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The Evolution Of The Deadman: The Undertaker Through The Years

The Evolution Of The Deadman: The Undertaker Through The Years

The 52-year old left his legacy in the ring at Wrestlemania on Sunday.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

The Undertaker appeared to call time on his glittering professional wrestling career on Sunday after his gruelling main event match with Roman Reigns.

It took four spears to put 'Taker away but Reigns came out on top and after the match, with fans giving him a standing ovation, The Undertaker left his gloves, hat and trench-coat in the middle of the ring, kissed his wife and rode off into the sunset.

The legendary Jim Ross returning and providing commentary for the match, said to be 'Taker's request, along with The Phenom leaving his legacy in the middle of the ring after the match means that we have likely seen the last of the Undertaker. It was an emotional moment, seeing 'Taker in the ring for the last time after 27 years, with good old JR calling his retirement.

With The Deadman now done and dusted, we look back at his glittering career with a selection of images.

A young picture of a young Mark Calaway in his basketball team back in 1981. You can't miss him...

Image: Twitter/ Allan_Cheapshot

Calaway was said to be a talented basketball and football player and eventually turned to professional wrestling, debuting as 'Texas Red' in WCCW in 1984.


Image: Imgur


Image: Imgur

He wasn't always The Deadman and tried out several characters and gimmicks such as "The Master Of Pain", "Punisher" Dice Morgan, "Mean Mark" Callous" and was managed by 2017 Hall of Famer Teddy Long as part of the Skyscrapers tag team, as well as being guided by Paul Heyman.

Image result for the master of pain wrestler
Image result for the master of pain wrestler

Image: Wrestling Amino

Image result for dice the punisher
Image result for dice the punisher

Image: Imgur


Image: Imgur

Image: Imgur


Image: Imgur


Image: Imgur

Did you know that Steve Austin and The Undertaker locked up many years before they both became megastars in the USWA? This is well worth a watch...


After signing with WWF in 1990, he made his debut later that year at the Survivor Series, with 'Taker being part of Ted DiBiase's team and Brother Love taking on the role as his manager.


Image: WWE


Now managed by future Hall of Famer Paul Bearer, The Phenom had his first proper feud in WWF with Jimmy "The Superfly" Snuka and began his decorated streak of 21 straight wins at Wrestlemania by beating Snuka at Wrestlemania seven.

Image result for the undertaker vs jimmy snuka
Image result for the undertaker vs jimmy snuka

Image: WWE

He then won his first WWF Championship by beating Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series in 1992 and was the youngest champion in WWF history at the time. If you beat Hulk Hogan to win the top title, chances are you're probably going to do alright for yourself.

Image result for the undertaker hulk hogan 1991
Image result for the undertaker hulk hogan 1991

Image: WWE

Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Giant Gonzalez were both beaten at Wrestlemania 8 and Wrestlemania 9 respectively and after a seven month break away following a back injury, he returned feuded with an imposter Undertaker, played his real-life cousin, and beat the fake Phenom at Summerslam 1994.

Image result for the undertaker summerslam 1994
Image result for the undertaker summerslam 1994

Image: WWE

He won his second world title at Wrestlemania 13, beating Sycho Sid to win the belt in his first of many main event matches at the show of shows.


Image: WWE

When the Attitude Era, when wrestling was at its peak, rolled around, Undertaker adopted a more gothic persona and that was reflected in his attire.


He spent the best part of that period at the centre of the villainous "Ministry of Darkness" faction, where as some sort of dark, demonic priest, he brainwashed and performed sacrifices on various wrestlers. Wrestling can be very weird at times...


His next gimmick and appearance change came in 2000 when he became the American Bad-Ass, sporting a bandana and riding his bike to the ring as the banging music of Limp Bizkit's "Rollin" played. Great memories.


During this run, he was a fan favourite whether riding solo teaming with Kane as "The Brothers Of Destruction" but later transitioned into the "Big Evil" character that saw him become a villain again until he gave Jeff Hardy the rub of a lifetime after a WWE Championship ladder match in 2002.

Image result for the undertaker big evil
Image result for the undertaker big evil

Image: WWE

But when he was "buried alive" yet again in 2004 after brother, rival and sometimes tag team partner Kane, helped Mr McMahon beat and bury him at Survivor Series, he had no choice but to came back as The Deadman and has remained ever since.


His prime years came from 2007 onwards where he had show-stealing matches with the likes of Batista, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and CM Punk at Wrestlemania.

Image result for the undertaker shawn michaels
Image result for the undertaker shawn michaels

Image: WWE

Image result for the undertaker triple h
Image result for the undertaker triple h

Image: WWE

The streak would then famously die at Wrestlemania 30 when The Undertaker was beaten mercilessly by the dominant Brock Lesnar as the stunned fans watched in attendance.

Image result for the undertaker wrestlemania 30
Image result for the undertaker wrestlemania 30

Image: WWE

Though health and injuries prevented him from being as fluid and powerful in the ring as he once was, 'Taker successfully defeated both Bray Wyatt and Shane McMahon in consecutive matches at Wrestlemania, sandwiched in between a feud with the man who put an end to his streak, Brock Lesnar.


Image: WWE

And after returning for this year's Royal Rumble, where he was eliminated by Roman Reigns, The Deadman was eventually put to rest by The Big Dog in the main event of Wrestlemania 33, with Taker leaving his legacy in the middle of the ring and calling it a day.

This is a man who worked through various injuries and wrestled a match after being set on fire minutes earlier. A trailblazer in every sense of the word, he was involved in the first Casket, Buried Alive and Hell in a Cell matches and was renowned for competing in those types of environments.

A 27-year career in WWE, seven world championships, one Royal Rumble win, 101 pay-per-view main events and four Wrestlemania main events - The Undertaker is quite possibly the greatest wrestler of all-time.

Image: WWE

Thanks for the memories, Deadman and may you rest in peace in your retirement.

Featured Image Credit: WWE

Topics: The Undertaker, Wrestling, WWE