The Undertaker has spoken candidly about the major cultural shift happening in WWE’s backstage environment under the leadership of Triple H and Nick Khan.
Once known for its high-pressure atmosphere during Vince McMahon’s tenure, WWE’s backstage now exudes a relaxed and creative energy, a change that the Deadman attributes to the trust and positivity instilled by its current leadership. Reflecting on the difference on his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker shared:
“It’s so chill backstage now… You’ve got people in corners shooting TikToks. I think it’s a testament to the trust Triple H and Nick Khan have in everyone to do their jobs.”
He contrasted this with the old days, where stress often trickled down from the top.
“Back in the day, if the boss was stressed, everyone else was stressed. Now, there’s a trust in the system that makes a difference.”
The shift, he says, stems largely from Triple H’s leadership style, which emphasizes collaboration, trust, and fostering a positive atmosphere.
“Triple H puts out so much positive energy, and it resonates with the whole team. It’s a completely different atmosphere.”
This new dynamic, The Undertaker noted, empowers talent to focus more on their creativity and performances, rather than worrying about backstage politics or pressure.
By prioritizing trust and confidence in his roster and staff, Triple H has cultivated an environment where performers can thrive. This transformation signals WWE’s modernization under its evolving leadership and highlights how backstage morale can directly impact the quality of the product fans see on-screen.
In closing, The Undertaker lauded Triple H and Nick Khan for ushering in this new era: a backstage culture built on trust, positivity, and creativity—a far cry from the high-pressure days of the previous regime.
Check out latest episode of The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast:
The Undertaker has traded the Deadman persona for a new role as a mentor in WWE’s upcoming A&E series, LFG. The show, which takes fans behind the scenes of the grueling process of creating future WWE Superstars, highlights everything from grassroots training to the journey to NXT. Speaking about his involvement, Undertaker described the experience as challenging yet rewarding.
“This show is going to give you a look into the process of creating a WWE Superstar… from ground zero to making it to NXT,” he shared.
“It’s been fun but also a workload like I’m not used to. I thought my grinding days were behind me, but it’s been rewarding to help this next generation.”
Inside Look at the Show
LFG pulls back the curtain on what it takes to succeed in the world of professional wrestling. Fans will follow aspiring talent as they:
Start with grassroots training, learning the basics of the craft.
Work their way through WWE’s rigorous developmental system.
Strive for the ultimate goal: earning a spot on NXT.
Undertaker is excited about how the show will blend entertainment and authenticity. “It puts me in a different atmosphere and creative space, and I think people are really going to be entertained by it,” he said.
Undertaker’s New Role as a Mentor
WWE LFG Mentors The Undertaker, Mickie James, Booker T and Bully Ray.
Since retiring from in-ring competition, Undertaker has embraced new ways to contribute to WWE. LFG allows him to pass on decades of knowledge to the next generation while scratching his creative itch.
“It scratches the itch, creatively, without having to step back into the ring,” he explained.
For a man who spent over three decades captivating fans, this transition offers a fulfilling way to stay involved without compromising his legendary legacy.
Building WWE’s Future
The series underscores WWE’s commitment to developing new stars and ensuring the longevity of the business. By focusing on developmental talent, LFG serves as a platform to highlight the potential of younger wrestlers who are working to carry the torch. Undertaker’s involvement adds a level of credibility and gravitas that few others could bring.
“The future of this business depends on these young talents, and this show is about giving them the tools and platform they need to succeed,” he noted.
Why Wrestling Fans Should Watch
With Undertaker guiding the next generation and offering unparalleled insight into the developmental process, LFG promises to be both inspiring and educational for WWE fans. “It’s been an incredible experience to be part of this journey,” Undertaker said.
Check out latest episode of The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast:
More About WWE LFG: Legends and Future Greats
WWE’s new series, LFG (Legends & Future Greats), is set to premiere on Sunday, February 16, 2025, on A&E. The show offers fans an exciting blend of in-ring action and a behind-the-scenes look at aspiring talent competing for a WWE contract. These up-and-coming wrestlers will be mentored by legendary WWE figures, making it a must-watch for wrestling enthusiasts.
Show Format
The competition is organized into teams, each led by iconic WWE mentors who will guide their protégés through the grueling process of becoming a WWE Superstar. The legendary mentors include Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Booker T, Mickie James and Bubba Ray Dudley.
Each coach will work with their team to develop top-tier competitors within a limited timeframe. Beyond the matches, LFG will delve into the emotional and physical challenges faced by these athletes as they strive for WWE greatness.
Behind the Scenes: Tapings and Matches
The show has already begun taping content to build anticipation for its premiere. Recent tapings include exciting debuts and matchups:
A promo and brawl between Lainey Reid & Kali Armstrong vs. Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley
Drake Morreaux defeating Chris Island
These matches, along with behind-the-scenes footage, will serve as the foundation for LFG, which will take over as a replacement for NXT Level Up. Commentary for the tapings is provided by Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash, ensuring a professional and engaging presentation.
LFG promises to deliver a unique perspective on WWE’s future, showcasing not only the athleticism and determination of rising stars but also the wisdom and expertise of legendary mentors. With its mix of competition, mentorship, and storytelling, the series aims to captivate fans and highlight the next generation of WWE Superstars.
As John Cena embarks on his highly anticipated farewell tour in 2025, the WWE Universe reflects on the legacy of the 16-time world champion. Cena’s decision to dedicate an entire year to saying goodbye marks a departure from traditional wrestling retirements, and few are as qualified to weigh in as The Undertaker. On episode 49 of his Six Feet Under podcast, the Deadman shared his thoughts on Cena’s farewell and its broader implications for the wrestling industry.
“It’s a cool way for someone who meant so much to the business to go out. Fans get to give him his flowers, and he gets to say goodbye the right way.”
Cena’s farewell tour, which includes approximately 36 appearances across WWE events, is already drawing massive interest, with ticket sales spiking after his announcement that he’ll be participating in the 2025 Royal Rumble.
A Farewell Unlike Any Other
Undertaker praised Cena’s work ethic and impact on WWE, calling him a “workhorse” and acknowledging the thoughtfulness of his farewell. “Cena was a huge star for years. It’s really cool the way they’ve planned this out,” he said. Cena’s farewell contrasts sharply with retirements of the past, including those of Ric Flair and The Undertaker himself.
“For me, I couldn’t have done a farewell tour with my character. It wouldn’t have made sense for me to be hugging fans and saying goodbye. That wasn’t The Undertaker.”
His farewell came through a series of sporadic appearances, culminating in a cinematic match at WrestleMania 36 and a final goodbye at Survivor Series 2020.
The Undertaker and John Cena in 2002 and 2018
The Future of Wrestling Retirements
Cena’s farewell might signal a shift in how wrestling retirements are approached, especially for top-tier stars. Undertaker believes this approach could become the new standard.
“I think this is the way of the future for wrestling retirements,” he said. “The less you see of my generation, the better—it’s time for new stars to shine.”
Cena’s tour exemplifies a blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking. By clearing his Hollywood schedule for the year, he’s giving fans one last chance to see him in action while helping WWE transition focus to its next generation of stars.
A Symbol of Gratitude
For WWE fans, Cena’s farewell tour is more than just a series of matches—it’s a chance to celebrate a career that defined an era. As The Undertaker pointed out, it’s a rare opportunity for a performer to leave on their own terms while giving back to the audience that made it all possible.
“It’s time for John to take his bow,” Undertaker concluded. “And he’s doing it in a way that honors the business and his fans.”
The next WWE vs. AEW head-to-head battle will take place later this month. On Saturday, November 30, AEW’s Collision and Rampage will air consecutively on TNT starting at 4pm EST and wrapping up at 7. Meanwhile, WWE Survivor Series is scheduled to begin at 6pm (with a kickoff show), creating an overlap with AEW’s programming
WWE legend The Undertaker seems to be everywhere these days. Over the past few weeks, the Dead Man interviewed US President-Elect Donald Trump on his podcast, and was spotted hanging out with actor Matthew McConaughey at a Texas Longhorns football game over the weekend. On Tuesday, ESPN released photos of The Undertaker modeling the a new ‘kit’ for Italian football club Genoa CFC.
The WWE Vault YouTube channel has shared a 35-minute video of classic Survivor Series team promos dating back to the 1980’s. There’s no doubt in-ring wrestling has evolved a great deal over the past 35 years, but they just don’t cut promos like they used to.
Triple H posted the official WWE Survivor Series 2024 poster on social media featuring the past and present members of The Bloodline. Interestingly, only four men are shown from each time, while their WarGames match will be 5-on-5.
Finally, ECW original Francine had a small role at last week’s NXT 2300 special, but says she turned down several offers to do more on the show. On her Eyes Up Here podcast, the “Queen of Extreme” reveals she was initially asked to be the special guest referee for the match between Jaida Parker and Lola Vice. After a talk with her husband, who reminded her she’s had five stomach surgeries, she decided against doing anything physical.
She suggested being a guest time keeper instead, but never got a response. The night before the show, she was offered a speaking role, but had to decline that because she’d lost her voice. In the end, she was shown in the crowd as a special guest.
She wishes she could have done more, but just being included was enough for her to celebrate the memory of ECW one more time.
The Undertaker says, “WWE is on par now with the NFL, NBA, MLB, you name it. We’re no longer just some wrestling show on the fringe. WWE has become a massive global entity with influence far beyond the ring.”
The Dead Man spoke about WWE’s incredible growth on his Six Feet Under podcast. He credited this evolution to WWE’s leadership, talent, professionalized training facilities, and a recruitment process akin to major sports leagues.
“The Performance Center is like our own draft, our way of finding and developing top-tier talent, just like any other major league,” he said.
WWE’s Merchandising Machine
Taker’s “hot take” is echoed by many, including Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. Earlier this year, Rubin spoke about pro wrestling’s popularity in comparison to major sports leagues. Fanatics is the official merchandise partner for the NFL, NBA, MLB, UFC, NASCAR and more, but he wasn’t prepared for WWE’s merchandising muscle.
“The biggest growth sport in my mind Well, are we looking at percents, dollars? What’s wild, I’ll tell you honestly, what’s going on with WWE is insane,” Rubin said at SBJ’s CAA World Congress of Sports. “If I look at the growth in our WWE business, and it’s a big business already, it’s absolutely insane.”
WWE’s commentary team was just as shocked as the fans when Brock Lesnar conquered The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak in April 2014. Speaking to Sportskeeda’s Backstage Pass, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield shared just how in the dark everybody was on that fateful night in New Orleans.
“I just assumed the Undertaker was going to win, and so did Michael [Cole.] When Brock pins the Undertaker, Michael Cole says something to the effect of, ‘And the streak…’ He was going to say continues, is what he was going to say. Then we saw the three and Michael said, ‘has ended.’ He just looked at me, ‘What the f***.”
Layfield, who battled The Undertaker over the WWE Championship in 2004, admitted that while he was surprised, that only made his performance on the night better.
“All of a sudden we realize the streak has ended, then we saw the reaction and the crowd. Sometimes your reaction is so much better when you don’t know what’s out there.”
The match itself was an unfortunate send-off to The Undertaker’s streak with the Phenom suffering a concussion early into the contest that hampered his performance. Vince McMahon infamously left WrestleMania early after the match as the Deadman was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out. Many backstage were angry to see The Streak end the way it did, The Undertaker revealed a one-man-show last December.
Fans have debated for years as to whether The Streak should have ended, with some believing it never should’ve been broken. Others, however, believe that Lesnar’s legitimate fighting skills made him the perfect choice to end The Undertaker’s series of wins. Whichever way fans may feel, the end of The Streak was certainly a shock, both to the fans and those within WWE at the time.
Damian Priest recently spoke about the impact of The Undertaker’s mentorship on his WWE career. Priest noted that whenever The Undertaker is present, he seeks out his advice, explaining, “If he’s there at an event, I’ll sit down next to him… and just, you know, like, ‘You have anything for me?’ Then, he’ll give it to me straight.”
Priest values The Undertaker’s honesty and constructive criticism, saying, “I don’t need pats on the back. I need, ‘Okay, it’s fine. But if you would have did this this way, or think about it like this.’” This direct feedback has, according to Priest, helped him grow as a performer.
One of the most significant lessons from The Undertaker was about authenticity. “The most important piece of advice is basically, ‘Be yourself, turn up the volume,’” Priest said. “You don’t have to beg the crowd for acceptance. Just be you, and they’ll either follow or they won’t, but don’t beg for it.”
Expressing gratitude, Priest added, “I’m very appreciative that I have The Undertaker giving me advice… explaining to me how I should carry myself and how to be a WWE Superstar, leader, and all of it.”
Check out The Wrestling Classic’s interview with the “Archer of Infamy” Damian Priest.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has defended his comments made against the modern pro wrestlers despite facing backlash from fans.
‘The Phenom’ had grabbed the headlines after he criticized the current-day wrestlers and said that there was a lack of character development. Speaking on his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker addressed his comments and said that people take criticism personally. He also said that it bothered him seeing wrestlers having passive-aggressive responses on social media.
“That’s the big thing, especially with wrestling people and wrestling fans—everything feels like if I criticize you about something publicly, it’s a personal attack. That’s how people see it. But really, it’s not a personal attack. I’m giving my opinion on how I would have done it, or what worked for me. That doesn’t make it the right way; it was just right for me.”
– The Undertaker
The Undertaker suggests the wrestlers should concentrate on why they can’t get fans invested in them rather than battling a war of words on social media. He further made it clear that his remarks were meant to help pro wrestlers. Here is what he said:
“In wrestling, and maybe in general, if you criticize something or say something, people take it personally. Maybe ‘soft’ wasn’t the right choice of words. I was just starting to talk and come out of my shell then. I didn’t realize how far Joe Rogan’s podcast would reach or who would be watching. What killed me though was the passive-aggressive tweets from other wrestlers. I was like, ‘Oh you gotta kidding me? You know, you need to get off Twitter and focus on why they’re not drawing anything.’
But there I go again—I can’t help myself. I love you guys. But when I offer critiques, people think I’m attacking them personally. It’s just my opinion, and I’m not trying to help, I’m not trying to do somebody.”
The Undertaker
The Undertaker’s most recent WWE appearance took place at the WrestleMania 40 where he assisted Cody Rhodes to beat Roman Reigns in the headlining match of the event. The Undertaker, who had been a locker room leader during his time in WWE, also recently said that the backstage environment has changed.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker isn’t giving up on Omos despite the former Raw Tag Team Champion’s ongoing absence from WWE programming. During a recent Patreon Q&A, the Phenom said he was “optimistic” about Omos’ future in WWE, and WWE “using him judiciously” has left him “excited.”
“At some point, I believe he becomes like the guardian of the castle, basically like I used to be. Anybody, any giant monster, anybody that ever came down the pike, I always got them.”
Later on, The Undertaker reiterated his belief that Omos will play a key role in WWE storylines going forward, and is hoping to see talent who can go toe-to-toe with the seven-footer.
“He will be the one that decides who comes and who goes in a storytelling aspect. I just hope that we get some guys coming down the road that actually can pose a physical threat to you.”
The Undertaker certainly has high hopes for the Nigerian Giant, who he has previously compared to Andre the Giant, but Omos’ role, or lack thereof, over the past year has sparked doubts over his future.
Despite once being pushed heavily, including a title win in his first main roster match, Omos hasn’t competed since the Andre the Giant Battle Royal in April. His last singles match on TV came at Backlash 2023 against Seth Rollins, while his most recent win televised win was a squash match on the May 1, 2023, edition of Raw.
Ironically, Omos was not eligible in the 2023 WWE Draft, with the explanation that WWE wanted to keep the Giant as a spectacle across Raw and SmackDown. With his manager MVP now a part of AEW, questions remain as to what Omos’ future will look like, but having the endorsement of a WWE icon can’t hurt the 30-year-old Superstar.
There’s the cliche that it’s a “fine line between love and hate” but that line Jim Cornette drew between he and Donald Trump is wider than the Mississippi River his home state rests alongside.
A rightful WWE Hall of Famer, Cornette clearly despises Trump, a 2013 celebrity inductee, who aims to reclaim the Oval Office once again this November. With Election Day less than a week out, there’s a fine line between politics and pro wrestling, and while an immense amount of hate is harbored from Cornette to Trump, Donald pulls quite a bit of promotional tactics from the world of wrestling. The distinct difference is one is just selling merchandise, the other is doing that and campaigning to be the next leader of the free world.
Two well-known no-no’s in the wrestling business have been to steer clear from politics and religion. If you’re currently in the ring or under a promotion’s umbrella, that notion (for the most part) still holds true. Very rarely do you see an AEW name, a WWE name or a “name your promotion” name take a political stand because when you’re in between the ropes, your goal should be to unite the people in an effort to make money.
The late great George Carlin said division is what makes the government run off the backs of the lower and middle classes. “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it,” unless you buy a ticket to take the ride, something those classes do in droves for pro wrestling. While the First Amendment gives everyone the right to speak their mind, doing such under a wrestling company’s eye could garner some repercussions. Good or bad, you’re not just representing yourself, but the promotion you work for.
That doesn’t stop the retired names from talking, however. Dave Bautista made it known he’ll be voting for Kamala Harris. She got the Venn diagram of pro wrestling and Juggalos with ICP’s support. Mick Foley shot a video believing America will have a “Nice Day” if you go to the polls for Harris/Waltz. Same goes for Kevin Nash, always an outspoken Clinton Democrat, “sidewalk slams” Trump’s bluster on a weekly basis. However, his fellow NWO member Hulk Hogan notoriously tore off his shirt for Trump and JD Vance at the Republican National Convention. Right after Bautista voiced his vote, Trump literally sat in between Undertaker and Kane for a TikTok video. “The Brothers Of Destruction” called out “The Animal,” making it known they’ll be voting for Donald on November 5. Trump was then the next guest on Undertaker’s podcast.
Jim Cornette Pulls No Political Punches
While Jim Cornette has never been one to mince words, he makes a point to saw off the end of the double barrel and fire away at anyone who evokes the name of Trump. He did just that with Undertaker and Kane.
“Another former great wrestler on the list of alien pod people duped by the world’s most repugnant con man. Mark & Glen, you made it this long with everyone admiring you, then in the end you ruin your reputations AND try to destroy the country along with them. I’m ashamed FOR you.”
Cornette was so motivated by many of his colleagues speaking their minds, the legendary manager ended up doing the same. Very rarely does Jim Cornette put himself on video (his podcast clips are mostly adorned with Hannah-Barbara like illustrations), but he made clear that “we’re all idiots” if we as a country put Trump back in office.
Cornette has been out of the mainstream pro wrestling spotlight for years, but has created his own relevancy via his podcasts and his undeniably astute takes on the business. Because of his brashness, particularly when it comes to AEW, Jim Cornette has created a fine division amongst the cesspool that is social media. Jim has cultivated his own “Cult of Cornette” that backs him and there are plenty of wrestlers (plenty) that agree with his philosophy on the business. I too find myself nodding along in agreement with a good deal of his thoughts. Granted, how he sometimes expresses said thoughts can cut deep and raise eyebrows, but that’s always been what made Cornette the legend he is in the business.
In a lot of ways that willingness to verbally flamethrow is what helped his ultimate heel become president. Before he was ever a primetime factor on “The Apprentice”, Trump’s ties to the WWE have been long-standing since WrestleMania 4. Lavie Margolin’s “TrumpMania” does an in-depth job at showing Donald’s continuous ties to pro wrestling before he became the 45th President covering his beef with Rosie O’Donnell, the potential influence of Dutch Mantell’s Zeb Colter. For basically a decade now, the “cult of personality” conjured up Donnie’s own passionate fanbase, filled with all types of wild merchandise to show your MAGA support.
However, there is a very distinct difference between Trump’s rise to power and Jim Cornette’s impact on the business. Cornette has been a bricklayer for how the house of pro wrestling has been presented while Trump is the result of a broken system courtesy of both parties. The lack of attention to the middle class in favor of what’s going on overseas, gave Americans an ax to grind and a division that is fiercer than anything ever exemplified in our lifetime.
Many Legends Don’t Let Politics Divide
While Cornette is more than willing to draw a line in the sand between he and his colleagues, others aim to not torch their longstanding relationships over political sides. On his podcast, Nash said despite Kane fully putting the “red” behind “Big Red Machine” he didn’t bury him alive for his stance, same with Hogan, who “Big Sexy” checked in on following Hurricane Milton. In Mick Foley’s ballot backing for Kamala, Mankind didn’t throw his friendship with The Undertaker off the cell either despite disagreeing with him, but much like Cornette did to him, Undertaker took a light jab at Bautista for backing Harris and Waltz.
Pro wrestling fandom sure has its fair share of tribalism and the political contention is quite thick between everyone with less than a week away.
“I can count on one hand the number of friends I lost over politics. Friendships are stronger, family is stronger, the things that draw us together are so much more meaningful than the things that divide us,” Foley said in an interview with CNN, noting how much respect he has for Undertaker despite their political differences.
“When I see him for the next time, we’ll hug it out, we’ll agree to disagree and we’ll do the best we can to keep a 30 year friendship going strong.”
The first part of US Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s appearance on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under with Mark Calloway podcast is now online.
The two WWE Hall of Famers discuss a wide range of topics here, including pro wrestling, politics and everything in between. They delved into Trump’s early fascination with wrestling and how he became involved with the sport over time. Trump, an avid wrestling fan for decades, was curious about what’s “real” and what’s not inside the squared circle, asking if wrestlers ever genuinely get angry during matches and what it feels like to take bumps and perform in the ring.
Donald Trump says The Rock reached out to UFC Dana White to get his phone number after his the assassination attempt at the rally in Butler, PA.
The Rock thought it was "sort of incredible" that he survived and "considered it bravery" that he handled it so well. pic.twitter.com/U92ubuZcLs
The discussion then shifted towards wrestling legends, with both sharing thoughts on the greatest wrestlers of all time and the current generation of stars shaping the industry today.
Trump pulled back the curtain on his own world, sharing some of his personal motivations, and what keeps him going at such a hectic pace at 78 years old.
Finally, Trump reflects on showing more of his personal side to the public, and of course, the upcoming election and what’s at stake for the future of the country.
WWE WrestleMania 41 is coming to Las Vegas next April, and even without a match announced, anticipation is high for the event. Now, On Location has announced the details for their Priority Pass to take the WrestleMania experience of fans to the next level.
Priority Pass tickets come in several different levels. Those who purchase the Silver level for $1,500 receive:
2 Night Ticket: Upper-Level Seating
WrestleMania Kickoff Party with On-Stage Appearance by Cody Rhodes!
WWE World & Superstore Access
Dedicated Priority Pass Entrance
Professional On Location On-Site Support Staff?
Those who purchase the Gold level for $5,000 receive:
2 Night Ticket: Lower Level Seating
All-Inclusive Hospitality with On-Stage Appearance by John Cena!
Exclusive WM41 x Priority Pass Gifting
WWE World & Superstore Access
Dedicated Priority Pass Entrance
Professional On Location On-Site Support Staff
And those fans ready to go all in will receive the following by spending $7,000 on the Champion pass:
2 Night Ticket: Premium Floor Seating
Ringside Photo Op at WrestleMania 41?
Topgolf with The Miz
All-Inclusive Hospitality with on stage Appearance by John Cena!???
WWE World & Superstore Access???
Exclusive WM41 x Priority Pass Gifting
Dedicated Priority Pass Entrance
Professional On Location On-Site Support Staff?
Fans of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker can spend $9,995 for the ‘Undertaker Squite by the Seat’ and receive the following:
2 Night Ticket: Premium Suite with All Inclusive Food & Beverage
In-Suite Undertaker Appearance
Authentic Undertaker Championship Title and Urn Photo Op
Topgolf with The Miz
WWE World and Superstore Access
Exclusive Undertaker-Themed Gifting
Dedicated Entrance
Professional On Location On-Site Support Staff
And the Elite Experiences pass includes:
Premium Ringside Seating
In-Ring Photo Op at WrestleMania 41??
Post-Show Press Conference Access & Desk Photo Op
Superstar Walkout Experience on WrestleMania Stage
All-Inclusive Hospitality with Appearance by John Cena!
WWE World & Superstore Access
Premium WrestleMania 41 ELITE Gifting
Expedited Entry at Dedicated Priority Pass Entrance
ELITE Concierge Services
WrestleMania 41
No matches have been confirmed for WrestleMania 41, though fans can expect The Rock at the show despite some recent rumors to the contrary. WrestleMania 41 will take place on April 19, and April 20, from Allegiant Stadium, marking WWE’s sixth two-night WrestleMania. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WrestleMania 41 as the road to the biggest show of the year continues.
The Undertaker has revealed how Triple H has completely changed the backstage environment in WWE.
The Dead Man recently appeared on Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast. The two wrestling veterans talked about things such as their own time coming up in the business, how young generation needs to focus more on storytelling and more.
When Booker asked Taker about his experience at recent WWE shows, The Last Outlaw explained that things have taken a 180-degree turn since the new management took over and Triple H became head of creative:
“It’s crazy to me how calm everything is backstage now. You know, Paul’s demeanor is so chill. Every time I see him, he’s got time to sit down and explain something to you. It’s just not that Helter Skelter fire drill [anymore]—which I thrived in. You had to be able to [do that].
I just remember working on a promo all day long, and then 10 minutes before you go out, it’s completely changed. You had to come up [with something] and you gotta go do it. You gotta do it live. It’s so [calm], it’s almost too calm for me.”
While The Undertaker himself thinks that he wouldn’t have survived in an environment like this, he acknowledged that it’s a blessing for all the young athletes coming up:
“I know it’s gotta be better for the athletes and performers to get there and ‘Okay this is what we’re gonna do’ and that’s pretty much what’s gonna happen. That Helter Skelter fire drill thing that happened every Monday Night. You just expected it.
But it’s gotta be especially for so much young talent that there is, it’s gotta help them develop a little quicker. Because they don’t have that ‘staring down the barrel of a gun’ kind of mentality. Paul is so nurturing I think to the talent that it’s gonna really help a lot of people.”
The Undertaker’s most recent WWE appearance came during the WrestleMania 40 weekend. He first inducted Muhammad Ali into Hall of Fame and then helped Cody Rhodes finally beat Roman Reigns in the main event of the show.
Bron Breakker has opened up about his segment with Undertaker in NXT.
The October 10, 2023 date saw the renewal of an old rivalry in wrestling as NXT went head-to-head with AEW Dynamite once more since the end of the Wednesday night wars. WWE took the competition very seriously and booked a number of big names for the show, including none other than The Undertaker.
The former NXT Champion recently had an interview with 99.5 WKDQ radio to promote Monday’s Raw from Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. He discussed things such as losing the IC title to Jey Uso, his rivalry with Carmelo Hayes and more.
When asked about his experience of working with the Undertaker, Bron Breakker revealed that the Phenom actually sat down with him after the show and they have developed a relationship since then:
“We sat and we talked for a long time after that show. He just gave me a lot of great advice. That sort of started a little bit of relationship with him and I since then. Every time I see him in the building, or when he comes around, I always go up, we have conversation. Undertaker’s the best. He’s great.”
The segment in question came after a match between Breakker and Carmelo Hayes. Hayes had John Cena in his corner while Paul Heyman joined Bron. Hayes won the match in the end. The second-generation star didn’t like the result and he continued his assault on Melo.
This is when the Dead Man showed up and he delivered a chokeslam to the young star. According to Bron Breakker, it was an experience he’ll never forget:
“Absolute honor for me to even be in that position with him, with such a legend. It was an incredible night. That’s a night I’ll never forget. That’ll probably be some sort of poster or picture that’s on my wall forever. So surreal moment between me and him, and [I’m] just so thankful I got to be a part of it. He’s awesome. Love that dude.”
Apart from Cena and Taker, the October 10 NXT also featured names such as Cody Rhodes, Asuka and LA Knight. With the star-studded lineup, WWE’s third brand managed to crush AEW’s flagship show in ratings, drawing 921,000 viewers compared to 609,000 viewers from their competitors.
WWE legend The Undertaker recently opened up about one of the most iconic moments in professional wrestling history—Mick Foley’s fall from the top of the Hell in a Cell at King of the Ring 1998.
In a candid interview on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, The Undertaker, real name Mark Calaway, revealed that this infamous spot was something he “did not want” to do.
The Build-Up to the Legendary Spot
The match between The Undertaker and Mick Foley, who wrestled as Mankind, has been etched into the annals of WWE history.
However, what many fans don’t know is that The Undertaker was initially against the idea of throwing Foley off the top of the cell.
Calaway tried to dissuade Foley from taking such a dangerous risk, but Foley was determined to outdo the previous Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels:
“I’m like, ‘That’s what I’m going to go down for. I killed Mick Foley.’ And I’m thinking, Wow, okay, that’s [the match] over with, butThat son of a b**ch, he’s like … he starts climbing back up!”
The Fall That Shook the Wrestling World
Despite The Undertaker’s reservations, Foley insisted on the spot, even bringing Vince McMahon into the discussion to convince him.
On the night of the event, as Foley fell from the top of the cell and crashed through the announcer’s table below, The Undertaker was struck by a moment of sheer panic.
He recalled watching Foley’s fall in what felt like slow motion, fearing that he had caused serious injury or worse.
The Aftermath and Unexpected Challenges
Following the fall, the match continued, and The Undertaker soon realized that the night’s challenges were far from over.
Another memorable moment occurred when Foley was chokeslammed through the cage, a spot that was not planned to be as brutal as it turned out.
The structure of the cage gave way more than anticipated, leading to Foley falling into the ring, which added to the match’s already high level of intensity.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has revealed that he was aiming for one more match before calling it a career for good.
‘The Phenom’ recently told WWE star Logan Paul on his Impaulsivepodcast that he wanted one more match. During the interview, the WWE was asked whether he was looking for one last bout to end his in-ring career. The Undertaker said that’s what he was looking for to put the exclamation point in his decorated career. While he has retired, Taker still believes he has one more battle left in the tank. He said:
“That is what I was looking for. Yeah, just to put the exclamation point on the career. I wanted to have that one match that I could hang my hat on and say goodbye. I will come to the shows and I will say hello, and I’ll talk to some of the guys. Maybe watch a couple of the matches, but then I’ve got to leave. It is still in my body, my mindset is like, ‘Dude, you should be getting ready right now.’ That part in your head that has gotten you this far says you still got one in you somewhere.You got one match and people are gonna go ‘wow'”
The Undertaker competed against AJ Styles in a cinematic Boneyard Match at WWE WrestleMania 36. He emerged victorious over ‘The Phenomenal One’ and it marked his final match in the company. After an illustrious 30-year career, he officially retired at Survivor Series PLE in November 2020. Since then he has been making sporadic appearances for the company.
The Undertaker’s efforts to save his infamous match with Bill Goldberg only proved to make matters worse, the Phenom of WWE shared this week. On the ImPaulsive podcast, The Undertaker recalled the ‘dream match’ with Goldberg going very wrong in 2019.
“Man it was horrible, the match that I had with Goldberg in Saudi Arabia. You know, there was never a time in my career where I didn’t feel like no matter what happened, that I couldn’t figure out a way to make it all work and make it make sense. Get it back on track and still have a decent match.
“You know he got concussed early on it’s 98 degrees at at midnight in the desert and it was just like a train wreck. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got. I’m not pointing fingers, it’s just one of those things that happened where I just didn’t have it in me physically anymore to make things right.”
The match in question took place at Super ShowDown 2019 and marked the first-ever one-on-one match between the two wrestling legends. Unfortunately, the age of both men, in addition to Goldberg concussing himself during his entrance, resulted in a sloppy, botch-filled contest that didn’t deliver what had been promoted. The match ended with The Undertaker defeating Goldberg though neither man appeared pleased after the match.
Given the quality of this match, neither man waited long before they got back in the ring in an attempt to move on from the ordeal. Undertaker, who at this stage of his career wrestled maybe twice a year, was back in the ring the next month for WWE Extreme Rules, where he and Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon. Goldberg would make an impactful return at SummerSlam in August, squashing Dolph Ziggler.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The deeply personal match between Drew McIntyre & CM Punk at WWE SummerSlam 2024 paid tribute to a match at the same event from 1997. For the match, McIntyre arrived wearing a dark, spiked attire while Punk wore a pink and black get-up that fans may have found familiar.
The pair’s choice of wardrobe was a nod to the SummerSlam 1997 main event between Bret Hart & The Undertaker. For that match, the Phenom arrived in a dark, spiked attire while the Hitman wore his signature pink and black. While it was Bret who won on that night (winning his fifth WWF World Championship in the process), Punk would not have the same luck as his role model and he’d come up short against the Scottish Warrior.
CM Punk, Seth and Drew paying homage to Bret, Taker and HBK from Summerslam 1997. All wearing similar attire ? pic.twitter.com/uUD1dq2wEu
The attires worn for the Punk-McIntyre showdown wasn’t the only nod to 1997. Both matches featured a charismatic guest referee with Shawn Michaels officiating in 1997 and Seth Rollins in charge this week. During the Punk-McIntyre match, Rollins took a chair from McIntyre and swung for the Scotsman who ducked and Seth nearly hit Punk. This spot was also a tribute to the previous match, as Shawn would swing for Bret’s head but would accidentally hit The Undertaker.
McIntyre emerged victorious at SummerSlam and said after the show that he is ready to move on from CM Punk, who shared a similar sentiment before SummerSlam. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest coming out of an explosive WWE SummerSlam.
The Undertaker says the one thing that worries him about professional wrestlers today is the longevity of their careers because of all the crazy moves they do.
During the talk, Taker was asked for his thoughts on the current era of wrestling. The former World Champion first mentioned how WWE is breaking new records with each show so there is not a lot for him to complain. There is one thing, however, that the wrestling veteran is worried about:
“There’s nothing that I can say that like, ‘They should probably be doing this,’ Because they’re killing it. They’re killing it. The only thing that worries me, because I know the physical shape and condition that I’m in, and the things that I’ve had to do since I’ve been in the business, is I worry about their longevity, because of how much they continue to push the envelope.”
Get Them Invested In The Character: The Undertaker
The Undertaker claimed that the lack of character development made a lot wrestlers turn towards high risk moves. Though he still believes that getting the audience invested in your story is the best way:
“What ends up happening a lot of times. You mentioned it a little bit earlier, about like the character development. There was a time period there, where the character development was really lacking and the athleticism part was there. So they would, they started doing these crazy moves to [compensate].
Then what they end up trying to do is like, okay, well, after two or three times of seeing a double backflip twist off the top rope to the floor, your audience gets desensitized to that, like ‘I’ve seen that. What do you got now?’ Now you have to push the envelope a little bit further, and there’s limitations to what the human body can do. But if you can get them invested in the character, you either gotta make them love you, or you gotta make them hate you.”
The Risks of Wrestling
The Dead Man closed his argument saying that a lot of people do not understand the risks involved in wrestling. That’s why he wishes that talent would focus more on character side of things:
“That’s kind of the one thing that I wish, as a whole, that there would be more of, just because, you know what most people don’t realize about wrestling. What people really don’t realize is that within any given match, on any given night, you’re two inches away from something catastrophic happening. Regardless of how much training you’ve had.
Then when you think about the number of dates per year that you’re working, that risk factor goes up exponentially. When you’re doing double back flips off of the top rope into a group of people, it only takes one time.”
You cannot talk about the career of Undertaker without talking about Paul Bearer. The legendary manager not only provided a much-needed edge to the character on screen, but he also helped the former world champion in subtle ways that many may not have realized.
The Dead Man recently joined “Mighty” Demetrious Johnson for an interview on his YouTube channel. He talked about things such as his WrestleMania 40 appearance, how he feels about today’s wrestling and more.
When the topic of Paul Bearer was brought up, Taker explained how the pairing first came about. He recalled how Bruce Prichard was his original manager, but they had to find a new one because of Prichard’s other commitments:
“So originally, I had my manager. They brought me in with Brother Love. So Brother Love, his name is Bruce Prichard. He was on the creative team. So he was trying to make the towns with me. Back then we travelled all the time. We’d be out 30-40, days in a row, and he just couldn’t cover both of them.
So they had to find somebody else for me. So they find Paul Bearer, name’s William Moody and come to find out. This is just how everything works out the way it’s supposed to. He was a legitimate funeral director.”
The Undertaker then discussed how Paul Bearer’s personality and his background as a funeral director was the perfect mix for his character:
“He had a degree in mortuary science or whatever the degree is. So he’s a legit Undertaker. What was so good about it is like he had all this insight into, like language that I could use.
Like If I talked about embalming somebody, I knew exactly what, a trocar or whatever, to use. So it was a really cool mix. He had a really high voice. I had a really low voice. It was just…it was meant to be.”
Apart from being a funeral director, Paul Bearer was also a soldier once and he served in the US air force for 4 years. He made his first appearance for WWE in February 1991 and went on to become a legend in his decade long run with the company.
Former WWE and WCW champion Bill Goldberg recently sat down with wrestling journalist Chris Van Vliet on Insight for a wide-ranging interview. The 57-year old legend discussed his relationship with former WWE boss Vince McMahon, his infamous match with The Undertaker and of course, Bret Hart.
Here are some of the key takeaways of what Goldberg said about:
Vince McMahon’s Broken Promise
Goldberg maintains that Vince McMahon broke a promise for him to receive a proper retirement match:
“If that match was still on the table, it would have been done, I would have thought. But hey, man, I was thinking about it this morning in the shower, right? And I thought, Man, I had one of the best wrestling careers ever and don’t think for one second that I don’t understand that and I don’t appreciate it. And so to sit here and cry over a person not keeping his word in a business, that’s as cutthroat as humanly possible and he gets cast out.”
His Dud Match With The Undertaker
Goldberg discussed his disappointing match with The Undertaker at WWE Super Showdown 2019, which he blames on giving himself a concussion before he even made it into the ring.
“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring. You know, when I came back, intensity is something very hard to replicate and I had forgotten my sequence to the ring. I had forgotten my preparation.”
His Relationship With Bret Hart
Goldberg and Bret Hart’s bitter feud is well-documented. Hart blames Goldberg for cutting his career short due to injures he sustained during their match at WCW Starrcade 1999. For all that’s been said about it, Goldberg admits mistakes were made.
“It was a screw-up in the match and it’s live on national television. There’s two people that have to dance and you can only do so much and I mean, things went awry. It is what it is.”
Goldberg says it’s time to move on and leave the bitterness behind them, especially since he claims Hart accepted a favor from him after he got injured.
“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I couldn’t care less. You know Louis, right? All I can tell you is this. Louis and I know and [Brian] Knobbs knows, through Legends of Wrestling that shortly thereafter all that sh*t that happened. I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”
Cody Rhodes made sure to thank The Undertaker after his victory at WrestleMania 40, but had some liquid courage in his belly before reaching out to the Phenom.
At WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Rhodes’ story was at long last finished as he defeated Roman Reigns to capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The win marked the end of a two-year quest that started when Rhodes returned to WWE in April 2022, as well as the end of Reigns’ 1,316-day run on top.
Texting The Undertaker
Rhodes’ win saw the American Nightmare be helped by various Superstars to even the odds with the Bloodline, including John Cena, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, and The Undertaker. On the Insight podcast, Rhodes recalled what he did that fateful April night after WrestleMania went off the air.
“I didn’t sleep. I went right to the Today Show. I lay in a bunk and I texted a bunch of people including The Undertaker… I left him, what I would call, a rambling, ‘perhaps’ intoxicated little rant, just thanking him for being there. It’s the frickin’ sheriff. [He responded] Immediately after, he was [Grateful.]”
The Next Chapter
For two years, Rhodes had been focused on one story so there was plenty of speculation among fans as to what would be next for him after he won the gold. On the podcast, Rhodes admitted to being uncertain about his future as WWE Champion.
I worried that there would be a sense of completion, this sense of fullness. I was genuinely concerned like ‘Well, [the] story’s over.’ But as soon as it was done, I literally felt ten feet tall, I felt bulletproof. I felt younger, I felt faster. I didn’t feel grizzled at all. To the point where I thought ‘Oh this is going to be a lot of fun.'”
Rhodes’ fun has taken him across the world as he’s had title defenses in France, Saudi Arabia, and Scotland. His next title defense will come at WWE SummerSlam on August 3, when he defends against the ‘Tribal Chief’ Solo Sikoa.
The WWE Universe may see women’s Intercontinental and U.S. titles introduced to the main roster, though an official decision has yet to be made.
Last week, reports circulated that WWE had women’s versions of the Intercontinental and United States Championships in the works. These titles would serve a similar role to their male equivalents and be mid-card titles on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown.
While Fightful Select could not confirm that these titles are in the works, they have been discussed within WWE. The initial report included images of championships (as seen in the image for this article,) though these are examples AI art and not real championship belts. Talent who spoke to Fightful said they’ve not heard news of any upcoming mid-card championships, but it is something that a number of talent have pushed for over several years.
The Case for Women’s Mid-Card Championships
WWE introduced its first Women’s mid-card championship at WWE NXT Battleground when Kelani Jordan won the NXT Women’s North American Title. Since her six-woman ladder match victory, Jordan has retained against Michin, Izzi Dame, and most recently Sol Ruca.
A lot of things have changed in wrestling since The Undertaker made his debut in 1987. The path to success in the business wasn’t defined as well and aspiring wrestlers had to do a lot of unexpected things to get the experience they needed back then. For the Last Outlaw, this meant wrestling in places such as a federal prison just to get good at his craft.
The Dead Man reviewed this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in a new video on his Patreon page and answered some questions.
During the talk, Taker was asked if he ever wrestled in prison. The wrestling veteran recalled one of his early trainers booking him for one such show:
“Oh, yeah. It was a federal prison. Kind of like a pre-release prison. It was pretty interesting. You know, back then, anytime anybody had a ring going up somewhere and you can get on a card, you got on it. That was just how it was because there was nothing more valuable than ring experience. So I remember the guy that invited me to go. He actually trained me a little bit too. His name was Rick Davidson. Him and his brother were a tag team in the 70s.”
The Undertaker revealed that ironically, he was working the gimmick of a Russian grave digger at the time and detailed the environment they had to deal with for these events:
“I want to say my name was Boris Dragu – the Russian grave digger. How about that for irony? And you haven’t been heckled till you’ve been to a prison show. They don’t give any kind of dams about what they say or what they do. It was always that long walk in through the prison to get to where we had the wrestling event…But that’s funny. I haven’t thought about that in years, but yeah, I’ve worked there. I worked there several times.”
Rick & John Davidson were two brothers who were born in Texas in the early 50s. They wrestled for promotions such as NWA Hollywood and MSW Mid-South Wrestling.
The Undertaker is one of the most unique characters in the history of pro wrestling. One of the things that made him stand out were the different ring gears he wore through the years as his character progressed.
The Dead Man recently talked about things such as his Hall of Fame speech, the boxing match of Tyson Fury & Oleksandr Usyk and more in a new Q&A on his Patreon page.
The former World Champion also discussed his ring gears. When asked which was was his favorite gear of all time, Taker said that it was his post-American badass set up because it was most comfortable:
“My favorite gear was the singlet with the kind of leather-ish-looking pants. I guess it was the modified Undertaker that I came back after the American badass run where I kept the pants but went back… you know had the singlet, the MMA gloves. It was just the most comfortable to move around. I never really liked the tights but I say that and I see a lot of people what they wear and it’s like…a little decorum please, as far as ring gear. But the leather pants, the singlet, the duster, the hat, MMA gloves, that was probably my favourite.”
Taker later discussed some of the gears that he wasn’t a fan of. This included his python pants from Survivor Series 2000 match against Kurt Angle as well as the bat wings he wore for his match against Mankind in Madison Square Garden at Survivor Series ’96:
“I didn’t like the Python pants and I didn’t like the Undertaker pirate kind of look where I took the bat wings and I descended into the garden. That was so much cooler in my brain. The application wasn’t quite as cool as it was in my brain. In my brain, I was like ‘This is scary. This is gonna be so scary people are gonna freak out’ and then I just kind of looked like a jacked-up Gene Simmons.”
The Undertaker also revealed that he didn’t like changing his gloves, knee pads, and boots very regularly and told a story about Triple H making fun of his worn-out boots.
