8 Ups & 6 Downs From The Undertaker's WWE Career

6. Making Spooky Bullsh*t WORK

undertaker mortician
wwe.com

'Taker's positive attributes are legion.

A level of athleticism that allowed him to move around the ring with a poise belying this massive frame. That aura of intimidation. Intensity. A near-unparalleled knack of crafting epic, big theatre spectacles that play out like Hollywood Blockbusters. A steadfast attitude towards protecting the business an its integrity.

Greater than all of these is his ability to take some of the dumbest, most contrived sh*t to ever make it out of a WWE creative meeting and somehow make them work. This guy's gimmick was a literal zombie for a while. A zombie! Yet not once did general consensus shift from "yeah, I can buy into this" to "this is far too ridiculous," despite the odd moment of excessive daftness.

The Undertaker character would've died in the hands of a lesser performer. Mark Calaway took a concept that should've been pure, unadulterated WrestleCrap fodder and made it work for 30 years, making him comfortably the most effective vehicle for supernatural concepts in wrestling history.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.