9 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2004
2. Undertaker Kept Some Biker Swagger Early On
The Undertaker reverted back to his 'Deadman' character at WrestleMania XX and it was a clean cut from 'American Badass' biker to 'Phenom'...right? Not so. The 18 March edition of SmackDown saw 'Taker return to Thursdays for the first time since going back in time with his legendary gimmick, but he wasn't suddenly 1998's version all over again.
Undertaker hit a Tombstone on outgoing blue brand GM Paul Heyman to a monster pop; Eddie Guerrero shoved Heyman into the move, and Paul E sold it like a pro. Moments earlier, he'd recoiled in horror as 'Taker pulled off his hat and trench coat to reveal that he was sporting a decidedly 'Badass'-esque bandana underneath the former.
Clearly, Heyman was shocked that his kryptonite for the evening saw fit to blend his 2000-2003 biker guise with the more supernatural leanings of his 'Deadman' persona. He had come here to chew tobacco and create caskets, but that 'in between' look didn't last too long before the man himself abandoned it in favour of something more macabre.
He'd quit wearing the bandana once his hair grew out a little more and he continued bedding back into the old school character fans wanted. Therefore, that 18 March TV stands tall as a real one off for The Undertaker's career. Well, sort of. He wouldn't wear bandanas (yours truly has to keep checking he hasn't typed bananas) for years afterwards, but this wasn't the first time he'd melded 2 looks.
Earlier, 'Taker had continued wearing a long trench coat when debuting as the biker at Judgment Day 2000. He even did his retro eye roll.