10 Fascinating Facts About WWE In 2019

2. WWE Binned Undertaker’s Quasi-AEW Fling

Seth Rollins Vince McMahon Strangle WWE
Twitter/@StarrcastEvents

The Undertaker was on a protracted retirement tour by 2019, and he agreed to a personal appearance out of gimmick (sort of) at Starrcast II. Conrad Thompson looked like he'd scored big by getting 'Taker to agree to show up, but then WWE pulled the plug. Reportedly, this happened under orders from Vince McMahon.

Follow up reports from the time suggested that Calaway did everything in his power to sell Vince on the personal appearance, but McMahon wasn't budging. Starrcast ran in conjunction with AEW’s Double Or Nothing pay-per-view in May 2019. So, in effect, ‘Taker would’ve been appearing on a weekend co-promoted by the competition.

WWE couldn't allow that.

The Undertaker also missed WrestleMania 35 that year. Some on socials cited this as a punishment for the Starrcast idea, which could be true. 'Taker was announced in mid-February, and 'Mania didn't happen until 7 April. What a messy situation for all concerned, and a bummer for fans excited to meet the legend at Starrcast.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.