The Undertaker

The Undertaker
Ring name(s) The Undertaker
The Punisher
Mean Mark Callous
Texas Red
The Commando
Punisher Dice Morgan
Kane the Undertaker
Billed height 6 ft 10 in (2.1 m)
Billed weight 305 lb (139 kg)
Born March 24, 1965 (age 42)
Houston, Texas
Resides Bastrop, Texas
Billed from Death Valley (1990-1999, 2004-present)
Houston, Texas (1984-1990, 2000-2003)
Trained by Don Jardine
Debut 1984

Mark Calaway (born March 24, 1965) is an inactive American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name, The Undertaker. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its SmackDown! brand, but is currently inactive recovering from a torn bicep.

As of 2007, Calaway is one of the longest-tenured performers in WWE, having joined in 1990.

Before coming to World Wrestling Entertainment, Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling in 1984. He joined World Championship Wrestling in 1989. However, WCW never renewed Calaway's contract at the end of 1990, and he joined World Wrestling Entertainment (then known as the World Wrestling Federation) in November of that year.

He is most known in World Wrestling Entertainment for being undefeated at WrestleMania, and being a five-time World Champion; four times as WWE Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion.

Career

Early career

Calaway was trained as a professional wrestler by Don Jardine in 1984 at World Class Championship Wrestling. He received his trainings in WCCW for four years. In 1988, he left for Central Illinois Wrestling and worked there for a year. In 1989, he wrestled in Championship Wrestling Association/USWA Memphis where he wrestled as the masked "The Punisher". He also wrestled for USWA Texas and then left for World Championship Wrestling.

World Championship Wrestling (1989-1990)

His first mainstream exposure was in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). While there, he was known as "Mean" Mark Callous and wrestled as part of the Skyscrapers tag team along with "Dangerous" Dan Spivey and later as a singles wrestler. His most famous match in WCW was against Lex Luger for the NWA United States Championship at the 1990 Great American Bash, which he lost when Luger pinned him after a clothesline. At the end of 1990, WCW declined to renew Calaway's contract, and he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late October 1990. During that time, he also toured New Japan Pro Wrestling.World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

(1990-1994)

Calaway debuted in the World Wrestling Federation as The Undertaker on November 22, 1990 at Survivor Series 1990 as the mystery partner of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar team. About 1 minute into the match, Undertaker eliminated Koko. B. Ware with his finisher, called the Tombstone Piledriver, which after he would cross his victim's arms on the victims chest to pin. After Survivor Series, Calaway was also called Kane the Undertaker at several shows until "Kane" was dropped from his name, and he reverted back to simply "The Undertaker." Kane later became the name of his character's half brother.

The appearance of Undertaker was modelled on that of a mortician from old Western movies, with the character being supposedly impervious to pain and possessing supernatural powers, such as teleportation and manipulation of flames and lightning. It was also at this time that the Undertaker switched managers from Brother Love to Paul Bearer.

In 1991, the Undertaker's popularity grew rapidly. He made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania VII, defeating the legendary "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. After an undefeated year and high-profile feuds with Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan, he defeated Hogan at Survivor Series 1991 to win his first WWF Championship. However, due to interference from Ric Flair, the WWE President Jack Tunney ordered a rematch. He lost the title six days later to Hogan at Tuesday in Texas. Between December 1991 and September 1993, the Undertaker did not lose a singles match.

Early in 1992, he had a falling out with ally Jake Roberts. After Roberts lost a match on Saturday Night's Main Event to Randy Savage, Roberts planned on attacking Savage and his manager/wife Miss Elizabeth with a steel chair. Undertaker prevented this from occurring, thus turning face. He went on to defeat Roberts at WrestleMania VIII. He feuded extensively with wrestlers managed by Harvey Wippleman throughout 1992 and 1993, most notably Kamala and Giant Gonzales. He defeated Gonzales by disqualification at WrestleMania IX and then pinned Gonzales at SummerSlam 1993.

In January 1994, he challenged then WWF Champion Yokozuna and met him in two of the best known casket matches in WWF history at the 1994 Royal Rumble and Survivor Series 1994. At Survivor Series, Chuck Norris was special guest referee. At the Royal Rumble, Yokozuna sealed Undertaker in the casket with the assistance of multiple other heels. The Undertaker's "spirit" appeared from inside the casket on the video screen, warning that he would return. This began Undertaker's first hiatus. In reality, he had a back injury that was getting worse, and he needed time off. An Undertaker "clone" appeared after WrestleMania X, played by Brian Lee and led by Ted DiBiase. This led to the resurrection of the real Undertaker and an epic battle at SummerSlam 1994, where the real Undertaker was victorious.(1995-1996)

Throughout most of 1995, the Undertaker was feuding with members of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation, including IRS and King Kong Bundy. At WrestleMania XI, while Undertaker was facing Bundy, Kama Mustafa stole the Undertaker's source of power, the urn, and disrespected Taker by converting it into a large gold necklace. The two faced each other in a casket match at SummerSlam. After putting on a great match, the Undertaker finally came out on top, closing the lid on Kama. Several weeks later, the Undertaker was assaulted by Yokozuna and King Mabel, which led to an injury of the eye orbital bone, forcing Undertaker into a period of absence for surgery. The Undertaker returned a while later wearing a Phantom-like ghostly grey upper facemask and defeated all of his competition. In 2002-2003, Kane wore a similar mask that was colored red and black.

The 1996 Royal Rumble saw the unmasking of the Undertaker in a WWF Championship match against Bret Hart. Diesel interfered in the match, costing the Undertaker the championship. One month later, while Diesel was facing Hart in a steel cage match, Undertaker came up from under the ring to drag Diesel underneath, allowing Hart the victory. This led to a match between the two giants at WrestleMania XII, in which the Undertaker was victorious. For the next few months, Mankind would ambush and cost the Undertaker several matches. The Undertaker faced Mankind for the very first time at the 1996 King of the Ring.

The Undertaker's feud with Mankind grew more intense. They began taking their battles into crowds and backstage areas. The two also fought in the boiler room areas of different arenas. As a result, these events lead up to the first ever Boiler Room Brawl match between the two at SummerSlam 1996. Undertaker nearly won the match by using the ropes to fling Mankind off the edge of the ring apron. However, when Undertaker reached for the urn, Bearer hit him with it, turning on the Undertaker and allowing Mankind to incapacitate the Undertaker with the Mandible Claw, giving him the win.

The Undertaker's feud continued with Mankind at In Your House: Buried Alive. This event marked the debut of the Buried Alive match, in which Undertaker defeated Mankind. The match also introduced The Executioner, who attacked Undertaker after the match. The In Your House: It's Time event saw the end of the feud with Mankind and The Executioner with a victory for the Undertaker over the Executioner.