Undertaker
Height: 6 foot 10 1/2
Weight: 299 pounds
From: Death Valley
Finishing Move: Tombstone
Career Highlights: WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, World Tag
Team Champion,
WCW Tag Team Champion, Hardcore Champion
From the moment his signature gong fills the air, The
Undertaker captivates WWE fans by his mere presence. The Deadman from
Death Valley is usually a man of few words, but he can intimidate even
the toughest WWE Superstars with just one glance. His somber persona has
been a terrifying trademark of WWE for nearly two decades and no list of
WWE all-time greats can be considered complete without Undertaker.
First seen at the 1990 Survivor Series, Undertaker was introduced as the
final member of Ted DiBiase’s “Million Dollar Team.” Since then he has
come to be a multiple time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, and
maintained a WrestleMania undefeated streak that stands at an impressive
17-0. The Deadman has defeated such Superstars as Randy Orton, Triple H,
“Sycho” Sid, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Bret “Hit Man” Hart and Jake
“The Snake” Roberts to earn his many titles and keep his WrestleMania
streak intact. In October 2007, The Deadman also became the first man to
break free from The Great Khali’s Vise Grip to defeat the 7-foot-3,
420-pound colossus as well.
Throughout his time in WWE, Undertaker has notoriously disappeared for
months at a time; often thought dead and “resting in peace,” The Phenom
always mysteriously returns to the ring to seek vengeance against those
who have sent him away. From Yokozuna to Kane to Edge, Undertaker always
finds a way to claim the souls of those who have wronged him.
In addition to his solo success, Undertaker has been quite the team
player throughout his career. From his lengthy relationship with manager
Paul Bearer to spearheading the Ministry of Darkness (which included the
recruitment of Superstars such as the Acolytes, The Brood, Mideon &
Viscera), The Phenom has been successful in every venture. He has even
earned multiple World Tag Team Championships, standing alongside the
likes of The Rock, Stone Cold, Big Show and his own brother, Kane.
In fact, the Big Red Monster is the ally-turned-adversary (and often
back again) that Undertaker continuously comes to crosses with. Kane
made his WWE debut by costing his brother the first-ever Hell in a Cell
Match, and while their relationship is always turbulent, they have seen
eye-to-eye on many occasions as well. They’ve been opponents at multiple
WrestleManias, but they’ve also held the World Tag Team Championship
together; a true theme for brothers in all walks of life.
The Undertaker also has many firsts to his credit. Aside from being the
originator of the Tombstone Piledriver, he has also taken part in the
inaugural Hell in a Cell Match – against Shawn Michaels in October 1997
– as well as the first-ever Casket Match, which saw him defeat Kamala at
Survivor Series 1992.
Undertaker had never beaten Michaels, so his perfect WrestleMania streak
was in dire jeopardy going into the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
HBK showed why he has been dubbed "Mr. WrestleMania," showing no fear as
he absorbed The Phenom’s most lethal maneuvers, including a Tombstone
Piledriver, until Undertaker administered a second Tombstone Piledriver
for the victory. The win boosted Undertaker's unprecedented WrestleMania
streak to 17-0. One year later, The Phenom overcame HBK for the second
time at WrestleMania XXVI, forcing Michaels into retirement, while
expanding his monumental streak to 18-0 on The Grandest Stage of Them
All.
Throughout it all, Undertaker has remained one of WWE’s most popular
Superstars, virtually cementing his place as a future Hall of Famer.
