10 Things You Didn't Know About The Undertaker

The conscience of the WWE...

Over the past two decades, The Undertaker has been one of the most visible characters on WWE programming. While many superstars have come and gone, he has remained a constant presence, earning the nickname "The Conscience of the WWE." At the same time, though, Mark Calaway -- the man behind the role -- seems to be one of the most private stars in the industry. Whether he's a man who values the sanctity of his personal life or a man simply dedicated to upholding the code of kayfabe, the fact remains that there's very little known about The Undertaker outside the narrative presented on WWE television. Still, bits and pieces have gotten out, as one would suspect in today's digital age. Tidbits about the man -- about his life, his interests, his career prior to (and while working for) WWE -- have emerged to create a mosaic that gives us a new look at someone we -- however foolishly -- thought we knew. Here are ten little-known facts about The Undertaker and the man behind the mascara:

10. He's 49

Mark Calaway was born on March 24, 1965, which may seem a bit surprising, all things considered -- he's been at the top of WWE for so long, that one might think he was several years older. Much like with Batista, Undertaker's birthdate is the subject of some controversy, with some sources claiming the year as 1962. The later date is the correct one, though -- Calaway graduated from Waltrip High School in 1983. He entered the sport the following year, debuted for WWE when he was 25, and became a World Champion at 26. Wrestlers always seem older than they are (well, except for Diamond Dallas Page), especially those with great career longevity. The punishment to which they subject themselves causes them to age prematurely, and the human memory plays tricks with time -- to a casual fan, it might seem like Undertaker debuted several years earlier than he did, especially considering how much wrestling changed over the course of the 1990s. The fact remains, though, that Undertaker is younger than many of his contemporaries -- Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, even Steve Austin. This in no way diminishes the scope of time his achievements have covered, though -- it just provides even more insight into what a great percentage of Calaway's life has been devoted to wrestling.
Contributor
Contributor

Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried. *Best Crowd of the Year, 2013