This page is my little tribute as to why I'm a fan of the Undertaker character and respect the man who brings it to life, Mark Calaway. Through most of the site, I take shots left and right at Taker. And I'm guessing a lot of fans think I'm this mean person for doing so. Even though I do poke fun at his expense, I am a major fan and mark for him. And even at his goofiest and eye-rolling moments, I still have much love for the Deadman.
Actually, this page is the oldest part of my site. Back in the day (early 1999), when I was fiddling with the idea to build a website, I put up a small page detailing why I was a fan of Taker's. Of course, this has changed in appearance a couple times, along with some content, it still has essentially the outline the first one did. And even though I have changed the site numerous times in appearance, in keeping with Taker's latest incarnations, I like to keep this one more old-school in appearance: to keep a bit of the old with the new.
The best way to describe the following is a dissection of the total wrestling package and highlighting the things that I like about the Taker and feel have enabled Calaway to be a consistent main-eventer for nearly a decade in a business that is constantly changing.
The Gimmick: When most wrestlers from the old cartoonish era have pretty much vanished, the Undertaker still thrives and continues on and as a continuous main-eventer, an amazing feat in itself. In the changing face of wrestling, the character had to undergo a metamorphosis to survive. The Undertaker is ever-changing (from face to heel, from a wrestling mortician to the face of darkness to a biker), yet still retaining the basis that makes it work: a degree of mystery and power.
It has gone from an unfamiliar gimmick to Calaway presented by the WWF, to being infused with his personal character. It has become an extension of himself, which is very prominent now, and so much so that even those in the WWF call him Taker.
And he has played the many parts of Undertaker's evolution so well through the years that you can become engrossed in the whole thing. He's added this depth to it, which has made it so mulit-faceted and believable. And being one of the last wrestlers who held onto kayfabe helped to strengthen the integrity of the Undertaker character.
Character/gimmick aside, what also is a major factor in his popularity is the presence he has. He could just stand there and get the crowd popping (which he has). It's an amazing thing to see.
Wrestling Skills: Even though he's considered one of the best big men, I wouldn't say Taker's this great tecnical wrestler. Taker's been a brawler, for the most part. But he's made up for that with moves that have been amazing on his part, because they show amazing agility for a man of his size.
The most prominent of these is the planchas he used to do. They completely cleared the top rope, with many inches to spare. You expect the luchadores to do things like this, not a 6'9", 320-pound man. And unlike some who have tried planchas, he never needed to use the ropes to propel himself out of the ring. All it took was one running jump and he was airborne.
And another thing that adds to his wrestling package is his signature moves. He has this arsenal of moves that you know will pop up at one time or another, such as his top-rope walk, the flying clothesline, tombstone, chokeslam, and Last Ride. And all of these do require a good deal of grace, athleticism, and strength to perform.
Interview and promo-cutting skills: OK, this is one department he's not notorious for. But since the Ministry and beyond, he's shown a knack for trash-talking. He's also been known to throw in a story (though a long-winded one), as proved on RAW (story about riding through Death Valley). And his "Ah Hate Everyone" quote has become a classic. His latest attempts in the "Bad Ass" era have been pretty good at times, even though he needs to quit snitching quotes from Full Metal Jacket. However, things are looking up in this dept., if he keeps up those intense promos like at Armageddon and the RAW the night after. Another thing he's added in this latest Undertaker Era is he's shown a good sense of humor. After a decade or of never seeing this man crack a smile or crack a few jokes, we've finally seen it. And I will say, I dig it. I guess it's due to the fact that he realizes that even though he's the Undertaker, he doesn't need to be all gloom and doom.
Professionalism: When you hear of people in the wrestling business talk about Taker, they have nothing but good things to say about the man. I think this is one of the biggest things that makes me a fan of his. In this latest era of wrestling, he still retains that old-school way of thinking. And that old-school thinking shows that he has so much respect for the business. Not only does it provide him some financial security, but he has a genuine love for it it. And that's something very admirable.
He is said to be part of the foundation of the WWF which I totally agree with. For many years, he's helped to put people in the seats with his performance. And when the WWF hit rock-bottom in popularity during the mid 1990s, he stuck with the company. When many of his fellow company men took the big paychecks that Ted Turner offered them, he stayed with Vince and the WWF. Part of it might have been the fact that WCW told him he wasn't charismatic enough to make it, but knowing that the WWF gave him a chance and made his career probably played more of a factor in his loyalty to them. And he's known as the "Conscience of the WWF Lockerroom." Many of the wrestlers are said to come to him when they need advice on their careers or finances regarding it. He could have major, major political pull that makes Nash and Hogan's weak, but he refrains. And even though he is one of the most popular and respected men in wrestling, he never shows a major ego problem. Now I do think he does execute some pull backstage, given the fact that he does have control over his character and angles, but he never lets this go to his head.
This boy is a team player -- company comes first to him. Taker will do whatever he thinks needs to be done to further the success of the company as a whole, instead of promoting only himself. He's willing to be the face or the heel, even if it means he's not the fan favorite, to help further angles. He has helped to put people over. Mick Foley has said that Taker helped tremendously in his popularity; in fact, I think he gives Taker nearly all the credit. And he'll make the man he's up against look good in the match. But that's the old-school in him.
When he comes out to wrestle, he puts his heart into it. Even if he's injured (and should be resting it), he still will come out and give his fans the best show he can. And, that's dedication at its finest. He gives us respect, and we the fans should do the same to him, both in and out of the ring. Right now, the years of bumping are showing their toll. However, the man will still go out there and put his heart and soul into it.
He has paid his dues in this business, and it shows. He is one of a few wrestlers who still show professionalism, classiness, and doesn't let a major ego get in the way. At only the age of 39, he's accomplished more than a lot of wrestlers could ever hope for. In summary, he's a total class-act, plain and simple.
The Entrance: OK, the man knows how to make them, and make them dramatic. The original where the lights grow dim, the toll of a bell, blue light envelopes the arena, a chill overcomes the crowd, and the video and theme cues up. He arrived at the ring and, at its corner, lifted up his arms to signal the upbringing of the lights, as smoke surrounds him. Now, it's still awesome. As of now, the lights go out, the bell tolls, the blue lights shine, we hear the phrase "Deadman Walking," and the music (currently "Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit) cues up. Then Undie, in his new biker gear, makes his way to the ring on a Titan bike. I like this one (outside of the music), because it's a mix of the new and old.
You just have to love this- The Undertaker sacrificed Austin. The reason this is a highlight is because he was able to temporarily shut him up.
When he retires, his legacy will live on because he has made such an impression on wrestling and his fans. Wrestling fans will always remember Mark Calaway and the Undertaker. We'll always remember his skill, dedication, professionalism, and grace. We'll remember those incredibly remarkable wrestling maneuvers. We'll remember how he dazzled us when he went airborne or when he walked the top rope. We'll remember his entrances that left us spellbound and completely speechless. We'll remember how he never ceased to amaze us time and time again. He is and will always be- the Man, the Legend, the Phenom.
&nbs
