8 Vital Elements Behind The Many Faces Of The Undertaker

1. Constant Reinvention Is The Key To Longevity

Every few years, the Undertaker would take time away, returning refreshed and revitalised: with a different look or outlook, different theme music and entrance, a diffferent style - yet all still recognisably the Undertaker. That€™s the key to remaining relevant in the mercurial world of professional wrestling: if you€™re always moving, stay exactly the same, and if you€™re in one place, keep changing. Performers like Abdullah The Butcher and Bruiser Brody played the territories like a violin, arriving like giant, terrifying whirlwinds to assault the local babyfaces and force a confrontation€ then leave and head somewhere else. But the key to doing that, to making that guest starring role effective and dynamic, was to remain the same monster, all the time: week in and week out. Contracted to appear for one company for a quarter of a century, Mark Calaway constantly kept the Undertaker fresh, constantly kept him new for fourteen years€ until it was time to become the special event, the guest star on the show. That€™s when the American Badass went away, and was replaced with what€™s casually referred to as the €˜Hybrid Deadman€™ - a character that serves as a combination of aspects of every iteration of the Undertaker to date, something recognisable to WWE fans of every stripe since 1990. As his schedule went more part time, so the Undertaker remained the same. Sure, there€™d be the occasional change in clothing, in haircut, in theme music, but as and when the storyline demanded (or, with the mohawk, because receding hairlines don€™t care that you€™re an undead sorcerer with power over death and a demonic pyromaniac serial killer for a kid brother).

The Deadman has remained pretty much the same since 2004. He€™s got no need to reinvent himself these days. The nearest he€™s come was the inspired decision to have him come back to face Brock Lesnar as a crotchety old man heel, whose go to move was the low blow. It€™s a shame they felt the need to abandon that character in favour of the overpowered babyface again, but with the Wyatt Family feud, the Undertaker who faced Brock Lesnar just wouldn€™t be useful to the storyline. Still, you have to imagine that this sudden reappearance outside of Wrestlemania season is his final lap of honour. Good on him: the Hall of Fame beckons, and I for one am looking forward to the speech.