10 Crippling Times Wrestlers Worked Themselves Into A Shoot

10. The Undertaker

Forging his legend as a result of his G.O.A.T-level, bone-chilling supernatural gimmick and, latterly, an equally formidable in-ring CV, the Undertaker was as loyal to the WWF as he was iconic within it. ‘Taker was never enticed by Eric Bischoff’s more money, fewer dates calling card. And, without the gimmick on the back of the Harley, WCW could have secured the signature—but not the mystique.

WCW attempted to circumvent copyright upon signing Ray ‘The Boss’ Traylor by having commentary declare “Man, is he Big!”

‘The Reaper’ turning up in a WCW ring, with Tony Schiavone yelling “Man, is he Dead!” wouldn’t have been quite the same, not that they’d have dared on a legal basis.

Though Kevin Nash insists ‘Taker was interested in a WCW run, this fanciful notion was buried into the core of the earth alongside Diamond Dallas Page in 2001. ‘Taker relished digging DDP’s grave with such a strange, defensive, and woefully counterproductive conviction that we can only infer he took the Monday Night Wars far too seriously. Though his loyal soldier bit was admirable in a cut-throat world, somebody should have advised him that the war had ended.

And that it was predetermined.