10 WWE Wrestlers Who Lived Their Gimmicks

There are lose who’ll defend kayfabe and the sanctity of the business to their graves, and then there’s The Undertaker. Few wrestlers have done more to repel the notion that wrestling isn’t real or protect the sport’s image, even today, 32 years after debuting.

That’s not to say that Mark Calaway is hanging out in smoky funeral homes with gangs of druids. It turns out that being a destructive undead zombie is pretty difficult in real-life, so he largely stays out of the public eye. Taker is a noted recluse, and he realises that every time Mark Calaway, the ageing 51 year old, is photographed in real life, a small part of The Undertaker’s aura is chipped away.

It’s part of the reason he’s been able to maintain such an outlandish gimmick for such a long time. Had Calaway lived the kind of rockstar lifestyle his success warrants, his character would’ve been exposed very, very quickly. He’s private person who values his seclusion, and protecting his character this way has ensured his longevity.

Calaway is so dedicated to being The Undertaker that he’ll often avoid fan interactions to keep up appearances, and if you call him “Mark,” in-person, he’ll reportedly shun you outright. Some call it “rude,” but Taker’s just doing his part to shield the business.