Nikunj Walia on March 16, 2023
The Undertaker spent the majority of his life wrestling inside the squared circle and went on to become one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time. It was quite evident from behind-the-scenes footage that he had a solid and close bond with WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon, and recently revealed some life lessons he learned from him.
Undertaker opened up during a recent interview on INSIGHT With Chris Van Vliet. During the conversation, The Deadman reflected on his relationship with Vince McMahon and reveal some lessons he learned from him throughout his career.
The Undertaker also spoke about those wild partying days on the road. He hung with the BSK, and had a couple very important rules. Mainly, stay out of trouble.
“Um, there’s several. You know, and I mentioned it last year in my speech at the Hall of Fame, perception is reality. And, you know, I think sometimes he may have forgotten that, but I never did. And so that went a long way. Perception is reality and how I dealt with people through my career. I always, I didn’t want anybody to ever think that, you know, that I swerved them or that I had to go behind their back or do anything. What they saw is what they got, and I think that was probably a large factor in people always considering me the locker room leader. Everybody knew my relationship with Vince and Bruce and all of those, Pat Patterson, everybody knew my relationship there.
But those same guys that I was on the road with, that I was hanging out with and partying with, you know, they knew what happened there was safe, and there was never going to be any crossover. Don’t let what we’re doing at night get in the way of business. I mean, that was a, that was a really strong rule with me. I don’t care what we do, don’t be late, and work hard. That was, that was the only thing that I [told people], don’t get in trouble, don’t make us late, don’t embarrass us, don’t be late to work and work hard. And I think that was why I garnered, I guess the respect because people trust me. And they knew that the two never the two never cross, I was going to do what was best for business, and that’s something that I learned from Vince.
With Vince, regardless of what anybody thinks, deep in his heart he’s one of the boys, he really is. And he has that mentality. Things had to change, obviously, whatever, things changed, when the business, when the company went public, there were a lot of changes that had to happen, changes for the better. Everything’s, you know, we’ve evolved into a whole I mean, it is a, I think, I think WWE is in a lot of [ways], a lot more now is regarded in the same way as as other major sports franchises, you know, NBA or the NFL, we’re on that, if we’re not on that level, we’re really close, and the company is run that way. It is not that circus, you know, carny kind of thing anymore. It is a big, huge business, as everybody knows. And that’s the way it’s treated. The product has evolved, and it’s evolved for the better.”
The Undertaker gave his heart and soul to the company to help it become the global juggernaut it is today. He credited Vince McMahon for teaching him to do what is right for the business, and earned the respect of his peers in the process.
Moreover, The Undertaker and Vince McMahon go back three decades when he initially made his debut in 1990. While many of his top stars left his company during the heights of the Monday Night Wars, Taker stood by him for the rest of his career.
The Undertaker put an end to his storied career in 2020 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2022 by Vince McMahon himself. The relationship between the two individuals has been strong since day one, and we hope it remains the same for years to come.
Do you think Vince McMahon is a huge influence in The Undertaker’s career? Sound off in the comments!
March 16, 2023 11:38 am
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