Personas of The Undertaker
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Over the sixteen years that professional wrestling superstar Mark Calaway has been wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the World Wrestling Federation), his "The Undertaker" character has gone through a number of personality changes.
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[edit] Incarnations
[edit] Western Mortician
- November 1990 - January 1994
Symbolized by the original western look with a black overcoat, stetson hat with a grey ring, black leather gloves, later changed to grey leather gloves and grey boot spats. This persona was born at the Undertaker's debut at the 1990 Survivor Series. He was a quiet character, originally managed by Brother Love, until he aligned himself with Paul Bearer during a segment of the Brother Love Show.
This was the beginning of a long time partnership that would have many twists and turns in nearly all of the Undertaker's facets. The persona itself can be split into two halves — the original heel attitude from his debut, including his brief feud with Hulk Hogan which saw him win the WWF Championship in late 1991 and his later face turn following the rescue of Miss Elizabeth from the hands of Jake "The Snake" Roberts just before WrestleMania VIII in 1992.
During this time he introduced the "Casket match" which not only put fear into the hearts of his opponents but also eventually led to the demise of the "Western Undertaker" when he (kayfabe) died and "ascended to the heavens" as a result of him being entombed in a casket at the 1994 Royal Rumble.
[edit] Deadman
- August 1994 - October 1996
The Undertaker became "The Deadman" on returning from the dead at SummerSlam 1994 with an updated attire, now utilizing the color purple for his leather gloves, boot-covers, etc.. His return saw him facing Ted DiBiase's fake "Undertaker", who was distinguishable by his grey accessories. This persona continued through to the Undertaker's revenge on Yokozuna, the man who "killed off" the previous incarnation. It was during this era that he was forced to wear a grey upper-face mask after an attack by King Mabel that left him with a "fractured orbital bone".
In August 1996 he fought in a Boiler Room Brawl against Mankind at SummerSlam, being betrayed by his long time manager, Paul Bearer, at the end. Two months later they wrestled each other in the first ever Buried Alive match, at In Your House 11: Buried Alive. Although the Undertaker won the match, The Executioner interfered and with the help of several other heels, buried the Undertaker alive, signalling the end of another era.
[edit] Lord of Darkness
- November 1996 - December 1998
The Undertaker was "re-born" a month later, this time descending to the ring from the rafters in black leather attire with bat-like wings. His run as the "Lord of Darkness" could be distinguished not only by his second world title or his new leather accented wrestling gear, but it was also during this era when he displayed his devastating supernatural powers (kayfabe) such as creating lightning and starting fire by pointing his finger. It was in this persona that the Undertaker fought in the very first Inferno and Hell in a Cell matches. This was also the only persona to win the WWF Championship as a face and the first to main event a WrestleMania.
[edit] Minister of Darkness
- January 1999 - December 1999
Towards the end of 1998, while feuding with his younger brother Kane and Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Undertaker began speaking of the "dark days" and a "Ministry of Evil" that would soon be taking over the WWF. This was the first sign of the Undertaker becoming more demonic than ever before and soon he would put together his Ministry of Darkness stable. During his time with "The Ministry" he began using his "symbol" more and more, not only wearing it on his tights but attempting to "crucify" his enemies on it.
After being Buried Alive at the December 1998 Rock Bottom pay-per-view and missing a month, 'Taker returned shortly before the 1999 Royal Rumble draped in a black hooded robe with a "Satan-like" goatee. He continued with The Ministry and this look, eventually revealing Vince McMahon as his "higher power", until the two of them broke off and he took a break at the end of the year.
This persona in total lasted 12 months, making it the shortest of all of Undertaker's personas to date.
[edit] American Bad Ass/Big Evil
- May 2000 - November 2003
After eight months time-off due to real life injuries, the Undertaker made his long-awaited return at Judgment Day in May 2000. However, the days of pitch black, blue fog and church organ music entrances were gone. The Undertaker was now The "American Bad Ass" (termed by the Kid Rock song which was his entrance music during the early months of the persona) biker complete with sunglasses, bandana, leather trench coat and motorcycle.
The Badass allowed everyone to see a new side of the Undertaker. While still one of the most dominant forces in the WWF, he appeared human, introducing the world to his wife Sara and speaking as a normal human being.
In probably the most shocking of his heel turns, Undertaker attacked Jim Ross on an episode of RAW IS WAR. The Undertaker now had a new partially shaved haircut, dyed jet black, accompanied by a new brawling, "do-what-I-want" attitude, arguably more aggressive than ever before. He had now assumed the Big Evil persona, defeating Rob Van Dam for the Hardcore Championship. After the Undertaker turned face again by feuding with Brock Lesnar, Big Evil would turn out to be more of an extension of the American Badass persona than a different mode in itself. While part of a major power struggle with the main enemies being Lesnar, Big Show, and Vince McMahon, he found himself once again Buried Alive (again with the help of Kane).
[edit] Reincarnation-The Phenom/Deadman
- March 14, 2004 - Current
For three years the Undertaker showed a different, more human, side of himself before being Buried Alive by Kane at Survivor Series 2003. Undertaker returned as The Phenom at WrestleMania XX. This Undertaker was a culmination of all his previous personas; dressed in his Big Evil attire accompanied by a long leather trench coat and hat. His updated "old school" attire included tights as part of a full body suit with big evil pain-syndicate devil symbols on his legs which were white and now red. His supernatural powers and mind games returned, as did his long hair, and his invulnerability and signature 'sit-up' (though reduced in intensity from his previous dark side personas). Paul Bearer returned by his side, but was disposed of by 'Taker himself after only a short time for being "a weakness".
