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This weekend will mark the end of an era for WWE fans. The Undertaker, AKA Mark Calaway, will bid his “Final Farewell” to the company he’s called home for the last 30 years. While the word ‘retirement’ isn’t being used in connection to the monumental occasion, it’s likely the end of a regular wrestling career.
Wrestling Fans Met the ‘Dead Man Walking’ in 1990
Back in 1990, the WWE was still calling itself the WWF. Hulk Hogan was still in his heyday. Wrestlers need a gimmick to make themselves memorable to fans. Even Hulk Hogan went through his “Hollywood Hulk Hogan” heel turn. (A “heel” is the villain role in wrestling.)
Fans were intrigued by the tall man in black with creepy funeral music. The Undertaker even came with his own manager – Paul Bearer. The Undertaker quickly made a name for himself with his Tombstone piledriver finishing move.
1990 Survivor Series Debut
The Undertaker didn’t get a soft debut in Vince McMahon’s wrestling company. One of his first matches was at the pay-per-view Survivor Series event. He teamed up with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for an 8-man tag-team match. The Undertaker was part of The Million Dollar Team with The Honky Tonk Man, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and, of course, “The Million Dollar Man” himself.
They faced off against The Dream Team. Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Dusty Rhodes, Koko B. Ware and Jim Neidhart made up their opponents. The Million Dollar Team won and The Undertaker impressed the head honchos so much, he earned a solo match the next year.
At 1991’s Survivor Series, The Undertaker competed against wrestling icon Hulk Hogan in the main event to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship belt. It takes some wrestlers YEARS to earn a Main Event match at all, let alone at a PPV.
The Undertaker’s ‘Final Farewell,’ Survivor Series 2020
It’s only fitting that The Undertaker’s quasi-retirement will happen at Survivor Series 30 years later! His sort-of retirement doesn’t come as a complete surprise to fans. The WWE Network has been airing a docuseries, The Last Ride, leading up to Survivor Series. In the series, fans can see beyond The Undertaker and into Mark Calaway’s physical decline.
In fact, he tells Yahoo Sports that he still has passion for the sport. “I wish I could do it forever,” he said. He admits that he could continue wrestling, but not at the level he feels fans deserve. Calaway said,
“I could go out there and cash in on all of the equity I’ve built up over 30 years, but I can’t deliver physically what I think people pay money to see the Undertaker do.”
In addition to his Survivor Series appearance, the WWE Network will air a new interview with The Undertaker and “Stonecold” Steve Austin.
The coronavirus pandemic actually makes it easier for Calaway to hang up his wrestling boots. Due to restrictions, there won’t be a live audience at the pay-per-view event. Rather, select fans will appear virtually on LED screens.
Did you grow up watching The Undertaker on WWF/WWE? Let us know your thoughts about his “Final Farewell” in the comments down below. Survivor Series is available for purchase and watch on Sunday, November 22nd.
Actor David Arquette recently spoke out about his experience about how physically brutal professional wrestling is on the body.