Was there ever any doubt? The Undertaker is a legend of the industry, and a benchmark in terms of both characterisation and in-ring ability. Débuting as a figure inspired by morticians of the Old West, Undertaker's character has undergone several tweaks (and one ill-advised change) over the years. His scariest incarnation was probably the occult-like "Ministry Undertaker" of the late 1990s, where he led a stable of loyal disciples - including two other members of this list in Viscera and Gangrel - and engaged in some of the most terrifying angles of WWE's history. Most memorable is probably his crucifixion of Stone Cold, although the hanging of Boss Man and the kidnapping of Stephanie McMahon may well live more clearly in your memory. Mark Calaway always fully committed to the gimmick, and is often hailed as one of the last true defenders of kayfabe. Unfortunately, he also made a grave error when trying to update the character in the later days of the Attitude Era. Perhaps taking inspiration from the positive reception of more relatable stars such a Steve Austin, Undertaker ditched the theatrics and reinvented himself as "the American Badass". He stopped dying his hair, had Limp Bizkit as his entrance music, and rode a motorcycle to the ring. It did not go over well. In 2004, after losing a buried alive match to Vince McMahon (with Kane's help), Undertaker went off the radar for a while. His return as the classic "Deadman" version of the Undertaker, and the raucous reaction it received, proved once and for all that scary gimmicks do have a place in wrestling - and don't necessarily need to be campy and cartoonish to work.
