The Undertaker: Every Reinvention Ranked Worst To Best
From the Phenom to the American Badass, via MMA, Big Evil and the Ministry of Darkness.
There is no one in the history of professional wrestling who can match the Undertaker for longevity at the top of one company.
For 30 years, 'Taker was a headline act in WWE, clashing with the biggest names of multiple generations. Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Ric Flair, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk; all had classic battles with the Deadman. No one can claim this level of consistency and success with one promotion.
One of the keys to the Phenom's unparalleled success was his ability to reinvent and tweak his character, preventing it from ever becoming too stale. Upon signing with the WWF in late-1990 after an uninspiring run in WCW as 'Mean' Mark Callous, nobody could have predicted that the real-life Mark Calaway would still be a headline act in 2020. His constant adjustments to his costume, in-ring style or storyline motives kept him fresh and at the top of the industry even if they did not always change the character for the better.
From his very first reinvention from 'Mean' Mark to the zombie-like Deadman at Survivor Series 1990, the Undertaker made sure to never stick with one presentation for too long, creating a long and storied career that fully deserves its place as the headline inductee into the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame.
10. Purple Glove Undertaker
For over three years following his debut, the Undertaker did little to change his gimmick or in-ring style but remained one of the most popular stars in the WWF. Overcome by injuries and needing a break, he disappeared after Royal Rumble 1994. In his absence, another person whom manager Ted DiBiase claimed to be the Undertaker began appearing on television in the original grey gloves and boots of the Phenom. Paul Bearer would soon announce that his Undertaker would return to face the imposter at SummerSlam.
If anyone was in doubt as to how fans would distinguish between the two, they found their answer when Paul Bearer introduced an Undertaker who had swapped grey for purple. He shortly destroyed the fake Undertaker and would continue to sport the purple and black colour scheme for the next two years.
Only a minor change in colour design, Purple Glove Undertaker saw no changes in 'Taker's in-ring style which stayed slow and pondering until his 1996 feud with Mankind. Other than distinguishing the Undertaker from his imposter, this changed little in the character.