5 Ups And 3 Downs From WWE Raw (March 30)

2. Deadman Or American Badass?

The Undertaker’s career has had an unparalleled longevity to it, evolving throughout the years as the Phenom has aged and watched wrestling undergo drastic changes during the past three decades.

However, you could sum up Taker’s main character traits in two disparate ways: mythical, mystical undead reaper, and motorcycle-riding redneck. The two personas haven’t intersected.

Until now, seemingly.

In an effort to somewhat redefine Undertaker, his feud with AJ Styles has attempted to blur the line between storyline and reality by interjecting his wife and referencing his real name, but with Styles saying he wants to face the Deadman of old in a Boneyard Match.

Monday night, Taker blurred the lines himself, not just by calling AJ by his given name, but directly referencing his wife, and using catchphrases he has used under each persona. He dressed in all black, but decidedly not like the Deadman despite boasting a tombstone with Styles’ name on it.

Whatever they’re going for here isn’t clear, as WWE is blending the two distinct characters into one that is neither unique nor new. The result is just strange.