13 Things We Learned From The Undertaker On Joe Rogan Experience

Mark 'The Undertaker' Calaway criticises WWE's product on JRE!

The Undertaker Joe Rogan
JRE

Having formally hung up his boots at last year's Survivor Series PPV, the Undertaker has spent the past several months or more pulling back the curtain in a way never before seen from the Phenom.

After decades of forever protecting his character and - bar his American Badass run - steering clear of any interviews, the real-life Mark Calaway has now finally given wrestling fans a glimpse of the man behind the gimmick. And not just a look at what makes Calaway tick, but this is someone who has so many years of stories and backstage experiences to divulge to the wrestling world.

In terms of storytellers and legends of the business, few people in the history of the industry can match the Undertaker. After doing numerous interviews in recent months, the Deadman has now joined the hottest podcast in the game, being a surprise guest on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Rogan is famous for just, well, asking the questions that everybody wants to see asked, and this near-three-hour sitdown with the Undertaker makes for an utterly fascinating listen.

Having checked out the entire chat, here are 13 things we learned from seeing Mark Calaway chew the fat with Joe Rogan.

13. He's No Longer A Contracted In-Ring Talent

The Undertaker Joe Rogan
WWE.com

While this past November's Survivor Series saw time called on the legendary career of the Undertaker, many are pondering whether this really is it for the iconic Deadman.

Talk of the Undertaker's retirement has been doing the rounds for the past 15 years or more, and so many have been a tad sceptical as to whether the Phenom really is as retired as he's making out. To add further credence to 'Taker's claims that his in-ring career is over, this appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience saw him reveal that he's now no longer contracted to WWE as an in-ring talent - instead, it appears as if Mark Calaway is now signed to a Legends contract.

This nugget came out while the Undertaker was discussing steroids and WWE's testing programs, with the multiple-time World Champion detailing:

"I can only say what I’ve had to go through. Before I switched my contracts – now I’m not a talent, now I’m a Legend, I guess, or whatever they call it – I’d only work two or three times a year."

Names like Kevin Nash, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley and Tatanka are just some of those to have been signed to Legends deals in recent years, which basically means that those stars are available for WWE to call upon to make sporadic appearances and promotional dates when needed.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.