Darkness
- The American Bad Ass
- Deadman, Inc.
- Big Evil
- The Red Devil
- Original Deadman
- 'Taker
- Big Dog
Previous Managers
- Paul Bearer
- Brother Love
- Paul E. Dangerously
- Sylvia Fuller
- Ronald Gossett
- General Skandor Akbar
- Theodore Long
- "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
- Downtown Bruno
- Mr. Fuji
- Sara Calaway
Quotes
- "Rest - In - Peace."
- "This is my yard."
- "If you try me, I will make you famous."
- "The spirit of The Undertaker lives within the soul of all mankind. The eternal flame of life that cannot be extinguished. The origin of which cannot be explained. The answer lies in the everlasting spirit. Soon all mankind will witness the rebirth of The Undertaker - I will not Rest In Peace."
- "Feasting on your rotting soul."
- "The end is near."
- "My creatures of the night will feast upon the flesh of your corpse."
- "Accept The Lord of Darkness as your saviour, allow the purity of evil to guide you."
- "Prepare to take your last ride."
- "Death waits for no one ."
- "Dead Man Walking."
- "It's time to meet your maker... It's time for you to rest in peace."
- "Look into the eyes of the Dragon/Dead Man"
- "You cannot kill what is already dead"
- "Say "What" if you like to sleep with your own sister."
Finishing moves
Signature moves
- Old-School (Undertaker twists, and holds his opponent's arm and climbs the ropes, walking along the top rope while still holding the arm before leaping at his victim and striking the opponent on the shoulder)
- Takin' Care of Business (Dragon sleeper)
- Snake Eyes in combination with Running Big Boot and Leg Drop
- Guillotine leg drop
- Flying clothesline
- Running big boot
- Running DDT
- Reverse STO
- Triangle choke
- Sidewalk slam
Trivia
- The Undertaker is undefeated at WrestleMania.
- The Undertaker is the only wrestler to have pinned Kevin Nash (6 ft 10 in), Kane (6 ft 11 in), The Big Show (7 ft 2 in) and Giant Gonzales (7 ft 6 in), four of the tallest men in wrestling history.
- His 1994 clone (the "fake Undertaker"), Brian Lee, was his best man at his wedding to Sara.
- Before becoming a wrestler, Calaway had intended to become a professional basketball player.
- He is maybe the only wrestler - along with middle carders like Crush - to have featured in an Indian movie. He played the role of Maya's (Rekha) main henchman in the ninety's movie Khiliadiyon Ka Khiladi (The Player Amongst Players). The movie featured action hero Akshay Kumar as the main character looking out for his younger brother. In the climax Kumar had to lift the Undertaker to drive a hanging stake through his heart. Although professionally unnecessary and also avoidable the actor, who was recently seen on a series about Karate, took up the risk and subsequently broke his back. He couldn't shoot for almost six months.
- The Undertaker and Kane were the first-ever tag team to simultaneously hold both the WWF and WCW Tag Team Championships.
Championships and accomplishments
USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
- April 1, 1989 - USWA World Heavyweight Title (1)
- Defeated Jerry Lawler - Memphis, Tennessee
- Lost to Jerry Lawler on April 25, 1989
- October 5, 1989 - USWA Texas Title (1)
- Defeated Eric Embry - Dallas, Texas
- Lost to Kerry Von Erich on October 20, 1989
WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Championship
- November 11, 1991 - WWF World Heavyweight Title (1)
- Defeated Hulk Hogan - Detroit, Michigan
- Lost to Hulk Hogan on December 3, 1991
- March 23, 1997 - WWF World Heavyweight Title (2)
- Defeated Sycho Sid - Rosemont, Illinois
- Lost to Bret Hart on August 3, 1997
- May 23, 1999 - WWF World Heavyweight Title (3)
- Defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin - Kansas City, Missouri
- Lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin on June 28, 1999
- May 19, 2002 - Undisputed WWF World Heavyweight Title (4)
- Defeated Hulk Hogan - Nashville, Tennessee
- Lost to The Rock on July 21, 2002
- Note: Losing match was a three way with Kurt Angle.
WWF/WWE World Tag Team Championships
- July 26, 1998 - WWF World Tag Team Title (1)
- Defeated Kane and Mankind with Stone Cold Steve Austin - Fresno, California
- Lost to Kane and Mankind on August 10, 1998
- Note: Kane and Mankind defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker, Rocky Maivia & D'Lo Brown (subbing for Owen Hart), and The New Age Outlaws in a Four Corners match.
- August 22, 1999 - WWF World Tag Team Title (2)
- Defeated Kane and X-Pac with The Big Show - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Lost to The Rock and Mankind on August 30, 1999
- September 7, 1999 - WWF World Tag Team Title (3)
- Defeated Kane and X-Pac with The Big Show - Albany, New York
- Lost to The Rock and Mankind on September 20, 1999
- Note: Defeated The Big Show, Mideon & Viscera in "The Dark Side Rules" match in which any of Undertaker's followers can be involved.
- December 18, 2000 - WWF World Tag Team Title (4)
- Defeated Edge and Christian with The Rock - Greenville, South Carolina
- Lost to Edge and Christian - December 19, 2000
- April 17, 2001 - WWF World Tag Team Title (5)
- Defeated Edge and Christian with Kane - Nashville, Tennessee
- Lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H on April 29, 2001
- August 19, 2001 - WWF World Tag Team Title (6)
- Defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon with Kane - San Jose, California
- Lost to The Dudley Boyz on September 17, 2001
WCW Tag Team Championships
- August 9, 2001 - WCW World Tag Team Title (1)
- Defeated Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire with Kane - Los Angeles, California
- Lost to Booker T and Test on September 27, 2001
WWF/WWE Hardcore Championship
- December 9, 2001 - WWF Hardcore Title (1)
- Defeated Rob Van Dam - San Diego, California
- Lost to Maven on February 5, 2002
| WWE Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Hulk Hogan | First reign | Succeded by: Hulk Hogan |
| Preceded by: Sycho Sid | Second reign | Succeded by: Bret Hart |
| Preceded by: Stone Cold Steve Austin | Third reign | Succeded by: Stone Cold Steve Austin |
| Preceded by: Hulk Hogan | Fourth reign | Succeded by: The Rock |
| WWF Tag Team Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Kane and Mankind | First reign | Succeded by: Kane and Mankind |
| Preceded by: Kane and XPac | Second reign | Succeded by: The Rock and Mankind |
| Preceded by: Kane and XPac | Third reign | Succeded by: The Rock and Mankind |
| Preceded by: Edge and Christian | Fourth reign | Succeded by: Edge and Christian |
| Preceded by: Edge and Christian | Fifth reign | Succeded by: Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H |
| Preceded by: Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon | Sixth reign | Succeded by: Dudley Boyz |
| WWF Hardcore Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Rob Van Dam | First reign | Succeded by: Maven |
| WCW World Tag Team Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire | First reign | Succeded by: Booker T and Test |
| USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Jerry Lawler | First reign | Succeded by: Jerry Lawler |
| USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Eric Embry via forfeit | First reign | Succeded by: Kevin von Erich |
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 21 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Calaway was involved in the PWI Feud of the Year in 1991 (vs. Ultimate Warrior) and the PWI Match of the Year in 1998 (vs. Mankind in the Hell in the Cell).