The Origins of The Undertaker Character

TL;DR

The Undertaker recalls how he got his iconic character after being doubted by WCW, leading to a meeting with Vince McMahon.

Transcript

the jurogan experience how did you become the undertaker so so that's that's vince's brainchild so i went to another company wcw where i was mean mark callus and right there check that young stud out right there that's terrifying isn't it all right guys hobbit yeah uh just uh that's uh yeah we can take that down anytime [Laughter] so so so i go the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏘️ The Undertaker's iconic character was conceived by Vince McMahon after a meeting at McMahon's house.
• 🥺 WCW's doubt in The Undertaker's drawing power led him to pursue opportunities in WWE.
• ❓ The Undertaker's debut as the character in 1990 was a significant moment in wrestling history.
• 🙈 Vince McMahon saw potential in The Undertaker's lack of personality for the character.
• 🥺 The Undertaker's meeting with Vince McMahon led to the development of the Undertaker persona.
• 🥶 The Undertaker's character was based on an old western undertaker archetype.
• 🫷 WCW's skepticism pushed The Undertaker towards a defining moment in his career.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did The Undertaker's meeting with Vince McMahon lead to his iconic character?

The Undertaker's meeting with Vince McMahon showcased his potential for the character, leading to the creation of the iconic Undertaker persona based on an old western undertaker archetype.

Q: Why did WCW doubt The Undertaker's drawing power?

WCW doubted The Undertaker's drawing power because they believed no one would pay to watch him wrestle, leading him to search for opportunities elsewhere.

Q: How did The Undertaker feel during his debut as the character in 1990?

The Undertaker felt like he was "sh***ing his pants" during his debut as the character in 1990, as the terrifying persona was a stark contrast to the more colorful characters of the time.

Q: How did Vince McMahon introduce The Undertaker character to The Undertaker himself?

Vince McMahon called The Undertaker and asked him if he was The Undertaker, introducing the character as a departure from Eggman and Shower Guy, emphasizing the mysterious and dominant nature of the persona.

Summary

In this video, The Undertaker, a professional wrestler, talks about how he became the character and how Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE, introduced the character to him. He also discusses his initial struggles and doubts, as well as the challenges he faced in his early wrestling career.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did The Undertaker become a character?

The Undertaker character was Vince McMahon's brainchild. The Undertaker had previously wrestled under the name "Mean Mark Callous" in another company, WCW, but when his contract was up for renegotiation, they didn't believe anyone would pay money to watch him wrestle.

Q: Did they give any advice on how to get someone to pay to watch him wrestle?

No, they simply told The Undertaker that no one would pay money to see him wrestle. They didn't provide any guidance on how to change that perception.

Q: How did The Undertaker end up getting noticed by Vince McMahon?

Through different connections, The Undertaker got connected with people in the WWE (then called WWF). He had a match coming up with a bad hip, but knowing that Vince would be watching, he gave it his all, even though he wasn't able to perform at his best. Vince, however, was not impressed.

Q: Who believed in The Undertaker and pushed for him to get a meeting with Vince?

Paul Heyman and Bruce Pritchard were the two individuals who believed in The Undertaker and pushed for him to get a meeting with Vince McMahon.

Q: What happened during The Undertaker's meeting with Vince McMahon at his house?

The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, and they discussed various things. Towards the end of the meeting, Vince asked The Undertaker if he had any hidden talents apart from wrestling. Trying to be funny and relieve his nervousness, The Undertaker joked that he was good at sitting in the shower. Immediately realizing it was a mistake, he tried to clarify that he was joking and couldn't sing.

Q: Why did The Undertaker think he had ruined his chances when he left Vince's house?

At the end of the meeting, Vince told The Undertaker that they didn't have anything for him at that moment. Since The Undertaker had already given his notice to WCW, he thought he had ruined his chances of getting hired by Vince.

Q: What was the promotion with the giant egg on the set they mentioned?

The promotion was for a pay-per-view event called Survivor Series, which was tied to Thanksgiving. In 1990, they had a giant egg on the set as a part of the promotion.

Q: What did The Undertaker think his character would be when he saw the giant egg?

The Undertaker initially believed that his character would be related to the egg. He thought he might be called "Eggman" and imagined having to shave his head and eyebrows.

Q: What happened when Vince McMahon called The Undertaker the next day?

Vince called The Undertaker to confirm that he would be playing the character of The Undertaker. The Undertaker had no clue what the character was, but he accepted the role because it had to be better than being Eggman.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the original Undertaker character?

The original character of The Undertaker was based on an old western undertaker. The idea was inspired by two guys having a shootout on a main street, with the undertaker coming out to measure and box them up.

Takeaways

The story of how The Undertaker became one of the most iconic characters in professional wrestling shows the unpredictability and unconventional nature of the wrestling industry. It highlights the importance of persevering through doubts and challenges, as well as the significance of seizing unexpected opportunities. The Undertaker's journey serves as a reminder that success can come from taking risks and embracing unique roles.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Undertaker shares how WCW doubted his drawing power, leading to a meeting with Vince McMahon.

• Vince McMahon initially didn't have a spot for The Undertaker but later saw potential for the character.

• The Undertaker's debut as the character in 1990 was terrifying for fans and marked a significant shift in his career.