The Undertaker finally accepted his place in the WWE Hall of Fame in Dallas last year, but he was a legend for decades before that. Known as a locker room leader in WWE, The Undertaker forged a path of destruction and epic stories in his wake. All of that had to start somewhere, and it was thanks to how The Deadman carried himself within the pro wrestling business.
The Undertaker was serious about the pro wrestling business, even though he was also always one to party with this BSK. He kept up his Deadman gimmick, even out of the ring for decades, seldom letting anyone see the actual Mark Calaway behind The Phenom persona. This is one of the reason why Paul Bearer was so essential for Taker back in the day, so Paul could deal with all the normal people at rental car places and airports while The Undertaker wore black and could remain silent.
The Undertaker has long been a prominent figure in the WWE, both on and off the screen. His commanding presence and ability to draw in fans quickly earned him respect from his peers, according to veteran wrestler Jim Cornette. As part of the Bone Street Krew, a backstage group of established wrestlers, The Deadman was able to seamlessly transition into the company and work alongside some of the industry’s top stars.
Jim Cornette recently discussed The Undertaker’s early years in WWE on his Drive Thru podcast, highlighting the wrestler’s dominating presence in the locker room. He was seen as a no-nonsense figure who demanded professionalism from his colleagues. In contrast to the developing egos of other backstage groups, The Undertaker’s group, which included The Godwinns, Fatu, Fuji, Yoko, and the Samoan contingent, was known for its loyalty and lack of backstabbing.
“Taker was looked at as a no-nonsense f*cking guy. Don’t f*ck around, be professional. He had the anti-Kliq, his group of guys like The Godwinns, Fatu and the Samoan contingent, Fuji, Yoko – those guys who wouldn’t conspire against anybody’s back. That’s where The Undertaker got the reputation of being a locker room leader and just being a guy who was just one of the boys as opposed to the rapidly developing egos of the other little group.”
Thanks to his strong character and popularity with fans, The Undertaker became a major attraction in just a few years. His commanding presence and leadership skills earned him a reputation as a locker room leader and a respected member of the WWE community.
The Undertaker’s story in the ring is over, and he made that very clear on countless occasions. Still, fans will never give up hope, because we have all seen legends return after their retirement before. Only time will tell if The Undertaker ever graces a WWE ring, but he will always be a presence backstage in the company, even if he doesn’t show up to work every week anymore.
Who would you like to see The Undertaker wrestle in one last match? Let us know your picks, and you can argue about it in the comments below!