The Undertaker snubbed Stone Cold and The Rock when naming who the real GOAT of WWE is

Professional wrestling legends don't come much bigger or scarier than The Undertaker and he faced nearly every big name the industry has produced in the last half a century.

The Deadman has as much authority as anyone when it comes to picking out the best workers and most talented entertainers to have stepped into the ring.

While seven stints as the WWE's world heavyweight champion seems a modest return for a long and celebrated career, The Undertaker's reputation was instead built on a record 21-match unbeaten Wrestlemania streak and arguably the best gimmick in wrestling history.

Real name Mark Calaway, the Deadman was a leading light in the WWE for most of his nearly 30 years with the company, racking up main event appearances with the best in the business.

When Taker talks workers the wrestling world listens, and neither the older generation that brought Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Randy Savage, nor the younger superstars that benefited from The Undertaker's experience later on get a look in.

The 60-year-old also chose not to name famed Undertaker foes Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H or Mick Foley as the greatest of all-time.

"I think Shawn Michaels probably is the greatest in-ring wrestler of all-time," he told ITN Wrestling.

The Deadman beat the Heartbreak Kid in a critically acclaimed match at Wrestlemania 25 and counts it among his best.

"The match quality, the storyline, this is one of the greatest matches that I was part of.

"This match here starts off a four-match series – the two with Shawn where I ended up retiring him [the] next year, and then Triple H comes into the picture to take up from his friend. And it all ends up with Triple H, Shawn Michaels and myself at the top of the stage after four-match series together.

Triple H and Shawn Michaels, two founding members of DX, pictured with Stephanie McMahon in 2014 (Image: Alamy)

"That was the end of an era and my proudest body of work in WWE."

HBK was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 and is the company's Senior Vice President of Talent Development (Creative).

The Undertaker joined him and a legion of legends in 2022, before both he and Michaels inducted new Hall of Famers in 2025.

Michaels inducted Triple H and Calaway inducted his wife, Michelle McCool.