The Undertaker Adds Dark Poetry to Rasslin

The Man from the Dark Side. The Phenom. The Reaper.
The professional wrestler known as The Undertaker, in Milwaukee tonight for the weekly World Wrestling Federation show being broadcast live from the Bradley Center, has been called all this and more. At 6 feet 10 inches and 320-plus pounds, the Undertaker is one of the WWF's biggest stars -- in every sense of the word. He manhandles other wrestlers as if they were party favors and thrills fans with over-the-top-rope acrobatics.

But right now, the Man in Black is dead tired.

In Madison for a half-day media blitz, Taker enters the lobby of a local radio station to plug the WWF's Tuesday show at the Kohl Center. He moves as if rigor mortis has settled into his limbs. When he pauses on the threshold, filling the door frame, he lets out a groan that sounds like a rusty cemetery gate creaking open.

A small crowd in the lobby waits for him to rumble his signature line: "Rest in Peace."

"I'm just stretching" he says. He spies a coffee pot and pours himself a cup.

"It's decaf," the station receptionist tells him.

He jumps back like Superman from kryptonite. Someone runs to fetch him the real stuff.


Taker groans again.

"We've been up 22 hours straight," explains Jimmy Dotson, director of security for the WWF, who travels with the big man. Wait a minute -- Taker needs a bodyguard?  Stalkers have been a continuing problem, Dotson says, and merely overzealous fans mob their hero everywhere.

"Sitting around airports is a real drag," Taker says later in the day, after surviving radio promos at three different stations. "Whenever you get recognized, it turns into an impromptu autograph signing. You try to be as gracious as possible, but you're tired. If you say no, people don't understand and just think you're arrogant."


At the moment, Taker is being gracious. He autographs a stack of glossy 8-by-10s for children of station personnel, frowning when he smudges a signature and then carefully redoing it. He answers calls from listeners during an on-air interview in his best DeadMan Walking voice.

Once off the air and away from the crowds, Taker's native Texas drawl creeps back into his voice. But otherwise his wrestling persona isn't much different from the man himself -- so much so that even his closest friends and co-workers call him Undertaker.

"I'm very spiritual," he explains. "I have a real connection with what I talk about as The Undertaker. I've always had what some would call a morbid fascination with the dark side. . . . I'm a little bit different that way."

While Taker's size, natural athletic ability and business acumen (he went to college on a basketball scholarship and got a degree in sports management) made him a natural for wrestling superstardom, the early years of his career were rough going. Wrestling under a different name for World Championship Wrestling, the WWF's arch rival, Taker wasn't allowed to make his morbid views known.

"They really censored me," he says of his days as a carrot-topped bruiser who rarely spoke. "They told me, 'You have no personality.' "

Fortunately for both Taker and the WWF, when he joined the organization in 1990, WWF owner Vince McMahon let him run with his necrocentric ideas. Since then, he's consistently been one of their top draws. His legions of fans, nicknamed "Creatures of the Night," identify with his melancholy demeanor and tendency to wax poetic about communing with lost souls. 

His almost Byronic nature make him unique in a world dominated by big-mouthed blonds forever crowing about their greatness.

The T-shirt-wearing, action-figure-buying Creatures have helped fund a comfortable existence for Taker, who now resides in Florida -- difficult as it is to imagine the Man from the Dark Side calling the Sunshine State home. On his rare days off, Taker can afford to design and tool around in his collection of custom motorcycles.

But success has had its price.

Just 36, Taker navigates a stairway with the care of a man twice his age, grumbling under his breath about bad hips. More than a decade of almost nightly poundings has taken its toll. 

A relentless schedule puts him in the ring about 250 nights a year, not including travel time and scheduled public appearances like his Madison media blitz.

"Injuries are my only breaks," he said wearily. "Then I get some time off to recuperate."

He keeps going simply because he is The Undertaker, and will always be -- until fatigue and chronic pain, hellhounds forever at his heels, catch him.

"It's a very fine line between dictating to your body what it should do, and doing what your body tells you it should do," he says. "But I'll be around as long as I can deliver what people expect to see from me. I don't want to be out there as a shadow of what I once was."

Has all the pummeling been worth it?

"Yes," he says with absolute certainty. "I made a sacrifice when I made the decision to do this, but it's paid off ten-fold."

The man in black has more than enough gray matter to articulate his many ideas about life -- and death -- but he's run out of time. A WWF publicist signals him to wrap things up.


He's got less than half an hour to make a final stop and then catch a flight home for a whole day and a half off before hitting the road again.

"Don't let people tell you that you can't achieve something because you're different. It's OK to be different as long as you do it without hurting anyone," he says as he stands, cracking a rare smile. "That's pretty ironic, coming from the Undertaker, since it's
my job to hurt people."

The Undertaker: "I made a sacrifice when I made the decision to do this, but it's paid off ten-fold."

An Interview of WWE Superstar The Undertaker

Wisconsin State Journal

SECTION: Showcase Rock
star or World Wrestling Federation entertainer? By the Madison reaction
to the Undertaker during a recent visit to promote his Kohl Center match
on Tuesday, it is hard to tell the difference. From the minute he ducked
out of his navy limousine until he crawled back in, the Undertaker (also
known as ``Taker'' in professional wrestling circles) was swarmed by
fans and treated like a celebrity. Construction workers shook his hand
outside the State Capitol. Photography students stopped him on State
Street to pose. Schoolchildren on buses outside the Madison Children's
Museum stared. We had planned to meet and eat at another -- less upscale
Downtown restaurant -- but the WWF management informed me that they only
take the 328-pound Undertaker to ``nice'' restaurants. They weren't as
intrigued by the idea of treating the WWF's Prince of Darkness to a
Happy Meal as I was. That's how the Undertaker (that's ``Mr. Undertaker,
Sir'' to people like me) and I ended up at Kosta's Restaurant and Bar.

As people in suits and ties tackled their salads, we talked about
funeral music, embalming fluids, death, destruction, and wrestling moves
(such as his famed Choke Slam and Tombstone Piledriver). While I took
notes, the Undertaker explained the story behind his colorful Grim
Reaper-style tattoos and polished off several glasses of iced tea,
lemon-rice soup, calamari, and mashed potatoes and gravy with Greek pot
roast on the side. He was decked out in full biker funeral attire --
black boots, black jeans, black leather gloves and black sleeveless T-
shirt. A black bandana held his blood-red hair back. The Harley-Davidson
belt buckle was testimony to a favorite hobby. And dark sunglasses hide
his pierced right eyebrow and red weary eyes. The Undertaker had been
without sleep for almost 24 hours at this point. And his mood? Well, he
was dead tired. His voice was deep and he walked tall. He's dark and
mysterious. Much of a loner, except for his entourage which on this day
included WWF security manager Jimmy ``Jam'' Dotson, and WWF public
relations manager Natalie Woods. Here is some of the conversation.
(Editor's note: We're pretty sure he was serious, most of the time.)
Wisconsin State Journal (looking way up): How tall are you?
Undertaker: I used to be 6-foot-10 but I got dropped on my head a few
times so I'm 6-foot-9 now.
Q: What did you have for breakfast?
A: An ice cream bar and cereal.
Q: Where are you from -- hell?
A: Death Valley. But I grew up in Houston, Texas.
Q: I know you arrived by limo today, but do you drive a hearse at home?
A: No. I drive a Mercedes Benz.
Q: And you have your own license plate holders?
A: They say, ``Touch this car and you're dead.''
Q: ``Rest In Peace'' is your favorite phrase -- do you intend to have it
on your tombstone?
A: I doubt that I'll ever rest in peace. I want to be cremated, though.
Q: You don't sleep much. Where does your energy come from?
A: I focus, and the energy comes from the darkness.
Q: Professional wrestling fans are rowdy. Have fans ever turned on you?
A: (Pointing to a scar under his right arm) Someone stabbed me once.
Q: Did they catch the guy?
A: I was the one who got him. He got the worse end of it.
Q: You're a celebrity.
A: It's like being in a rock group without tour buses. We fly to our matches.
Q: Do you hang out with rock stars, too?
A: Rock and wrestling have been a match since the early 1980s. Marilyn
Manson showed up to our Detroit match. Other bands that hang out with us
are Kiss, Motley Crue and Soundgarden. Luther Vandross is a big fan of
mine.
Q: Did you go to college?
A: I went to college in Texas and was a communications and then sports
management major. I was the type of person who did the opposite of what
people told them to do.
Q: So even though you look like a linebacker, you didn't play football?
A: I played basketball. I was a forward-center. But then my basketball
game involved a little bit too much wrestling. And it's hard to get
Q: What's your advice for someone considering a career in professional
wrestling?
A: Don't take no for an answer and be prepared for a lot of doors to
slam in your face. Persistence, desire and a little bit of luck will
take you a long way. Always take care of your education first. Because
no matter how good of a wrestler you are, it could all be over in any
given night.
Q: Was beating Hulk Hogan in 1991, the match which made you a world
heavyweight champion, a career highlight?
A: It was one of the highlights.
Q: Any regrets?
A: (singing like Frank Sinatra) Regrets? I've had a few. But then again,
too few to mention. (Talking now): I regret that I never got to wrestle
Andre the Giant. Andre was so big all over the world before wrestling
really took mainstream society by swarm in the early 1980s. He set the
standards for extraordinary wrestling. You were awe-struck when you saw
him.
Q: And whom do you admire?
A: Elvis. There are a lot of similarities between Elvis and me. I can't
go out a lot of places because I am so recognizable ... I' m a recluse
away from the arena. And I liked the way he controlled his audience with
what he did.
Q: Tell me about your brother Kane, the one who wears the mask. He was
disfigured by the same fire that killed your parents many years ago?
A: Kane is my younger brother. We were getting along until Vince
McMahon (WWF's owner and one of the men who tried to buy the Minnesota
Vikings football team earlier this year) decided that we would have to
wrestle each other to see who would be the new champion. I thought that
we had come to an understanding that I would be the champion but he
wants to be world champion, more than he wants to be good siblings.
Q: Are you at your strongest now?
A: Mentally, yes. Physically, no. As far as knowledge and understanding
of my wrestling I am peaking. And for me, the mental is more important
than the physical part. I have to out think my opponent to compensate
for all the injuries I have.
Q: Is Kane stronger?
A: If Kane, with his physical dominance, had my knowledge and
psychology, I don't think there is anybody who could beat him.
Q: Do you and Kane fight outside the arena?
A: Kane wants the same thing I do. To be the champion. We fought as kids
and we'll fight again. That's what brothers do.
Q: Who is your worst enemy?
A: McMahon. He's really fallen off the deep end and his obsession with
(Stone Cold Steve) Austin has rubbed me the wrong way. He's tried to
manipulate me into doing some of his dirty work. I believe I've been
here long enough and deserve a little more respect than to be his goon.
He suffered the consequences a couple weeks ago when I broke his leg.
Q: What do you think of Austin?
A: Of late, people have been a little standoff-ish toward me because of
Austin's popularity. He's the working-class man's hero. He's done pretty
much what everybody in mainstream society wants to do -- slap their boss
around. His brash style has really taken off. It's always my goal to
just take on whoever the best is and it happens to him. He's got to
realize, though, that his day as champion is over.
Q: Don't you ever want to be the ``good guy''?
A: I don't look at it as being good or bad. It's the way people perceive
me. One week they think I'm the most vile, evil creature around and the
next week they think it's the coolest thing they've ever seen.
Q: What do you usually eat?
A: When I'm not eating Greek food? I'm trying to eat more healthy now.
Not so much fast food. I eat steak, chicken, rice and pasta.
Q: What is your pre-match routine?
A: I stretch and warm up. I try to be at the arena an hour before bell
time of the opening match. Most of my time is spent thinking about what
it is that I want to accomplish and taking care of injuries.
Q: Injuries? You?
A: I'm coming off a broken ankle. And I have chronic hip problems. I'm
a 34-year-old guy going on 64.
Q: How do your fans see you?
A: My presence is one of mystique and darkness. What I bring to WWF is
that I have always had a very strong connection to Medieval time -- I
feel like I missed my time period. Not that I'm morbid or anything but
I've always been fascinated by death and what happens to the soul when
you leave this world. Before the WWF, other promoters thought it was too
morbid.
Q: Do you watch cartoons?
A: I like Spawn.
Q: I noticed your tattoos -- skulls, etc. -- also depict a dark period.
A: Over the course of the last 10 years, these are all thought that I've
had and they've been interpreted by my tattoo artist. They are pretty
close to what I've envisioned, Medieval times, skulls.
Q: Did the tattoos hurt?
A: Pain is something I'm accustomed to. It ain't like breaking a bone or
anything.
Q What do your friends call you?
A: Ded Man.

Where Angels Fear to Tread : First Ten Years of the Undertaker

It had been quite a decade.
With the tenth anniversary of the arrival of most dominant force that the World Wrestling Federation has ever seen, many memories have been stirring in their heads.

And so I am taking it upon myself to chronicle this bizarre history: the story of the Undertaker.
 

It all began over 30 years ago in the home of a mortician. The mortician, happily-married, (according to the storyline) had two children: Mark and Kane. Unknowing to both parents, the children were born with two special gifts, powers of a force known as the Darkside. One was a connection with the realm of the supernatural, giving them uncanny powers. The other was the ability to hate without reason, the gift that would soon spell the downfall of the family.

Mark, in a fit of hatred toward his younger brother, started a house fire to kill him. However, the fire also claimed the lives of his parents, a much-undesired effect. Paul, the mortician's apprentice, found the young Mark hiding in the bushes and, though he had guessed what had happened, took him into his care. But the young apprentice decided to make the child fully aware of his deed. The night before the funeral, Paul dragged Mark to the mortuary to view the charred remains of his parents. So horrified was he with his deed that he did not attend the funeral, at which three caskets were lowered into the ground. The realization of the event shocked and scarred him for life and would shape him into the man he would become. Though the details here are sketchy at best, it could be assumed that Mark became sorry for what he had done and began to seek for a way of atonement.

Some years later, the child, now a grown man, entered the World Wrestling Federation as the Undertaker, the product of wrestling with his inner demons for so long. He was introduced at the 1990 Survivor Series, twenty years ago, by the Million-Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. Soon after that, he was handed over to Brother Love who handed him over to Dr. Paul Bearer. As soon as the Undertaker saw Paul, he immediately knew who it was: his father's apprentice.

The chairman of the WWF, Vincent K. McMahon, used this almost seven-feet-tall man to, as the Undertaker himself would later put it, "keep [the] kingdom safe for all his hand-picked champions." But the Undertaker's power was too big to be contained to just that one area. Drawing his power from a brass urn, containing the souls of warriors gone before him, he immediately established himself as a phenomenal force and became increasingly popular. One year after his arrival, he was given an opportunity and he defeated the "Immortal" Hulk Hogan to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion. Though the reign was very short-lived, he had proven his worth and his might.

His quest to reclaim the title was always cut short by a horde of creatures who targeted him. The Ugandan Giant Kamala, under the guidance of Harvey Whippleman, became such a terror that the Undertaker devised a new type of match to rid the placer of him: the Casket Match. He himself constructed the casket and, at SummerSlam 1992, rolled Kamala inside and nailed the lid shut.

Harvey Whippleman, to avenge the defeat of the Ugandan Giant, introduced the eight-foot-tall Giant Gonzales at the 1993 Royal Rumble, costing the Undertaker the chance to once again vie for the gold. At WrestleMania IX at Caesar's Palace, the two battled. The Undertaker was choked with a rag doused in chloroform but he inhumanly rose back up to battle him. In the months that followed, the Undertaker and Paul were attacked by the Giant and Mr. Curtis Hughes, another of Whippleman's finds, and the urn was stolen.

When he returned from the attack, the Undertaker began to demonstrate his supernatural gifts. When the tolling of the bell announced his arrival, light would flee from the arena. Only by raising his arms could the Undertaker restore the light. He soon challenged the Giant Gonzales to a Rest In Peace Match, where the Giant was finally laid to rest and Paul recaptured the urn.

With his enemies laid to rest, the Undertaker announced his intention to reclaim the WWF Championship. He challenged the current champion, the Japanese behemoth Yokozuna, to a Casket Match for the title. Building a double-wide and double-deep casket, he tormented the champion for weeks until the 1994 Royal Rumble. The battle with Yokozuna was taxing but at the end, it was the Undertaker rolling the behemoth into the casket. But, as he was about to shut the lid, ten men, hired by Mr. Fugi, attacked him. Paul was struck down and the urn was opened, allowing the power of the Undertaker to escape in a green mist. The limp and lifeless Undertaker was rolled into the casket and the lid was shut, but as they rolled it away, the bell tolled. Green smoke poured from the cracks of the wood. The arena became dark and the voice of the Undertaker proclaimed that his spirit would not die and that soon he would be reborn. Then all saw the form of the Undertaker ascend to the heavens.

After these events, the Undertaker was sighted in various places throughout the world. Many people reported that they had actually seen the Dead Man, but one man claimed to have actually made contact with him: Ted DiBiase, the man who brought him to the Federation to begin with. Paul called him a liar but DiBiase soon brought him out for the world to see, possessing all the powers that the Dead Man was known to possess. The Undertaker had apparently returned.

Paul, refusing to believe that it was true, went to the place where he last felt the presence of the Undertaker: the cemetary. He returned to tell DiBiase that this "false" Undertaker would be destroyed at SummerSlam 1994. As Paul was placed in a choking grip by Dibiase's Undertaker, the lights began to flicker and die. When they returned, Paul was safe and out of the way of harm, proclaiming the presence of the real Undertaker. And then, some weeks later, the voice of the Undertaker spoke to DiBiase from the heavens, telling that the time had come for his resurgence.

At SummerSlam 1994, DiBiase brought his Undertaker. Then Paul arrived, but empty-handed. Then he bade several hooded druids to bring forth the double-wide and double-deep casket, not seen since the Undertaker was placed in it months earlier. It was opened and Paul brought out the urn, now twice its original size. Paul opened it and, in the darkness, a beam of light poured forth and struck the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. The arena grew cold. And then, at the entrance, stood the Undertaker. He marched to the ring and destroyed DiBiase's pretender with three Tombstone piledrivers in a row before depositing him in the casket, where he dematerialized and was never seen again.

The resurgent and more-supernatural Undertaker blazed a new trail through the World Wrestling Federation. At the 1994 Survivor Series, he defeated Yokozuna in a Casket Match, gaining a measure of revenge. After that DiBiase and his Million-Dollar Corporation stole the urn. He retrieved it only to lose it again to KaMa, the Supreme Fighting Machine, who melted it down into a chain.

Without his sacred urn, the Undertaker had to rely more on the strength within himself, now unamplified. Even so, he was still a powerful force. He defeated KaMa in a Casket Match at SummerSlam 1995 and soon after that reclaimed the chain that was his urn, only to lose it again to the monster King Mabel. At the end of the year, he defeated King Mabel in a Casket Match and finally reclaimed his urn. Then, having had enough of the constant bothersome struggles over the urn, he one again declared his intention to win back the WWF Championship.

The 1996 Royal Rumble saw the Undertaker face then-champion Bret "HitMan" Hart. The Undertaker had the match won when Diesel, jealous that the Undertaker was given the title shot instead of him, pulled the referee from the ring, costing the Dead Man the match. The Undertaker then promised that it would be "a cold day in Hell" before Diesel ever wore the belt again. He was true to his word. In Diesel's title match with Bret Hart one month later in a steel cage, the Undertaker popped up through a hole in the ring and dragged him under, allowing Bret Hart to escape the cage. The two men settled their feud at WrestleMania XII, where the Undertaker defeated Diesel in the Do or Die Match.

It is at this point that the story of the Undertaker takes a very weird turn. The day after WrestleMania XII, a mentally deranged Mick Foley made his debut as Mankind. He attacked the Undertaker with psychotic force on more than one occasion, hell-bent on destroying him. The Undertaker would finally get his purple-gloved hands on the beast at the 1996 King of the Ring, where Paul, seemingly inadvertently, struck the Undertaker with the urn, costing him the match. Months later, we would find out the truth. At SummerSlam 1996 a Boiler Room Brawl between the Undertaker and Mankind was held where the first man to escape the boiler room and take possession of the urn would be declared the winner. The Undertaker reached the urn, held by Paul, first but Paul would not give it to him. He struck the Dead Man with it and gave it to Mankind.

After these events the Undertaker challenged Mankind to a Buried Alive Match, where to win one would have to throw his opponent in the grave and literally bury him alive. The Undertaker put his own body on the line, claiming "if it takes destroying the Undertaker to destroy Mankind then that's what I will do." The Undertaker was declared the victor of the match but, as he continued to shovel the dirt on Mankind, a man dressed in an executioner's garb appeared and struck him with a shovel. He pulled Mankind out and shoved the Undertaker in. Then he, along with several others, piled mounds of dirt upon him, with Paul shouting directions the entire time. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. As they all left the gravesite, a bolt of lightning struck the tombstone. Then the hand of the Undertaker reached out from the ground.

One month later, on his sixth anniversary, the Undertaker re-appeared, leather-clad and descending from heaven on bat wings. He defeated Mankind and then the Executioner in an Armageddon Match. The Undertaker, now in the form of a medieval warlord, had returned with great strength and a bad attitude. No one was safe from his anger.

At WrestleMania the 13th, after much political maneuvers over the actions of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the Undertaker captured the WWF Championship for the second time, defeating Sycho Sid in a No Holds Barred Contest. Mankind first challenged him, throwing a ball of fire in the Dead Man's eyes. At 1997's Revenge of the 'Taker, he defeated Mankind and ignited a fireball in face of his former manager and friend, Paul Bearer. Soon after that, Paul returned to say that the fire had triggered a plan. If the Undertaker did not return to serve him, then he would reveal the secret of the fire that killed his parents. The Undertaker, in desperation, gave in to his demands for a while. In time he became fed up with the unjust servitude and Paul revealed the secret: the Undertaker killed his family. Amidst thunder and lightning, the Undertaker rammed his fist into Paul until Paul blurted out yet another secret: Kane was still alive.

At Badd Blood, all Hell broke loose. The Undertaker was fighting Shawn Michaels, the man who had cost him the WWF Championship at SummerSlam 1997, in a Hell in a Cell Match. Michaels' condition by the end of the match was equated to that of someone who had been in a car wreck. As Shawn Michaels prepared to become victim to the Tombstone, the lights were extinguished. The haunting sounds of a pipe organ led into musical screams as fire burst from the entrance. Then out walked Paul Bearer and behind him, wearing a black and red mask, was Kane. Demonstrating that he possessed the same powers as his brother, he ripped the cell door from its hinges, caused fire to burst from the ringposts, and Tombstoned the Undertaker. Then he left as Michaels stole the victory.

In the weeks to come Kane would unleash a path of terror throughout the WWF. Despite repeated attacks from his brother and his former manager and friend, the Undertaker refused to fight Kane, "for I will never fight my own flesh and blood." Ironically enough, this was the same "flesh and blood" that he attempted to destroy in the fire 20 years ago. The reasons for his reluctance to fight at this time is much debated but as yet unknown.

The 1998 Royal Rumble was approaching and the Undertaker was once again going after the WWF Championship, facing Michaels, now champion, in a Casket Match. Kane, around this time, had appeared to come around to his brother's side. But in time the truth would come out. During the Casket Match seven men, hired by Michaels and D-Generation X, jumped the Undertaker. Kane came to his aid, eliminating the seven men, and then turned on him, chokeslamming him into the casket. He and Paul then chopped it with an ax, doused it in gasoline, and set fire to it. Officials soon extinguished the flames but, when they opened the lid, the Undertaker had disappeared.

He would soon reappear in a blaze of bells and lightning to finally challenge his brother, claiming that "[he] will know [his] name as the Lord of Darkness." Accompanied by torch-bearing druids marching to "O Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi", he faced his brother in an exhausting match at WrestleMania XIV, where Kane was Tombstoned three times before he was defeated. He then went on to face him in an Inferno Match, a devious creation of Paul's mind, a month later at Unforgiven. Though he defeated his monstrous sibling on both occasions, the war was far from over as Paul shocked the world by declaring and proving that Kane was his own son.

During this time, Vince McMahon was having problems with the current WWF Champion, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and his attitude. This led to Vince's extending his anger and arrogance over the rest of the WWF roster. Finally, the Undertaker has had enough. Claiming that Vince was responsible for exploiting his family tragedy and costing him his title opportunities by having him protect the "hand-picked champions", he demanded that he receive his shot at the WWF Championship. In time he would be given the title shot, but not yet. First came the 1998 King of the Ring, where he faced Mankind once again in a Hell in a Cell Match. The Undertaker's attitude in this match, while he also received his share of injuries, was nothing short of satanic. He threw Mankind from the roof of the cell, chokeslammed him through the roof, beat him with steel steps, chokeslammed him on thumbtacks and finally Tombstoned him. Even today, this match is remembered as the most brutal in the Federation's history.

Also at the event, Kane, in an attempt to surpass his brother's legacy, faced Austin for the WWF Championship in a First Blood Match, under the condition that he would set himself on fire if he lost. Vince tried everything to cost Austin the belt: the cell was lowered, Mankind interfered. But nothing worked until the Undertaker came down and attacked Austin with a steel chair, splitting his skin open and costing him the title.
The next night Austin would regain the title, but not before the Undertaker explained his actions. He explained that while he and his brother were most likely destined to destroy each other, he would not let Kane set himself on fire because he wanted to surpass a legacy that could not be surpassed. This led to increased tension between the Dead Man and Austin until, by dressing up as Kane, the Undertaker defeated Mankind to become the top contender. The title match was scheduled for SummerSlam 1998.

Shortly before the event, Kane aligned himself with his brother. But at SummerSlam, when Kane came down to help his brother, the Undertaker sent him away, as he was determined to win on his own. Only by catching the Undertaker with low blow did Austin hold on to his title. Afterwards, Vince appealed to the brothers to help him rid Austin of the WWF Championship. He scheduled a Triple-threat Match in which the Undertaker could not pin Kane or vice versa. Austin did lose his title when both brothers pinned him at the same time. Vince then made off with the title belt and said that the Undertaker and Kane would have to fight for the belt with Austin as the referee. Angered, the Undertaker attacked Vince and snapped his ankle between the steel steps.

At this time, the Undertaker's anger began to overpower him. The anger led him to turn against his brother at the end of the title match and bring Paul Bearer back to his side. He now set upon forming what he called "the Ministry of Darkness", with himself as its Lord. He also set his sights on the destruction of Austin, whose biased refereeing had cost him the WWF Championship. The two fought in a Buried Alive Match at the end of the year. Austin managed to get the Undertaker in the grave and piled the dirt on him with a Backhoe.

When the Undertaker resurrected in the beginning of 1999, he was much changed. Assuming the form of an ancient Celtic druid, he assembled the Ministry of Darkness and set out to destroy Vince McMahon and seize control of the Federation. He did so in a very personal manner: by assaulting and kidnapping his daughter Stephanie and drawing his son Shane into his fold. He attempted to sacrifice Stephanie in a black wedding. But was stopped by Austin, to whom Vince had pleaded to stop him. The Undertaker, in revenge, took the WWF Championship from Austin in a contest in May, thereby capturing the belt for the third time.

In time, the Undertaker revealed to Austin the face of the Higher Power, the being whom the Undertaker was serving this whole time. Why he did so and then revealed the Power to be Vince McMahon himself is still unknown. In any case, a match was set up for the 1999 King of the Ring between Austin and Vince and Shane McMahon, where the winner(s) would take 100% control of the Federation. The McMahons won and now the Undertaker had all the power.

In time, however, Vince once again played true to his nature and envisioned himself the master. After Austin took the title back, the Lord of Darkness challenged him to a First Blood Match to get it back. A stipulation was added that if Austin won then Vince would disappear, never again to interfere in WWF business again, but if Austin lost then he could never again pursue the belt.. Vince warned the Undertaker that he had better win the belt and to remember who his boss is. The Undertaker responded that he would win the title for no one but himself and that no one tell him what to do. Austin did win in the "End of an Era" First Blood Match and Vince left. One can only wonder if the Undertaker was angered that he lost or happy to see Vince go.

After this, the Undertaker again took to tormenting his brother Kane by assaulting his friend X-Pac, the man who had cost him the First Blood Match. He also took an apprentice, the Big Show Paul Wight, the man whom he would train to follow in his footsteps. He was so consumed in his own mission that, when the Big Show attacked Paul Bearer, the Undertaker did nothing to stop it and left him laying in the ring.

In time Vince was re-instated and he once again took charge. Once again showing that no one tell him what to do, the Undertaker walked out of the WWF after refusing to wrestle in a Casket Match against Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. Vince covered up this embarrassment by declaring that he had indefinitely suspended the Undertaker.

Just where the Undertaker was during the next eight months was unknown. Even Paul Bearer, once the Undertaker's closest friend, had no idea. It would later be discovered that he was out in the deserts of Death Valley, the place of his birth, wrestling with the Darkside and wondering how, or if, he should ever return to the world of men.

Then, at Judgment Day 2000, the Undertaker returned. Riding in on a black motorcycle, the Dead Man, now the "American Badass", attacked the entire McMahon family and their associates. He has since then been an amazing force, in control of the Darkside and at last having back what he lost over 20 years ago: a normal life. Kane still haunts him, though. The two brothers have not been unknown to fighting since his return. But Kane is still locked in a limbo of betrayal and aspirations. As long as he is still bent on surpassing his brother's legacy, he will not survive. I do not envision, however, the Undertaker coming to his brother's assistance anytime soon.

It had now been ten years since the Undertaker first came into the World Wrestling Federation and once again was after the WWF Championship at the 2000 Survivor Series. While no one can predict the future, I do have a feeling that the phenom will definitely rise from the ashes and very soon, I hope in early 2011, he will rise to make his half brother Kane, Rest In Peace.

Undertaker "The Phenom"

Undertaker “The Phenom”

Icon. Legend. Phenom.

The Undertaker may have been buried by his demented brother Kane, but that doesn’t mean he’s gone for good. The Deadman has a tendency of rising from the ashes and reemerging from the dead, and if being buried before didn’t stop him, being buried now probably isn’t going to keep him down for too long. This month marks the 20th year of The Undertaker’s storied career. That’s two decades of destruction, countless victims who have suffered his wrath, 18 victories that form the unprecedented WrestleMania winning streak, and the embodiment of arguably wrestling’s most illustrious superstar of all time. I think The Undertaker will return at Survivor Series to deliver swift vengeance to the ones who have wronged him, and that includes Nexus, but what form he’ll take is still in question. He may return with in his darkest of personas, or he may return as the rugged American Badass / Big Evil. I hope it’s the former, but either way, it doesn’t change the fact that The Undertaker is a grand icon. Here’s a new wallpaper dedicated to The Phenom, the legend, and the personification of evil in WWE, The Undertaker, bringing with him a tirade of visions that portray him as the harbinger of pain to his victims. For all the Creatures of the Night out there, get to downloading and decorate your screens. Oh, and keep your ears open for the bells. They’ll beckon his return when the time comes.

Credit and Wallpaper available : Unchained WWE : Undertaker

The Undertaker : The Deadman Walking

      A Little Introduction

A) Ring Names:

1.      Kane The Undertaker

2.      Master of Pain

3.      “Mean” Mark Callous

4.      The Punisher

5.      Texas Red

6.      (The) Undertaker

B) Billed Height: 6 ft 10.5 in (2.10 m)

C) Billed Weight: 299 lb (136 Kg)

D) Born: 24 March, 1965 (Age 45), Houston, Texas

E) Resides: Austin, Texas, U.S.

F) Billed From:

1.      Death Valley (1990-1999, 2004-Present)

2.      Houston, Texas (1984-1990, 2000-2003)

G) Trained By: Don Jardine

H) Debuted: 1984 

  

   A Brief Introduction

    Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Undertaker. He is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), currently wrestling on the SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to an injury.

    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 joined the World Wrestling Federation (which later became World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002) as The Undertaker in November of that year and has remained with that company ever since.

    The Undertaker has two contrasting gimmicks: "the Deadman", an undead occult like figure, and "the American Bad Ass", a biker. The specialty matches connected to The Undertaker are the Casket match, the Buried Alive match, the notorious Hell in a Cell, and the Last Ride match. The Undertaker's kayfabe half-brother is Kane, whom he has teamed up with as the Brothers of Destruction. Glenn Jacobs (Kane) and Mark Calaway (Undertaker) are not related in real life, but they have trained together for a number of years and are very close friends in real life. The Undertaker is undefeated at WrestleMania with an 18–0 record, which is the single longest undefeated Wrestlemania streak in WWE history. Calaway is an eight-time world champion: a four-time WWF/E Champion and three-time World Heavyweight Champion as The Undertaker, and a one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion as Master of Pain. The Undertaker is also a one-time WWF Hardcore champion, and a seven-time world tag team champion: a six-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, and one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion. The Undertaker was the winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble and became the first man to win the Rumble at number 30. He has been named by WWE as the greatest big man of all time.

     Professional wrestling career

Ø  Early career (1984–1990)

      Calaway made his debut in 1984 in World Class Championship Wrestling under the ring name "Texas Red". He wrestled and lost his first match against Bruiser Brody. 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.

      His first mainstream exposure was when he joined World Championship Wrestling in late 1989. While there, he was known as "Mean Mark" Callous and along with "Dangerous Dan" Spivey", wrestled as part of the Skyscrapers tag team, managed by Teddy Long. During his time in the Skyscrapers, he and Spivey were involved in a feud with the Road Warriors, but Spivey left before the feud came to an end.

As he went into singles competition, Calaway 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, after losing his last match to NWA World Heavyweight Champion Sting on September 1, 1990 at a live event.

      During his stint in WCW, Calaway then briefly wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling as Punisher Dice Morgan. After leaving WCW, 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).

Ø  World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1990–present)

·         Debut and various feuds (1990–1994)

      Calaway made his WWF debut as "Kane the Undertaker" at a taping of WWF Superstars on November 19, 1990. 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 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 simply called The Undertaker. 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. 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 from, reviving his strength during his matches. During his heel run, Undertaker would place his defeated opponents (almost always jobbers) in a bodybag and carry him to the back.

      He made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania VII, quickly defeating "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. 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 Parlour interview segment.

      After a year of battles with the Warrior, Randy Savage, Sid Justice, Sgt. Slaughter, and Hulk Hogan, he defeated Hogan to win his first WWF Championship at Survivor Series, and thus became the youngest WWF Champion in history until having this record broken by Yokozuna in 1993. WWF President Jack Tunney ordered a rematch for This Tuesday in Texas six days later, where The Undertaker lost the title back to Hogan.

      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, The Undertaker defeated Roberts at WrestleMania VIII. He then feuded extensively with wrestlers managed by Harvey Wippleman throughout 1992 and 1993, including a casket match at the Royal Rumble. At the Royal Rumble, Yokozuna sealed The Undertaker in the casket with the assistance of several other villainous wrestlers, winning the match. The Undertaker's "spirit" appeared from inside the casket on the video screen, warning that he would return.

·         Return; feud with Mankind (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. 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. Later, The Undertaker defeated Kama in a casket match at SummerSlam. 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-like, grey upper mask. At the 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. One month later, at In Your House: Rage in the Cage, while Diesel was facing Hart in a steel cage match, The Undertaker came bursting from under the ring, dragging Diesel underneath, allowing Hart to get the victory. This feud culminated in a match between Diesel and the Undertaker at WrestleMania XII, in which The Undertaker was victorious.

     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. The feud intensified, and they began taking their battles into crowds, backstage areas, and in the boiler rooms of different arenas. 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. After Bearer's betrayal, The Undertaker took his rivalry with Mankind to a new level, resulting in a Buried Alive match at 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". 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. The Undertaker then briefly turned his attention to The Executioner, who had become a thorn in his side since his arrival. At In Your House: It's Time, The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon rules match. By the end of 1996, The Undertaker began a feud with Vader, culminating in a loss to Vader at the Royal Rumble after Bearer interfered on behalf of his new protégé. After this loss, The Undertaker began to focus his attention on the WWF Championship.

·         Hell in a Cell; Brothers of Destruction (1997–1998)

      At WrestleMania 13, The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid for the WWF Championship, marking his second time as WWF Champion. After the event, 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.

      His next major storyline began at SummerSlam in 1997 when referee Shawn Michaels accidentally hit The Undertaker with a steel chair shot meant for Bret Hart, costing the Undertaker his WWF Championship. The feud culminated at In Your House: Badd Blood, where The Undertaker challenged Michaels to the first ever Hell in a Cell match. During this match, The Undertaker's storyline half-brother Kane made his debut, ripping off the door to the cell and giving The Undertaker a Tombstone Piledriver, Undertaker's trademark finisher, allowing Michaels to pin him. The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer. As the storyline progressed, Kane, with Paul Bearer, challenged The Undertaker to fights, but The Undertaker consistently refused to fight his brother. The Undertaker and Kane then formed a brief partnership when Kane saved Undertaker from an attack by D-Generation X.

      The Undertaker's final encounter with Michaels was in the return of the casket match at the Royal Rumble, where Kane betrayed The Undertaker and cost him the win by trapping him in the coffin, padlocking the casket lid, and setting it ablaze. The Undertaker, however, had disappeared when the casket lid was reopened. After a two month hiatus, The Undertaker returned and defeated Kane at WrestleMania XIV. 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.

      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 and finished the match by Tombstone Piledriving Mankind.

      At Fully Loaded, The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane and Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. The Undertaker and Austin's reign as tag champions lasted for only two weeks, as Kane and Mankind regained the titles on an episode of Raw is War. 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. 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, 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. 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.

      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. The Undertaker, however, lost the match after Kane interfered.

·         Ministry of Darkness (1999)

      In January 1999, The Undertaker returned and formed the Ministry of Darkness, developing a more evil, Satanic persona and explaining 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. During this time, The Undertaker was booked to defeat Austin for his third WWF Championship at Over the Edge with help from Shane McMahon, the special referee. Two weeks later, it was revealed on Raw is War 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, 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 left the WWF for 8 months due to a groin injury followed by a torn pectoral muscle in January 2000, just before he was originally scheduled to return at the Royal Rumble.

·         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. 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. 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.

      The Undertaker then challenged Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series. 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.

      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. The Undertaker was then booked to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania X-Seven, where he improved his WrestleMania winning streak to 9–0. 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, Triple H pinned Kane after attacking him with a sledgehammer at Backlash, where the Brothers of Destruction dropped the title. With Kane injured, The Undertaker feuded briefly with Steve Austin for his WWF Championship, but at Judgment Day, Austin retained his title.

     As part of "The Invasion" storyline, The Undertaker's next nemesis was Diamond Dallas Page, who was obsessively following The Undertaker's wife Sara. 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. 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. After the Alliance was defeated, The Undertaker became a villain once again by forcing commentator Jim Ross to kiss Vince McMahon's ass. 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.

      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. 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. The storyline continued when The Rock cost The Undertaker his match with Maven for the Hardcore Championship. The two faced off at No Way Out, where The Undertaker lost due to interference from Ric Flair. This interference began a storyline with Flair, who declined a challenge to wrestle Undertaker at WrestleMania X8, and, as a result, Undertaker assaulted his son David Flair. Flair eventually accepted the match after The Undertaker threatened to inflict the same punishment on Flair's daughter. A no disqualification stipulation was added to the match, and The Undertaker defeated Flair.

      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. The Undertaker then defeated Hogan for his fourth world championship at Judgment Day. 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. The Undertaker was then switched from Raw to SmackDown! 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. 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.

      The Undertaker took a leave from wrestling after the Big Show threw him off the stage, sparking a feud. The Undertaker returned at the Royal Rumble in 2003. 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. 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. Jones, however, was removed prior to the match, making it a handicap match, which The Undertaker won with the help of Jones.

      Over the remainder of the year, he 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.  The second, at No Mercy, was a Biker Chain match between The Undertaker and Lesnar, which Lesnar won with the help of Vince McMahon. 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. The Undertaker disappeared for some time following the match, with Kane claiming that he was "dead and buried forever."

·         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. At WrestleMania XX, The Undertaker, accompanied by Paul Bearer and in his "Deadman" persona, returned and defeated Kane. At the following Smcakdown! 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, who then took "control" of Undertaker. 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.

     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. At No Mercy, The Undertaker and JBL competed in the first ever "Last Ride" match, although The Undertaker lost after Heidenreich interfered. After a brief program with Heidenreich, 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. 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.

      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. Even with help from his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Randy failed, and The Undertaker improved his WrestleMania record to 13–0. He returned for the June 16 episode of SmackDown! But lost to JBL, thanks to interference from Randy Orton. 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. With this, The Undertaker resumed his feud with Orton. At SummerSlam, Orton defeated The Undertaker in a WrestleMania rematch. 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. 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. The Undertaker returned to SmackDown! in early December to haunt Orton and set up a Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon. After winning the match, Calaway took a short 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 edition 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. The Undertaker lost to Khali, and he did not appear again until the July 4 edition of SmackDown!, when he accepted Khali's challenge to a Punjabi Prison match at The Great American Bash. 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. 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. 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.

      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. On the November 3 edition 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. As part of the storyline, Kennedy defeated The Undertaker in a First Blood match at Survivor Series after interference from MVP, but finally defeated Kennedy in a Last Ride match at Armageddon. 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.

·         World Heavyweight Champion (2007–2008)

      The Undertaker won his first Royal Rumble match at the 2007 event, becoming the first man to enter the Rumble at number 30 and win the match. 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. Batista and The Undertaker reignited their feud at Cyber Sunday where the fans chose the special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin, but Batista retained the world title. 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. 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. In a WrestleMania rematch, The Undertaker defeated Edge once again at Backlash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. 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.

·         Various rivalries (2008–2009)

     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, which The Undertaker won. After the match, The Undertaker chokeslammed Edge from the top of a ladder and through the ring canvas. 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. 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. At Cyber Sunday, The Undertaker defeated the Big Show in a Last Man Standing match after applying Hell's Gate. The Undertaker then went on to defeat the Big Show at Survivor Series in a casket match, to end the feud. At No Way Out The Undertaker was part of the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match, which was won by Triple H. 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. After WrestleMania, he took a hiatus.

·         Third World Heavyweight Championship reign and vegetative state (2009–2010)

      After a four month absence, 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. 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 (reminiscent of the Montreal Screwjob, which took place in the same venue in 1997). 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. 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. The Undertaker went on to successfully defend the title against CM Punk in a rematch on SmackDown, in a fatal four way match at Bragging Rights, and in a triple threat match at Survivor Series. 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. He later retained the championship against Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble in January 2010.

     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. He lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Chris Jericho after interference from Shawn Michaels. Like the Raw Champion who also lost his world title at the Elimination Chamber (Sheamus) Undertaker never used the rematch clause that would normally be given to him. The following night, on Raw, Michaels claimed that he cost The Undertaker his championship because he wanted to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI, but The Undertaker had previously turned down his offer of a match. The Undertaker agreed to the match on the condition that Michaels' career was on the line. The match was later made into a no disqualification, no countout match as well. At WrestleMania, The Undertaker defeated Michaels in a "Streak vs. Career" match at WrestleMania XXVI, to extend his WrestleMania winning streak to 18–0 and force Michaels to retire. After the match, the Undertaker shook Michaels' hand as a sign of respect.

     After a hiatus (during which he appeared twice on Raw, defeating Jack Swagger and Edge), he returned to SmackDown on May 28, defeating Rey Mysterio to qualify for a spot in the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view along with Big Show and CM Punk also vying for the World Heavyweight title held by Swagger (obtained by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract from the WrestleMania Money in the Bank ladder match on an injured Jericho). During the match, however, The Undertaker suffered a concussion, broken orbital bone and broken nose. He was visibly bleeding profusely on camera by the end of the match.

     On the June 4, 2010 taping of SmackDown, it was reported that The Undertaker was found by his brother Kane to be "in a vegetative state" (kayfabe) over Memorial Day Weekend, thus unable to compete in the Fatal 4-Way. Rey Mysterio replaced the Undertaker in the match, by winning a Battle Royal including the whole SmackDown roster and went on to win the championship. At the Money in the Bank event, Kane cashed in his Money in the Bank contract (which he won the same night) against Mysterio, who just defended his title against Jack Swagger, and became the new World Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile, Kane accused various superstars of being the culprits behind his brother's assault, including the Straight Edge Society and Jack Swagger. Eventually, Kane declared that Mysterio was the culprit. On the August 6, 2010 episode of SmackDown, however, Rey Mysterio declared himself innocent before claiming that Kane himself was the perpetrator behind the assault on the Undertaker. Following this accusation, Kane became visibly upset, falling to his knees and repeatedly saying to himself, "I love my brother".

·         Summerslam return and feud with Kane (2010)

      At SummerSlam, the Undertaker returned to confront Kane and Rey Mysterio, only to be overpowered and tombstoned by Kane, who was revealed to be the Undertaker's attacker. This was the third year in a row that the Undertaker made a return at the Summerslam event. On the September 3 edition of Smackdown, Kane challenged The Undertaker to a match at Night of Champions for the World Heavyweight Championship. Kane said that the Undertaker was weaker than his former self and that Kane would finish him off. At Night of Champions, the Undertaker was indeed defeated by Kane who retained the World Heavyweight Championship by delivering a Tombstone to Undertaker in a No Holds Barred match. On the September 24 episode of Smackdown, after Kane issued a challenge to his brother to a Hell in a Cell match at the pay-per-view event with the same name, a casket was rolled to the ring at the end of Smackdown and Paul Bearer emerged and was revealed to have reunited with Undertaker and looked on as Undertaker assaulted his brother. Undertaker went on to face Kane at Hell in a Cell, but was defeated when Paul Bearer turned on Undertaker and helped Kane retain the World Heavyweight Championship. On the October 15 episode of SmackDown, Undertaker accepted the challenge by Kane for a Buried Alive match at Bragging Rights 2010 for the World Heavyweight Championship, but ended up losing after he was attacked by The Nexus. After the match the gravesite was struck by lightning and his symbol appeared on the grave.

·         Shoulder Injury (2010)

      It was reported a few weeks before Bragging Rights that The Undertaker was suffering from an injured shoulder, when the injury first happened a few months ago and it became apparent that The Undertaker had torn his rotator cuff in the shoulder, WWE planned for the Undertaker to lose a Buried Alive match against Kane at Survivor Series and then rest up his shoulder after the event. When the pain got worse, the call was made to have the Buried Alive match take place at Bragging Rights and get the surgery over with. It has been reported that The Undertaker may not be back in the ring until early 2011.

Ø  Other media

Calaway appeared in the 1991 film Suburban Commando. He also appeared on episodes of Poltergeist: The Legacy and Celebrity Deathmatch in 1999.

A number of spin-offs have covered The Undertaker's character. Chaos! Comics released an Undertaker comic. In 2005, Pocket Books released a novel, Journey into Darkness: An Unauthorized History of Kane, which dealt largely with Kane but also featured Undertaker as his brother, although they are not related in real life.

The Undertaker character was present in the Hindi movie Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi as a villain, played by Brian Lee (who played the 'fake Undertaker' in the WWF). He was dressed in the western mortician attire adopted by the Undertaker from 1990 to 1993, and used the Tombstone Piledriver as a finishing move in the film. On November 6, it was announced that the Undertaker will be in his own feature film that will focus on his origin and more about his powers. It will also star Calaway himself.

  Personal life

He graduated from Waltrip High School in 1983, where he was a member of the basketball team. Calaway first married 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. The couple had two daughters together Chasey (born on November 21, 2002) and Gracie (born on May 15, 2005). As of 2007, he and Sara were divorced and he was romantically linked to fellow wrestler Michelle McCool, whom he married on June 26, 2010 in Houston, Texas.

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. 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.

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 Catahart," a portmanteau of their last names. Calaway and his 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.

  In wrestling

•    Finishing moves

•    As The Undertaker

•    Chokeslam
•    Hell's Gate (Modified gogoplata) – 2008–present
•    Last Ride (Elevated powerbomb) – 2000–present
•    Tombstone

•    As "Mean" Mark Callous

•    Callous Clutch (Jaw clutch)
•    Heart punch

•    Signature moves

•    Big boot
•    Corner clothesline
•    Dragon sleeper
•    Fujiwara armbar
•    Guillotine leg drop onto the chest of an apron hung opponent
•    No-handed over the top rope suicide dive
•    Old School (Arm twist ropewalk chop)
•    Reverse STO
•    Running DDT
•    Running jumping leg drop
•    Running leaping clothesline
•    Sidewalk slam

•    Managers

•    General Skandor Akbar
•    Paul Bearer
•    Paul E. Dangerously
•    Theodore Long
•    Brother Love
•    Dutch Mantell
•    Downtown Bruno

•    Nicknames

•    "The Phenom"
•    "The Deadman"
•    "The American Bad Ass"
•    "The Red Devil"
•    "Big Evil"
•    "The Man from the Dark Side"
•    "The Lord of Darkness"
•    "The Demon of Death Valley"
•    "The Conscience of the WWE"

•    Taunts

•    Slashing his own throat with the right hand, signalling for a tombstone piledriver (signifying that the end is near for the opponent)
•    Victory pose: Kneeling after winning a match to signify his dominance in the ring (1990–'96: also raised his hand towards Paul Bearer and the urn while kneeling; 2004-onwards: takes his tongue out in demonic fashion and looks towards his opponent or just the crowd)
•    Rolling his eye-balls above to intimidate opponents (usually done after removing his hat during his entrance)
•    Raising his right-hand after victory (2000-onwards: adopted during the American Bad Ass gimmick)

•    Quotes

•    Rest in Peace (1990–'99; 2004-onwards) (also led to a Rest in Peace match with Giant Gonzales at SummerSlam 1993)
•    This is My Yard (2000–2003: during the American Bad Ass and Big Evil persona)
•    I'll Make you Famous (2000–2003: during the American Bad Ass and Big Evil persona)

•    Entrance themes

•    "Miracle Man" by Ozzy Osbourne (NJPW)
•    "China White" by Scorpions (NWA / WCW)
•    "The Grim Reaper" by Jim Johnston
•    "Graveyard Symphony" by Jim Johnston (1995–1998)
•    "Dark Side" by Jim Johnston (1998–1999)
•    "Ministry" by Jim Johnston (1999)
•    "American Bad Ass" by Kid Rock (2000)
•    "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by Limp Bizkit (2000–2002, 2003)
•    "Dead Man by Jim Johnston (2002)
•    "You're Gonna Pay" by Jim Johnston (2002–2003)
•    "Graveyard Symphony" by Jim Johnston (2004–present)

  

Championships and accomplishments

•    Pro Wrestling Illustrated

•    PWI Feud of the Year (1991) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
•    PWI Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring
•    PWI Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXV
•    PWI ranked him #2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002
•    PWI ranked him #21 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
•    PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2007

•    United States Wrestling Association

•    USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (2 time)

•     World Class Wrestling Association

•    WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 time)

•     World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment

•    WCW Tag Team Championship (2 time) – with Kane
•    World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
•    WWF/E Championship (4 times)
•    WWF Hardcore Championship (2 time)
•    WWF Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Steve Austin (1), The Big Show (3), The Rock (1) and Kane (1)
•    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
•    Undefeated at Wrestlemania(18-0)
•    WWE raked him as #1 of the top 100 WWE superstars. 

•     Wrestling Observer Newsletter

•    Best Gimmick (1990–1994)
•    Best Heel (1991)
•    Feud of the Year (2007) vs. Batista
•    Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV
•    Most Overrated (2001)
•    Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2001)
•    Worst Worked Match of the Year (2001) with Kane vs. KroniK at Unforgiven
•    Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
•    Worst Feud of the Year (1993) vs. Giant González
•    The Mirror ranked The Undertaker's Wrestlemania undefeated streak as the 7th greatest winning streak in sports, and it was the only ranked streak from professional wrestling. 

WrestleMania record