Israel Adesanya competed at this weekend’s UFC 276 event, and once again dominated in the Octagon.
In his 12th consecutive win, Adesanya retained the UFC Middleweight Championship over Jared Cannonier, albeit in a match many found boring.
The match may not have gone down well with audiences, but Adesanya’s entrance caused quite a stir online.
Walking to the Octagon, Adesanya had an entrance in tribute to The Undertaker, complete with hat, urn, and using “The Phenom’s” iconic entrance music.
The Undertaker Reacts
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, The Undertaker was asked about his thoughts on the entrance and was all for it.
“I thought it was great! He’s not only a great fighter, he’s an awesome entertainer as well! Tyson Fury gets knocked down & sits up like the UT and Adesanya uses my walkout! Pretty damn cool!”
The Undertaker on Israel Adesanya’s entrance.
Click here for more MMA News and coverage of UFC 276.
The WWE is a massive, multi-billion-dollar brand that has reached almost every corner of the globe.
Some of the biggest names in entertainment are self-confessed wrestling fans, and the world of UFC is not immune to the influence of the McMahon-led promotion.
Last night’s UFC 276 saw the McMahon family, as well as Pat McAfee, attend the show, but one fighter decided to channel one of WWE’s biggest ever stars ahead of his title match.
Adesanya channels The Phenom
For his match, Israel Adesanya walked out to the Octagon with an entrance fitting the legendary Undertaker from WWE.
Adesanya wore a black hat and carried an urn with him ahead of his bout with Jared Cannonier.
In case the references to The Undertaker weren’t clear enough, Adesanya, a middleweight, entered the show to “The Phenom’s” iconic music.
Adesanya earned a loud pop from the crowd who enjoyed his reference to the legendary WWE Hall of Famer.
The Undertaker believes current RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has only just “scratched the surface” of her star potential in WWE.
“The Dead Man” was recently interviewed by Sports Illustrated, where he offered his thoughts on the current landscape of the WWE’s women’s division. Taker spoke on two stars in particular that stand out to him.
The first being “The Man” Becky Lynch, who Undertaker says is “so dialed in right now.”
“Becky is so dialed in right now,” ‘Taker said. “You’re on TV as much as they are, you can get used up really fast—but Becky is constantly evolving. She’s doing that on the mic and in the ring.”
Second, Undertaker praised current RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, who he believes has only “scratched the surface” of her star potential within the company.
“The women’s division is really, really good,” Undertaker said. “Bianca has only scratched the surface of the star she’s going to be. She’s got such an incredible personality. She’s someone I really want to see succeed.”
Both Lynch and Belair have big weekends ahead of them. They’ll both be in action at WWE’s Money In The Bank event Saturday from Las Vegas.
Vince McMahon once had a WWE Hall of Famer take Drew McIntyre under his wing.
McIntyre is a two-time WWE Champion but his road to the top was far from easy. During his first WWE run, he was called “The Chosen One” by Vince McMahon.
That distinction didn’t last as he was pushed down the card and eventually released.
After reinventing himself in IMPACT Wrestling and on the indie scene, McIntyre got a second chance with WWE and he’s now one of the company’s biggest stars.
The Undertaker Mentored Drew McIntyre
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Drew McIntrye revealed that The Undertaker once mentored him and Vince McMahon was the one who made it happen.
“As Undertaker once told me, ‘Don’t play the wrestler. Be the wrestler.’ At the time, ’Taker was my mentor, a role assigned by Vince [McMahon], and I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I was a wrestler, obviously, right? Now, almost 15 years later, I have a much different appreciation for his lessons. I know who I am every time I step out there, and I know what I’m aiming for, and that’s Roman.”
McIntyre figures to be front and center of WWE TV once the company gets closer to its Clash at the Castle event in September. The show will be held inside Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The Undertaker once put a stop to a WrestleMania storyline involving his wife, Michelle McCool.
Freddie Prinze Jr. recently took to his podcast, “Wrestling With Freddie,” to share the story from his days as a member of the WWE writers team.
Prinze noted that he was once tasked by Stephanie McMahon to write a WrestleMania storyline involving the then-WWE newcomer Awesome Kong (real name Kia Stevens). The storyline would culminate with a WrestleMania match between Kong and Beth Phoenix.
The plan was to have Kong go on a tear through the women’s division, taking out names such as Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, and the then-WWE Divas Champion, Michelle McCool.
Kong was to win the title off McCool at the Royal Rumble. This would then open up the door for a title match between Kong and Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28.
However, Michael Hayes later informed Prinze that word about the storyline made it to The Undertaker, who put a stop to it after speaking to Vince McMahon.
“So I write this up. I give it to Steph and she really likes it and Michael Hayes really likes it. It goes all the way to the top.
“It goes to Vince and it’s approved. But the WrestleMania match is not guaranteed. That’s the goal.”
(Some time later), “Michael Hayes tells me, ‘There’s a problem with your Diva storyline and we need to talk about it.’ I said, ‘What’s the problem?’
“He said, ‘It’s gone.’ I said, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘Well, Michelle (McCool) said that you and her talked and she didn’t really like the story, so it’s gone.
“She talked to Undertaker. Undertaker talked to Vince. The story is gone.’”
Michelle McCool would not end up competing at WrestleMania 28. Instead, the only women’s match on the card would be a tag team match, seeing Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos defeating Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres.
The Undertaker may have spent three decades terrifying his opponents and fans alike, but there is one thing that leaves the recently-inducted WWE Hall of Famer shaking in his boots.
It’s a little-known secret that The Undertaker is afraid of cucumbers and goes to great lengths to avoid the creeping vine plant.
This week, The Undertaker’s wife Michelle McCool explained on the latest episode of the Wives of Wrestling podcast, the power that the humble fruit has on the former WWE World Champion:
“We can’t even have one in the room. Every birthday, [daughter] Kaia gets cucumbers. She’ll like put them under his pillow, she’ll put them in his car. Cucumbers, he can’t even smell them … can’t even be around it. He ate so many cucumbers one day that he got sick, and ever since then, it was just game over.”
“He ate so many cucumbers one day that he got sick, and ever since then, it was just game over.”
Michelle McCool
Getting pranked
The Undertaker may have commanded the respect of every Superstar in WWE, but there was one man who was willing to have fun at “The Deadman’s” expense.
Throughout his career, Owen Hart was known as a serial prankster, and even the legendary “Phenom” wasn’t safe.
“Owen put cucumbers in the bottom of the iced tea so that when Taker drank the tea and drank it back, he didn’t realize the cucumbers were in there until it was looking at his face. Sometimes Owen would hide them in his tights and then put them in Taker’s face during a headlock. It was always fun to place cucumbers in odd places for Taker. Just like a cucumber on top of his bag would freak him out.”
The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak nearly ended on a count out back at WrestleMania 25.
What some consider to be the best WrestleMania match of all time, The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michael took place from Houston, Texas’ NRG Stadium in 2009. Undertaker and Michaels put on an absolute classic, with “The Deadman” ultimately coming out on top.
Recently, the man who refereed that match, Marty Elias, was a guest on Chris Jericho’s podcast, “Talk Is Jericho,” During the show, Elias revealed that The Undertaker’s streak almost ended that night due to a count out.
After a spot where Undertaker dove out of the ring, he landed wrong and actually came down on his head. Taker had told Elias if he didn’t make it back into the ring, to actually count him out.
However, Elias was selling a bump he took earlier in the match, and was able to use that to slow his count. Taker was able to get back in the ring and finish the match as planned.
“At WrestleMania 25, when I did my counts on Taker after the dive, that count was a shoot count (When Taker went for the dive, didn’t get caught, and landed on his head).
“The only instruction I ever got out of that match was from Taker. He said, ‘If I don’t get back in, you shoot count me out’, and we came very, very close to counting him out.
“But if you go back and look at that, I was drawing my counts out, and I was drawing 74,000 people in with my counts. I took my time because I was still selling because they had bumped me earlier. So I was still selling that.
“But at the same time, I was still dramatizing it and I was elongating that count. So I was getting the people behind me.
“I was looking at Taker, and Taker and I didn’t make eye contact until nine on the 10 count. So that streak almost ended at WrestleMania 25 on a count out.”
“He was concussed. He had a broken collarbone. He broke his ring finger. So yeah, he was pretty fu*ked up.”
The Streak wouldn’t end for another five years until Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30. To this day, the only two men who have ever defeated Undertaker at WrestleMania are Lesnar and Roman Reigns.
Undertaker officially retired from active professional wrestling in November of 2020, making the announcement at Survivor Series. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame by Vince McMahon this past April in his home state of Texas.
Mick Foley isn’t bothered by The Undertaker not mentioning him during his Hall of Fame speech.
When people talk about The Undertaker’s greatest rivals, a popular choice is Foley. Longtime fans may remember the time Foley, who once played the role of Mankind, got Paul Bearer to turn on Undertaker in 1996.
Of course, you can’t discuss the Foley-Undertaker feud without bringing up the 1998 Hell in a Cell match between the two. Foley was thrown off the cell onto the announce table and Undertaker legitimately thought he had killed him.
Foley was also chokeslammed through the roof and into the ring. When he landed, a steel chair bounced and hit him in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. To top that off, Foley also went through some thumbtacks in what is still considered to be the most brutal HIAC match.
(via WWE)
Mick Foley Doesn’t Feel He Was Snubbed
Serving as a guest on the In The Kliq podcast, Mick Foley explained why he’s the last person who should be crying “snub” (h/t WrestlingNews.co).
“Well, listen, I forgot to mention my wife during my speech, so I’m not one to lecture anybody about who they should and should not include in their speech. I was not there for those formative years. His was more about friendship and support. We had a great rivalry, but he didn’t mention Rock or Austin. So, if I’m not hurt, no one can be hurt on behalf of me.”
Despite the omission, The Undertaker and Foley will forever be linked career-wise. The two had some unforgettable encounters.
WWE almost ran a storyline about The Undertaker having a son – but it was apparently nixed after some comments from Triple H.
Recently, former WWE writer Freddy Prinze Jr. took to his podcast, Wrestling With Freddie, to talk abut his time in the WWE writer’s room. Prinze talked about a time when the creative team was tasked with setting up an opponent for The Undertaker to run through before starting a program with Edge.
Undertaker’s initial opponent was sidelined with an injury, so the creative team was scrambling to find a meaningful replacement. Several ideas were kicked around, before someone suggested bringing up an FCW talent for Undertaker to “smash,” but threw in adding that the opponent was “The Deadman’s” son in a “supernatural sense.”
Prinze said he got a passive approval of “Yeah, whatever” from Michael Hayes and went on to explain the plans for introducing Undertaker’s son, Hadrian.
“We write this promo and he’s sort of hacking into the network feed. So we started hacking the feed on Thursday night SmackDown back then, and they would be kind of grainy pictures. They look kind of like 80s grainy and he had these messages for The Undertaker that he would come in with, ‘His (Undertaker’s) time is nearing and now it’s going to be my time.
“I have anger and love for you.’ He was a British guy. His name was Hadrian. What a great name, Hadrian. I think it was Hadrian Howard. He had this accent and he sounded smooth when he spoke. He had a shaved head and a bit of a beard. He looked real cool, but he definitely was a smaller guy, smaller than me.
“I’m six one right now, like 185. So he’s cutting these promos and he’s doing a good job. So we get the story approved by Freebird, and then we get it approved by Vince. We start shooting these little segments and they’re airing on television.
“It’s an ongoing thing. He’s not calling out The Undertaker, but he’s speaking about The Undertaker, and you’re just waiting to figure out what the reason for it is. It was this father-son thing. So we’re building up, I think we get two weeks of TV out of it.”
Prinze went on to explain how the angle got killed during a production meeting. Triple H walked in and made a comment about the talent that was going to be used for the storyline, saying “He looks like he cuts my grass.” After that, McMahon killed the angle.
“So we’re in the production meeting and everyone’s putting their segments through. Here comes our segment and nobody said boo the last two weeks or even three weeks of TV that we got out of it. Not one agent. Not Kevin Dunn. Not Vince. Not anybody.
“All of a sudden out of nowhere, Hunter [Triple H] says ‘Are we seriously going with this guy?’ Remember, this is not a Pay-Per-View match. This is not a guy that would get any sort of offense on The Undertaker.
“It would be just a build up for The Undertaker to have something to do so he could smash this guy and then get rolling over to Edge. He says, ‘Are we really going to go with this guy?’ Vince goes, ‘What do you mean? What’s the problem?’
“He says, ‘He looks like he cuts my grass, man’, and Vince laughed. Literally all the air went out of the room. Like you could just feel it.”
As if having all that hard work thrown out the window all of a sudden wasn’t enough, Prinze also said one of the daunting parts of it all was having to break it to the young talent that his high-profile storyline introduction to the WWE main roster, with a Superstar the caliber of The Undertaker, was now nixed. Prinze described the ordeal as “sickening.”
Tyson Fury has received some warm messages from WWE legends ahead of his showdown with Dillian Whyte.
Fury will put his WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Titles on the line against Dillian Whyte today (April 23). The action will be held inside Wembley Stadium in London, England.
(via Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Tyson Fury Receives Good Luck Messages
Through WWE on BT Sport, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and The Undertaker have sent Tyson Fury some good vibes going into another title defense.
Some messages of good luck from WWE royalty ?@StephMcMahon has got US ready to run through walls!
Stephanie got things started, saying the buzz is giving her Summerslam 1992 chills all over again.
“Tyson, it’s Stephanie McMahon and of course, Triple H from WWE. You know, I remember the last time WWE had a big stadium event in Wembley and it was Summerslam 1992. But I’ll never forget what it felt like, the electricity. 94,000 strong there to see you in your homecoming knock the block off of Dillian Whyte.”
Triple H then used one of Fury’s favorite insults, calling Whyte a big “dosser.”
“‘Gypsy King.’ The true king of boxing returns home to Wembley. 94,000 people are gonna be there and we’ll be watching just like the rest of the world. Watching you blow the roof off of Wembley Stadium and knock that big dosser out.”
Finally, The Undertaker pulled out a Muhammad Ali quote to get the “Gypsy King” fired up.
“Hey, champ. The Undertaker here. It’s about that time again, my friend. You’re going to the big house, Wembley Stadium to put on a show. Remember, you are the ‘Gyspy King’ and it’s time to conquer another kingdom.
“Dillian Whyte, he ain’t got the skills to pay any kind of bills you’re about to bring towards him. Remember, my friend float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.
“Take care of business, Tyson. I’m still here just in case you need me to dig a hole to fill a soul. Alright my man, April 23rd take care of business and I’ll see you on the other side.”
There’s been a lot of speculation on what Tyson Fury will do after this fight. He initially said he would be retiring from pro boxing matches but he has appeared to walk those comments back.
Many have also speculated that a showdown inside the WWE ring with Drew McIntyre is a possibility. The two have teased sharing the squared circle.
Please H/T SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article.
The Undertaker is holding out hope that Bray Wyatt and WWE can come to an agreement for the former star to make a return to the company, which released him last year, one day.
Taker and Wyatt have history as “The Deadman” beat Wyatt at WrestleMania 31, one year after his legendary undefeated streak ended thanks to Brock Lesnar.
“I hope things get worked out with him somewhere,” Undertaker said at WrestleMania Axxess. “He is a phenomenal talent and I think he has a lot to offer this industry. So, I want to wish the best for him. Hopefully, at some point, he comes home.”
Prior to his release, Wyatt hadn’t been used by WWE in several months following his loss to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37. WWE had been advertising him for future events just days before the decision was made to let him go.
Since his departure, Wyatt has made some public appearances, but hasn’t wrestled. Although AEW and Impact Wrestling both reportedly had hopes of bringing Wyatt in, the former WWE star decided to pursue other projects outside of the wrestling world including a new horror film project.
The Undertaker is gearing up to enter the world of podcasting.
Last weekend, The Undertaker headlined the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. He gave a rousing speech and shared several rules that he lives by:
Perception is reality
Respect and loyalty go a long way
Never be contempt.
He finished the speech by dropping the adage, “never say never.”
The Undertaker used to be very protective of his supernatural gimmick. However, that has changed dramatically in recent years. He’s “pulled the curtain” back, so to speak, and has done a lot of media appearances “out of character.”
The Undertaker Podcast
It now looks like Dead Man is trading his run for a microphone. According to WrestleVotes, WWE has convinced the Undertaker to host a new show that will be similar to Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions.
The report notes that The Undertaker’s podcast will air on Peacock within the next few months. A timeframe like this means production would begin sooner than later.
A podcast hosted by The Undertaker could make for some interesting content. For longtime fans, it’s still surreal to see him speaking as his true identity, Mark Calloway.
Steve Austin has seamlessly transitioned into his role as WWE podcast host. There’s no reason The Undertaker could not do the same thing.
Taker has appeared on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions, so Stone Cold would be a natural choice as one of his guests (if the show features guests and interviews).
We will keep an eye on this story and will provide an update if and when WWE goes public with plans for the Undertaker podcast.
The Undertaker has finally taken his rightful place in the WWE Hall Of Fame after an illustrious wrestling career spanning over three decades. WWE chairman Vince McMahon himself inducted the Dead Man. This was only the second time the boss took the time to do so after Stone Cold Steve Austin.
For the induction, the ring had several mannequin-like silhouettes, displaying the various looks of The Phenom over the years. McMahon first claimed that HOF is his favorite night of the year because fans and performers get a chance to say thank you to the inductees. Mr McMahon said that of all the performers of the past, there is no one more deserving of an induction than the one he is going to induct tonight.
He listed some of The Undertaker’s greatest opponents. He praised Taker for his loyalty to WWE, mentioning how even at the height of Monday Night Wars, WCW never bothered to call because they knew the former world champion would not leave.
The Undertaker then came down the aisle. He received a huge standing ovation. He hugged Vince McMahon and told the chairman that he loved him. The ovation continued when the lights came back on. The moment made the wrestling legend emotional alongside all the fans.
Taker mentioned how he loves the business but it doesn’t come without sacrifice. He said that he wouldn’t be here without all the people that helped him in and outside the ring. The Undertaker said that his first thank you is to the WWE Universe. He said that fans’ passion is the motivation he needed on many nights to push through the pain to perform. Taker said that the night is not only about him, it’s about each and every one of the fans.
The Last Outlaw told the story of how he got into wrestling. He recalled how he had a promising career ahead of him in basketball before graduating school but his heart was already into wrestling. He was worried about what his parents and teammates would say if he chose pro wrestling. This is when his brother David told him that he can’t live his life for what anyone else wanted him to do. He can only live his life for himself. This moment made everything clear for him. The journey of becoming a wrestler was not glamorous but it was the way he found his true identity.
Taker detailed the life lessons he has learned from his father and Mr McMahon. He mentioned Stephanie McMahon and joked that she is the little sister he never wanted. He thanked Shane McMahon before remembering the many names he spent time with on the road. The list included people such as The Godfather, Yokozuna, Brian “Crush” Adams and more.
The Undertaker remembered the importance of Paul Bearer in his career. He also recalled how Bearer used to put cucumbers in his drink if he left them alone. He said his story with Kane is the greatest wrestling story ever told. He claimed that Kane has the gift of making everything around him better, including Taker. He talked about his family and mentioned how he loves all of them. He remembered his parents and said that they were his biggest fans.
He finally talked about Vince McMahon. He remembered how the boss wasn’t completely sold on him at first but he gave him a shot. Taker said that he is standing here because of Vince and Mr McMahon changed his life. He thanked the fans once again for their unwavering support. He said that now that he has entered the Hall Of Fame, we can be rest assured that he will Rest In Peace. The Undertaker bowed to the crowd to another big applause.
His music began as he started leaving. But he came back and put on the leather jacket and black hat from one of the mannequins. He says ‘Never say Never!’ He stopped midway to raise his fist in his signature gesture. The Undertaker then marched back as the Hall Of Fame ceremony went off air.
As The Undertaker prepares to enter the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend, the former world champion and WWE legend has been doing the media rounds (while he also had a statue dedicated to him).
In recent years, The Undertaker has gotten a reputation for making comments about the modern WWE generation that haven’t been too kind. In the past, he has seemed to have a reverence for the bygone era of wrestlers partying hard on the road rather than playing video games, for example. He even once called today’s generation “soft.”
However, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, The Undertaker put over the current WWE roster in a major way. Especially some of the female talent.
“As great as she is right now, Bianca is still light years away from where she’s going to be,” Undertaker said. “Bianca is a real phenomenal talent. And Becky is in such command of her gimmick. She’s at the top of her game. I thought they threw even more gasoline on the fire this week with Becky getting her hair cut. There is so much emotion surrounding that match. I’ll try to sit down in my seat, have a beer and enjoy it.”
He then went on to compliment AJ Styles, the man who so far has the distinction of wrestling The Undertaker in his last match back at WrestleMania 36 two years ago.
The Undertaker defeats AJ Styles in the Boneyard Match at WrestleMania 36
“I’m so excited for Edge and AJ Styles,” he said. “Those guys are so in tune with what they do. They know their characters, they know how to have great matches, and this is something new for WrestleMania. It’s really going to be a fun match to watch. That match, with those peaks and valleys, it’s going to be a roller coaster.
“As a fan, I’m excited to see Austin. When Steve was in his prime and on top, he was really intense. He took all of this very, very seriously, as he should have, and he was kind of a lone wolf. After our careers, we’ve really grown closer. We’re two Texas boys, and we like to talk about hunting and fishing and all that good stuff. After 19 years since his last match, and with WrestleMania in Texas at AT&T Stadium, I’m just like everyone else-I can’t wait to hear and see the reaction when that glass breaks.”
The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin worked several times against each other on PPV over the years. One of their most memorable encounters happened at SummerSlam 1998, and one year earlier they wrestled for the world title for the first time in a singles match on PPV at May 1997’s In Your House: Cold Day In Hell.
In regards to the current WWE roster, The Undertaker summed up his thoughts by noting, “This era’s talent is incredible. I love the way they’re developing psychology and in-ring personas. WrestleMania is going to be special.”
Which match at WrestleMania are you most excited for? Let u know in the comments section below!
And as you prepare for WrestleMania, be sure to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.This week’s show features a full preview of WrestleMania 38.
The Undertaker wrestled his final match two years ago at WrestleMania 36, a theatrical style bout with AJ Styles. Undertaker revealed during his Last Ride documentary series that later aired that his match with Styles would be his final encounter and that he was satisfied with that.
Here are the cards for both nights of WrestleMania 38 this weekend as things stand right now:
Night One
WWE RAW Women’s Championship Match Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair
The Miz and Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio
Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match The Usos (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Seth Rollins vs. An Opponent of Vince McMahon’s Choosing
KO Show Featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin
Night Two
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match Queen Zelina and Carmella (c) vs. Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan vs. Natalya and Shayna Baszler
Anything Goes Match Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn
Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
WWE RAW Tag Team Championship Match RK-Bro (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy
Edge vs. AJ Styles
Bobby Lashley vs. Omos
WWE Championship vs. WWE Universal Championship – Winner Take All Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (c)
As you prepare for WrestleMania, be sure to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.This week’s show features a full preview of WrestleMania 38.
The Undertaker has taken some time to reflect on Scott Hall.
Hall passed away on March 14 due to complications from a hip procedure. A blood clot got loose and Hall suffered multiple heart attacks. He was 63 years old.
The Undertaker Looks Back On Scott Hall
Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri, The Undertaker heaped praise on Scott Hall for his in-ring abilities.
“Man, one of the great in-ring workers,” Undertaker said. “He was really gifted, him and Shawn’s ladder match at Madison Square Garden was one of those legendary iconic matches. It’s just another sad example, we lose and have lost way too many guys, at way too young of age. Some of our choices that we make early on we don’t see the ramifications later on in our lives. You can’t foreshadow that. But it’s just sad to lose a guy that you’ve been in the trenches with, that you come up with.”
Taker then recalled the time he and Scott were touring Japan.
“I was on my first tour of Japan with Scott, Scott kind of took me under his wing,” he said. “Showed me the ropes in 1988 or 89 whenever it was. You know, where to go to eat, it was a really sad day. And I know it was sad for Nash, and Shawn, and Triple H, and X-Pac, all those guys. They were all so tight, and I know what it’s like to lose guys like that who you’re really close with. I feel bad for them, I feel bad for Scott’s family, it’s just another sad loss that our business has suffered.”
“The Deadman” is set to be inducted into the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame on April 1. It’s a distinction that Hall earned back in 2014.
Hall found great success in WWE as Razor Ramon. In 1996, he jumped ship to WCW and helped form the nWo, one of the most iconic factions in wrestling history.
The Undertaker’s finisher, The Tombstone Piledriver, is one of the most iconic wrestling moves. He has used this move throughout this career in the WWE, and recently he discussed the Tombstone Piledriver while appearing in a new interview with the Out of Character series on FOXSports.
During the interview, The Undertaker was asked about the origins of the move, and who named his signature kneeling belly-to-belly variant of the piledriver as the “Tombstone Piledriver”. He was also asked about the most memorable moment delivering the move on someone.
The Undertaker explained that the name was developed by a number of people backstage.
“It was kind of a collaboration I think,” The Undertaker said. “It’s been so long ago, that honestly I can’t tell you… I don’t think I’m gonna take credit for it. I know there was a group of us, you know, Bruce Prichard, Pat Patterson, myself, and Michael Hayes probably was there. And we were trying to figure out what we were gonna name this thing and then someone just kinda visualized putting a tombstone on a grave and how heavy that would be and what it would look like. I think from that is how the name came up. It was putting a tombstone in front of a grave, so.”
The Undertaker might have performed this maneuver hundreds if not thousands of times, and he does have an especially memorable one. When asked, he said, “The most memorable time that I hit the Tombstone… I’m gonna say Mark Henry. Because just of his sheer size, I wasn’t sure if I was gonna be able to do it or not. My number one goal, always, is to protect my opponent. I think the world of Mark and I knew at that particular time I was strong, I was healthy, but Mark is a big dude and he was really big dude when I Tombstoned him. I think that time just on the sheer fact that I was proud of myself that I had him, I Tombstoned him, I didn’t hurt him and we had a fairly decent match along with it.”
The Undertaker considers himself retired and he is finally getting to do things he enjoys outside of wrestling. However, the dead man says he would probably still be wrestling if his body allowed it.
Taker also gave us a peek at his life after wrestling. He mentioned how he is now able to do things which he couldn’t before such as going fishing with his daughter:
“I’ve been on TV for 30-plus years, so it’s kind of hard to blend in and hide, but I make a much, much bigger effort now to do those kinds of things while I still can, I guess I’m in the middle of a deep exhale.
Because I do — I miss being in the ring.” said The Undertaker, “If my body would allow it, I would probably still be out there, but it’s nice being at home and not having to worry.”
The former world champion mentioned how this is the first time in his life where his family is his true priority. According to him, it’s the sacrifice you have to make to go out and be something different.
The Undertaker is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Vince McMahon in his home state of Texas. Being in the industry for such a long time, the Undertaker has seen many changes in the WWE over the years. He spoke about those changes and revealed his thoughts about the current generation of wrestlers. He described what changes the current product in the era of social media has seen.
Speaking on the True Geordie podcast, “The Deadman” said that the bad habits prevalent in the locker rooms in the ’80s and ’90s is no longer seen but courage and resolve is missing from current wrestling.
“Things have changed. I can’t just say that it’s changed in wrestling. In all sports, it’s a different generation. Call it evolution if you want. One, I don’t think the guys are leading the same lifestyles that guys in the past did. One, they can’t, because everything they do, there is somebody, somewhere [pulling out a cell phone]. I feel bad for them because they can’t go and blow off steam somewhere after they work because they are constantly under some type of surveillance, where I didn’t have to worry about that because there wasn’t cell phones and all that,” The Undertaker said (h/t Fightful).
The Undertaker recalled his own past and how the locker rooms back then were different. He also revealed how a few wrestlers would carry knives and guns in their bags, and disagreements were “settled in the showers”. He said that the current talent is missing a certain level of grit.
“I feel like there is a level of grit that is missing from today’s product. I don’t know that it’s anybody’s fault. We all aged out. That new group has come up. When you watch Brock wrestle, you’re interested because you know, he has this background as an amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, mixed martial artist.”
The superstars from this generation that do possess this “grit”, according to The Undertaker, are Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Roman Reigns.
Undertaker will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1. He recently revealedthat he turned down the offer to be inducted before and could have been inducted sooner.
The Undertaker could’ve been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame sooner.
Back in February, WWE announced that “The Deadman” will finally make his way into the Hall of Fame. In Nov. 2020, The Undertaker’s retirement capped off a 30-year run in the company.
On April 1, “The Phenom” will take his rightful place in wrestling history but this wasn’t WWE’s first attempt to make it happen.
The Undertaker Declined First Induction Offer
Speaking to Dallas Morning News, The Undertaker revealed that he had a chance to enter the Hall of Fame after his WrestleMania 30 loss to Brock Lesnar (h/t Wrestling Inc).
“This is actually the second time that I was invited to the Hall Of Fame, so I wasn’t as shocked this time. I turned it down the first time because I knew I had unfinished business,” he said. “I wasn’t at that place yet where I was ready to let go and say that it’s over. So, this time I have made my peace, and I am just honored and humbled that they would induct me.
“It was, I want to say after the Brock WrestleMania, I think it was after that. In my head, I couldn’t end on a match that I didn’t remember,” ‘Taker claimed. “I got concussed and I don’t remember even having that match. So, I wanted to at least have a match that I could remember, so I kept working here and there for the next few years, trying to leave on that upbeat note. Fortunately, we had the Boneyard match and I said, ‘alright, that’s it I think I’m good, it’s time to call it a day.’ Now here we are.”
Undertaker made his WWE debut back in 1990. Over the course of his career, he has won multiple championships and has been a part of many classic matches. We’ve also seen his character transition from “The Deadman” to “The American Badass” to “Big Evil,” and back to “The Deadman.”
The Undertaker is sharing his pick for the WrestleMania 38 main event between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.
The Dead Man racked up an incredible 21 wins at WWE’s grandest event before that streak was broken by Lesnar (2014). He retired with a WrestleMania record of 25–2, with the other loss dealt to him by Reigns (2017).
The only two men to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania will clash once again on April 3rd at WrestleMania Sunday. Ahead of this epic encounter, The Undertaker spoke with WWE to share his prediction for the Winner Take All Championship Unification match.
The Undertaker thinks it could go either way, but feels The Tribal Chief will be victorious.
“I’m going to go out on a limb, I say, Roman, what possibly would be an upset.”
– The Undertaker’s WrestleMania 38 Prediction
The Phenom says Roman Reigns was on the rise when they wrestled. He was still ascending to where he is now. Today, Reigns has a calmer demeanor, but still possesses lots of energy and charisma, as well.
“It’s really entertaining to see guys that size be able to move the way they can and be able to do the things that they can—physical, brutal, especially on Brock’s end,” said The Undertaker. “Roman, much more calculated, but again, explosive athleticism, really athletic big man.”
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will help induct “The Deadman” The Undertaker into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The WWE announced on Feb. 18 that The Undertaker would be inducted into their 2022 Hall of Fame Class. So far, he is the only member revealed to be going into this year’s Hall of Fame. After the announcement from WWE, wrestling fans have wondered who will help induct “The Deadman.” On The Pat McAfee Show on Mar. 3, McMahon shared that he will help induct The Undertaker.
Vince McMahon on Why He’s Inducting The Undertaker
The WWE Chairman hasn’t inducted a wrestler since Stone Cold Steve Austin on Apr. 4, 2009. When explaining why he chose to introduce The Undertaker, McMahon gave an emotional response and why it will be the most challenging thing McMahon has ever done.
“This will be one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. He explained I like the guy. I love the guy. We’ve known each other for so many years. We’ve you been through all kinds of situations, some that glad didn’t make the newspapers and so forth. When you live on the road like that, you know you have your family at home. When you live on the road, man, you have to have a family on the road, and you have to have people you can count on, you rely on, that are loyal and trustworthy and not have to look over your shoulder. He’s that kind of guy. He’s an extraordinary human being.” He also shared that it will be difficult because he knows The Undertaker personally.
It’s unclear if The Undertaker will be the only inductee for this year’s Hall of Fame. However, McMahon personally inducting “The Deadman” will make for an emotional moment.
The Undertaker Reacts
The Undertaker has commented on the news that Vince McMahon will induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Dead Man said McMahon is the perfect person to bestow the honor upon him.
After over 30 years of long roads traveled, countless hours of TV, and one hell of a ride together… couldn’t think of anyone better to put me in the #WWEHOF than @VinceMcMahon. One final ride together, old-timer!!! https://t.co/hcAGtApTR0
Paul Heyman has known Mark Calloway even before he was The Undertaker.
There is no doubting the legacy that The Undertaker has left behind. “The Deadman” took to the squared circle for almost four decades. He spent 30 years of his historic career under the WWE banner.
Always A Leader
Paul Heyman knows what it’s like to work with The Undertaker and not just in WWE. The two were also working for WCW. Heyman appeared on The Zaslow Show and said he saw leadership qualities in The Undertaker even during their time in WCW (via Wrestling Inc).
“Magic. Leadership. A giant, a giant who could move like a cruiserweight, but understood not to unless necessary. Unless the situation called for it. Intelligence. Checked every box. Just, you know, it’s funny, I get a lot of credit from a lot of people. From the talent themselves, whether it’s The Undertaker, whether it’s Steve Austin — ‘Oh, before anybody noticed me, Paul Heyman noticed me.’ And I don’t think there was ever a lot of credit for that. I think it’s an indictment of other people that didn’t see it.
“I don’t know how you could be in a room with Mark, with The Undertaker and not understand this guy is very, very special. I don’t understand how you could walk into a room with Steve Austin and not say to yourself, ‘woah, there’s something very different about this athlete.’ Same way with Brock Lesnar, same way with Roman Reigns. These are extraordinary human beings with the, ‘it factor,’ that everybody always talks about.”
At the 2020 Survivor Series PPV, “The Phenom” called it a career. WWE gave him a sendoff although fans couldn’t be in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Undertaker will be inducted into the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame. Many believe it’s long overdue and an honor “The Deadman” could’ve easily snagged when he was still active.
The Undertaker will take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 38 weekend.
Bully Ray, a Hall of Famer himself, feels that Taker is such a significant figure in WWE history that he should be the only person inducted this year.
“That’s how big of a deal The Undertaker being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame is. It’s like, how do you pick just one person to induct him? There are so many people that can do a phenomenal job of inducting him,” said Bully Ray on Busted Open Radio.
“Why not bring in everybody up there? I am a fan of the Hall of Fame induction behind the night after SmackDown. As a fan, you’re getting a lot of value, you’re getting value for your buck.”
A solo induction would be a grand gesture fitting of The Undertaker’s incomparable legacy. It seems unlikely WWE will go that route this year, but there is precedent for it happening.
The WWE Hall of Fame was inducted in 1993. Andre The Giant was the sole inductee that year. He was inducted posthumously after passing away January 27th, 1993.
The Undertaker Joining the WWE Hall of Fame
The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place Friday, April 1st. The ceremony will stream on Peacock at 10pm (EST) following WWE SmackDown.
The Undertaker commented on his forthcoming induction on social media. He thanked everyone for reaching out to congratulate him.
Received an overwhelming response to the news. Thank you to everyone who reached out but for now, I’ll say this… it’s been a wild ride … headed to the #WWEHOF! ?? https://t.co/KQXdSiqmLg
The Undertaker has been announced as the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. The news was first reported by the New York Post.
The Undertaker made his WWE debut in November 1990. He would go on to become one of the most iconic performers in WWE history.
His final match took place at WrestleMania 36 in the critically-acclaimed cinematic Boneyard Match against AJ Styles.
He announced his retirement in 2020, capping off an incredible 30 year run.
The Dead Man will take his rightful place amongst the immortals Friday, April 1st during WrestleMania 38 weekend. The ceremony will air April 1st on Peacock.
For more on The Undertaker’s legendary career, visit WWE.com.
