WWE SmackDown Debut Wrestlers: Where Are They Now?
2. The Undertaker
You can count the number of wrestlers who have been more important to WWE’s long-term success than The Undertaker on one hand. The Phenom is one of the most iconic superstars that the sport has ever seen, and his longevity is unparalleled. Debuting in 1990, he’s still going strong today, and he’ll leave behind a proud legacy when he eventually calls it quits.
Taker had just joined forces with the Corporation prior to SmackDown’s debut show, and he remained prominent throughout the following years. He reinvented himself as the American Bad Ass in 2000, then again as Big Evil in 2001, before eventually returning to his Deadman roots in 2004. The Undertaker has remained under his most iconic gimmick ever since, and he remains one of WWE’s biggest spectacle attractions.
The Deadman recently returned to WWE Raw to announce his participation in the 2017 Royal Rumble, and there’s speculation that he’s set to face-off with John Cena at WrestleMania 33. At the age of 51, barely a month passes without rumours of Taker’s impending retirement, but he seems to stave them off every single year. Will 2017 be the year he finally hangs his boots up? Who knows, but wrestling Cena would be an excellent way for him to go out.
One thing’s for sure, though: when Taker does eventually retire, nobody will have a clue what he’s up to. Taker is notoriously protective of his personal life, and there’s a good chance he’ll disappear all-together.