Mark Calaway

Wrestling history

Pre-professional wrestling

Mark Calaway experienced his first ever wrestling training session in 1984. However, Calaway went on to begin his wrestling career properly by training and wrestling at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas, wrestling in Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). He would later go on to wrestle in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), winning the USWA Heavyweight and USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship before signing with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in late 1989. During the mid to late 1980s, Calaway used a number of wrestling names: The Commando, The Punisher, Texas Red, The Master of Pain, and "The Punisher" Dice Morgan.

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Early career in NWA & WCW

Mark Calaway's professional wrestling career and shot at fame began properly with a short stint from late 1989 until late 1990 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, which by the end of his run had become WCW. While there, he was known as "Mean" Mark Callous. He wrestled as part of the Skyscrapers tag team along with "Dangerous" Dan Spivey and then as a singles wrestler. His most famous match in WCW was against Lex Luger for the NWA United States Title (Mid-Atlantic version) at the 1990 Great American Bash, which he lost. At the end of 1990, WCW declined to renew Calaway's contract, thus he went to seek work with Vince McMahon's WWF.

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Career in the WWF/WWE

Calaway debuted at Survivor Series 1990 as The Undertaker. The look of the 'Taker was modelled on undertakers from classic Western movies, with the basic idea being that the character was impervious to pain and possibly supernatural.

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The Phenom

It was also at this time that Undertaker switched managers from Brother Love to Paul Bearer.

Related Topics:
Brother Love - Paul Bearer

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Throughout 1991, The Undertaker's popularity began to quietly grow, despite being a heel. After an "undefeated" year and high-profile feuds with Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan, he toppled Hogan at the 1991 Survivor Series in November, with assistance from Ric Flair, to win his first of four WWF Titles. He would lose the title a week later to Hogan at the one time only pay-per-view This Tuesday In Texas.

Related Topics:
Heel - Ultimate Warrior - Hulk Hogan - 1991 - Survivor Series - WWF Titles - ''This Tuesday In Texas''

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The Undertaker later turned face by engaging in a feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, who he defeated at WrestleMania VIII.

Related Topics:
Jake "The Snake" Roberts - WrestleMania VIII

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It would be six years before The Undertaker would win another WWF Title. His second WWF Title victory came at the expense of Sycho Sid at WrestleMania 13. He would hold on to the title until August 3, 1997 at SummerSlam when he would lose the title to Bret Hart with some help from "The Heartbreak Kid" (HBK), Shawn Michaels. This match led into a classic feud with HBK that would culminate in one of the most memorable gimmick matches ever, Hell in a Cell. The Undertaker would win his third WWF Title at the infamous 1999 pay-per-view, Over the Edge defeating Steve Austin in a match that had both Vince and Shane McMahon as guest referees. Austin would regain the title from the Undertaker a month later. His final (as of 2005) WWF Title came in May 2002, beating the same man he defeated for his first title eleven years earlier—Hulk Hogan—at Judgment Day in Nashville, Tennessee. He would later lose it to The Rock at Vengeance in a Triple Threat Match also involving Kurt Angle.

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Over the course of his long WWF career The Undertaker would go on to have a number of memorable feuds that gave birth to some of the most classic gimmick matches of all time. After losing his first belt back to Hulk Hogan in 1991, he went on to have spats with Jake Roberts, Kamala and Giant Gonzales. In 1994 he feuded with then WWF Champion Yokozuna that presented two of the best known Casket Matches in WWF history at the 1994 Royal Rumble and 1994 Survivor Series. At the Royal Rumble in 1994, no thanks to interference by over a dozen heel wrestlers, Yokozuna sealed Undertaker in the casket. The Undertaker's "spirit" appeared from inside the casket and warned he would return, then rose from behind the TitanTron. This began Undertaker's first hiatus.

Related Topics:
Gimmick - Hulk Hogan - 1991 - Jake Roberts - Kamala - Giant Gonzales - Yokozuna - Casket Match - 1994 - Royal Rumble - Survivor Series

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An evil "clone" of himself, also billed as The Undertaker, appeared after WrestleMania X, led by Ted DiBiase, and played by Brian Lee. This led to the resurrection of the real Undertaker and an epic battle at SummerSlam, where the real Undertaker was victorious. His popularity rising, Undertaker then battled such villians as Kama Mustafa, Goldust, King Mabel, Mankind and King Kong Bundy on and off from 1995 to 1997. His late-1997 feud with Shawn Michaels gave fans the first ever Hell in a Cell Match in October 1997, which ended with the introduction of The Undertaker's on-screen brother, Kane. Among Hell in the Cell matches, this was only overshadowed by a 1998 match at The King of the Ring with Mankind that left fans with the enduring image on Mankind being thrown from the top of the cell. In arguably The Undertaker's most famous match, not only did he throw Mankind off the roof of the 25 foot cell onto the Spanish announcers' table below, but he would chokeslam Mankind through the roof of the cell into the ring and finish the match by driving Mankind back first into a pile of thumbtacks. The Undertaker has also participated in classic "Buried Alive" matches with Mankind, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

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In 1999, Undertaker turned heel once more and formed the Ministry of Darkness. Eventually it would merge with Vince McMahon's Corporation to form the Corporate Ministry. The merger occurred after a spot where Undertaker had Stephanie McMahon, in one of her earliest on-screen appearances, bound to a crucifix, prepared to marry her to take control of the WWF/WWE. Stone Cold Steve Austin broke the wedding up, prompting the Undertaker to ally with Shane McMahon to form the Corporate Ministry. Some time after Fully Loaded 1999, when the Undertaker lost to Austin, the Ministry split from the Corporation, and it died fully when Undertaker suffered a groin injury, knocking him out of action for several months.

Related Topics:
1999 - Ministry of Darkness - Corporation - Stephanie McMahon - Shane McMahon

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American Bad Ass

The Undertaker's second babyface gimmick was modified when he returned in 2000 at WWE Judgement Day, in line with wrestling's change to a more realistic approach. His gimmick became that of an intimidating redneck biker, first referred to as the "American Bad Ass" due to his new entrance music, the Kid Rock song of the same name. Unlike many gimmick changes, this was generally well-received by fans. In fact it was one of the most popular gimmicks of all time, considering that it was basically his real-life persona.

Related Topics:
Gimmick - 2000 - WWE Judgement Day - Kid Rock

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Judgment Day 2000 saw the new Undertaker taking out all the McMahons and Triple H. He went on to continue targetting Triple H. At King of the Ring, Taker teamed up with The Rock and Kane and went on to defeat the team of Triple H, Shane McMahon and Mr. McMahon. Afterwards, he teamed up with Kane for the WWF Tag-Team Championship. They defeated Edge and Christian to earn the rights to face them the next week for their tag titles. In the title match, Taker was about to deliver the Chokeslam for the win. However, Kurt Angle interfered to help Edge and Christian retain the titles. At Fully Loaded, Taker pinned Angle following his new finishing move, The Last Ride.

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Kane turned on The Undertaker by giving him two Chokeslams in The Undertaker's match against Chris Benoit. Kane refused to explain his assault. At SummerSlam, Taker went for Kane's mask and took it off but Kane managed to hide his face. Kane allied with Chris Benoit for the next couple of weeks as Taker allied with The Rock. At Unforgiven, Taker was about to win the WWF Championship when he got the Chokeslam on Benoit. Kane took Taker out and gave him a series of right hands, allowing The Rock to score the pinfall victory over Benoit.

Related Topics:
Turned - Chris Benoit - SummerSlam - Unforgiven

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Undertaker took a hiatus and returned few months to challenge Kurt Angle for his WWF Championship. Taker gave Angle the Last Ride to win the match, but the referee recalled the match as the man he pinned was not Angle. The real Angle came from nowhere and rolled the Undertaker for the win. Angle later explained that the man who Taker pinned at No Mercy was in fact his look-alike real life brother Eric Angle. Taker demanded a rematch and got it at Armageddon in a 6-Man Hell in a Cell Match.

Related Topics:
Kurt Angle - No Mercy - Eric Angle - Armageddon

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In 2001, The Undertaker reunited with Kane as the Brothers of Destruction and went for the WWF Tag-Team Championship. The two turned out to be a successful duo, defeating Rikishi and Haku in a brutal First Blood Match. They would then get a shot at the Tag titles at No Way Out, facing then champions Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian in a Tables Match. The Brothers of Destruction dominated the entire match, and nearly had the match won until Rikishi and Haku interfered.

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After The Undertaker defeat Triple H at WrestleMania X-7, Taker (along with Kane) kept on focusing on then Intercontinental Champion Triple H, who'd soon make a surprise alliance with WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. After the duo injured Kane's arm in a Hardcore Match against Rhyno, Kane threatened then Commisioner William Regal, and the pair was granted an opportunity to face Steve Austin and Triple H at Backlash if they first defeated Edge and Christian in a no-disqualification Match. Despite interference by Steve Austin and Triple H, Undertaker and Kane managed to win the WWF Tag titles and the right to face Steve Austin and Triple H (The Two-Man Power Trip). At Backlash, Triple H pinned Kane after using a sledgehammer, thus making he and Austin the new WWF Tag Team Champions.

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With Kane injured, Undertaker began targetting Steve Austin and his WWF Championship. On an episode of RAW, Undertaker was told by police officers that his wife Sara had been involved in a car accident. Undertaker arrived home, only to find out that it was all a set up by Austin. At Judgment Day, Undertaker dominated his WWF Championship match with Austin. However, Triple H interfered, once more using his sledgehammer, allowing Austin to pin The Undertaker and retain his championship.

Related Topics:
WWF Championship - RAW - Judgment Day

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Another man got in Undertaker's way, and his name was Diamond Dallas Page. DDP wanted to become as big a star as the Dead Man, and so started a feud with him, taking Undertaker's slogan, "I'll make you famous" quite literally. The basis of this feud involved Page stalking Undertaker's wife Sara. At SummerSlam, Undertaker and Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page and his partner Chris Kanyon in a Steel Cage Match to unify the WCW World Tag Team Championship and WWF Tag-Team Championship (now called the World Tag-Team Championship).

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After DDP was defeated, The Undertaker turned heel once more by turning on J.R. by physically making him kiss then heel, Vince McMahon's Buttocks. Taker then started a new character which sees him teaching everybody the meaning of respect.

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Undertaker challenged the legendary Ric Flair to a match at Wrestlemania. Flair declined so Taker assaulted son David Flair. Flair finally accepted and Vince McMahon decided the match will be No Holds Barred. Undertaker won with a Tombstone despite an interference by Arn Anderson.

Related Topics:
Ric Flair - Wrestlemania - David Flair - Vince McMahon - Tombstone - Arn Anderson

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Undertaker defeated Steve Austin at Backlash to win the #1 contender spot to the WWE Championship gold, thanks to referee Ric Flair. Flair ignored the rope break made by Austin and made the three-count in favour of Taker. Later on the night he helped Hulk Hogan win his title match against WWE Champion Triple H. After weeks of mind games which involved Taker's priced motorbike, Taker defeated Hogan at Judgment Day after using the steel chair and performing a second Chokeslam.

Related Topics:
Steve Austin - Backlash - WWE Championship - Ric Flair - Hulk Hogan - Triple H - Judgment Day - Chokeslam

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His reign as champion is not common, as he's not scared to take any challenge. He put his title on the line, anytime, anywhere. Most champions don't have this material. One of his notable title matches was on Monday Night Raw, facing Jeff Hardy in his first-ever Ladder Match. After the match, he raised Jeff's arm as a sign of respect, turning him face once again. He'd then lose his title at Vengeance to The Rock, who pinned Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match.

Related Topics:
Monday Night Raw - Jeff Hardy - Ladder Match - Vengeance - The Rock - Kurt Angle - Triple Threat Match

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After pinning Test at SummerSlam, Undertaker started going for the WWE Championship again, held by Brock Lesnar who just defeated The Rock. He would then defeat Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match to earn the contender spot at the title. The title match at Unforgiven ended in a double-DQ. The feud carried over to No Mercy. Undertaker decided the match would be inside Hell in a Cell. Despite Taker entering the ring with a broken arm, he managed to overpower Lesnar, until Lesnar countered his Tombstone Piledriver into the F-5.

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After the match Big Show, injured Taker by attacking him from behind. The two fought to settle their differences at "No Way Out" 2003. Despite an interference by A-Train, Taker managed to win via submission. Nathan Jones would then come in Taker's aid, saving him from assault by Big Show and A-Train. The two fought Big Show and A-Train in a Tag Team Match at Wrestlemania 19, which ended in a victory for Taker and Jones.

Related Topics:
Big Show - No Way Out - A-Train - Nathan Jones - Wrestlemania

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2 Pay-per-view victories follow: "Vengeance" against John Cena and "SummerSlam" against A-Train.

Related Topics:
Vengeance - John Cena - SummerSlam - A-Train

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Return of the Dead Man

At Survivor Series 2003, Undertaker lost his Buried-Alive Match against Vince McMahon when his half-brother, Kane, interfered. At the Wrestlemania XX pay-per-view event, he would return in the Deadman Undertaker gimmick, again accompanied by Paul Bearer, to defeat Kane. Currently, his gimmick could be best described as a hybrid of the classic Taker and American Bad Ass gimmicks. Several months later, Paul Bearer was kidnapped by The Dudley Boyz at the direction of Paul Heyman, who then took "control" of Undertaker in the storyline. At the June 2004 WWE PPV The Great American Bash, Taker buried Bearer under liquid cement after winning a handicap match against the Dudley Boyz, as a means of removing his "weakness" so that Heyman or others could no longer control him. Fans were later told that Bearer was merely "seriously injured".

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After defeating The Dudley Boyz, he challenged WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield into a championship match. After losing at SummerSlam, Taker chokeslammed Bradshaw right through the top of Bradshaw's limousine. Bradshaw, despite getting injured, was happy enough that he wouldn't have to face The Undertaker again. But then SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long said that there will be a rematch between the two at No Mercy. It will be a Hearse Match. Taker seemingly had won the match by Chokeslamming Bradshaw through the announcer's table. However, Heidenreich interfered. Taker managed to handle Heidenreich, but this allowed Bradshaw to hit his finishing move, the Clothesline From Hell.

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This led to a match against Heidenreich at Survivor Series, which Undertaker won after hitting all his three patented maneuvers, Chokeslam, The Last Ride, and finally Tombstone Piledriver.

Related Topics:
Survivor Series - Chokeslam - The Last Ride - Tombstone Piledriver

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After taking care of Heidenreich, Undertaker focused on the WWE Championship again. Along with Eddie Guerrero and Booker T, he challenged Bradshaw to a championship rematch. The match turned into a Fatal Four Way, which Taker nearly won after knocking down all three men. However, Heidenreich interfered once again, taking out Taker with a Cobra Clutch.

Related Topics:
WWE Championship - Eddie Guerrero - Booker T - Cobra Clutch

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This led to the signing of a Casket Match at Royal Rumble 2005. In the leadup, Heidenreich revealed that, though not afraid of the Undertaker, he hated caskets. That led to a spot on SmackDown! where Undertaker appeared on the TitanTron with a casket, opening it to reveal a lifelike dummy of Heidenreich. At another SmackDown!, in a Handicap Match against Heidenreich and Paul Heyman, the Undertaker summoned druids to bring out two caskets, assumedly one for each of his foes. When one casket magically opened, Heidenreich tagged in Heyman and ran into the stands and out of the arena. Heyman was then Tombstoned and sealed in one of the caskets.

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Despite interference from Gene Snitsky (which was cancelled out by Kane, who was hiding in the casket), Undertaker sealed Heidenreich in a casket at the Royal Rumble on January 30, 2005.

Related Topics:
Gene Snitsky - January 30 - 2005

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The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton at WrestleMania 21 after Orton challenged him on RAW, claiming that he would defeat Undertaker and thus end his WrestleMania winning streak. It was billed as "Legend vs. Legend Killer," and included interference from Orton's father, legendary wrestler "Cowboy" Bob Orton. In actual fact, Calaway is believed to have requested this match due to his antipathy towards the original plans for him, which would have seen him teaming with Kane to face Gene Snitsky and Heidenreich.

Related Topics:
Randy Orton - WrestleMania 21 - RAW - "Cowboy" Bob Orton

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Following WrestleMania 21 The Undertaker took a two month hiatus from wrestling, likely linked to the birth of his second daughter with wife Sara, Gracie Calaway, in late May 2005. He returned for the June 30 episode of SmackDown! in the SmackDown! Championship six-way elimination match. However, he got met by Muhammad Hassan, who tried to use a chair on him. He took the chair and hit Hassan instead, getting disqualified. Hassan was counted out as he ran to the back away from him. On the July 7 episode of SmackDown!, general manager Theodore Long put Muhammad Hassan in a match against The Undertaker at The Great American Bash, and Hassan's manager Daivari in a match that night against the Undertaker. Daivari was squashed easily, after which Hassan began to pray on the ramp, summoning five masked men to the ring. The masked men beat up the Undertaker. Afterwards, Hassan placed the helpless Taker in hisCamel Clutch submission. Afterward, the masked men carried Daivari off like a martyr. At The Great American Bash, The Undertaker defeated Muhammad Hassan following a chokeslam, despite further interference from the masked men. Following the match, The Undertaker fought off Daivari and the masked men and chokeslammed Hassan onto the stage before removing a floor panel and powerbombing Hassan through the hole to the ground below. As a result of the win, The Undertaker is the #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, held by Batista. On the following SmackDown!, Undertaker was placed in another #1 contenders match against John "Bradshaw" Layfield. Undertaker was dominant most of the match until Randy Orton showed up and delivered the RKO Taker. This allowed Bradshaw to pick up the win. After that event, Taker resumed his feud with Orton at this year's Summerslam on August 21st, in which Orton won with help from his father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton.

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On the Sept. 16, 2005 episode of Friday Night SmackDown! Undertaker and Randy Orton fought once again. In the middle of the match, Bob Orton brought a giant truck out. They pulled out a casket. Undertaker would then beat Randy Orton down to the floor and then open the casket. Taker was shocked when he saw a life-like dummy of himself inside. This was a setup by the Ortons so that he would lose the match, but unfortunately for them, it didn't work. Taker picked up the win after he knocked out an interfering Bob Orton, Tombstoned Randy Orton and pinned him. The following SmackDown! saw Orton and his father setting up the ring to look like a funeral with a casket in the middle. Orton opened the casket and there was a "very life-like dummy" in the casket. He began to talk about how he used a dummy to play mind games with the Undertaker and proceeded to insult him and look over his casket. The dummy then jumped to life, it was of course the real Undertaker, and tossed Orton into the casket. The Undertaker will now face Randy Orton and Cowboy Bob Orton in a Handicap Casket Match at No Mercy 2005.

Related Topics:
SmackDown! - Casket Match - No Mercy

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WrestleMania winning streak

The Undertaker has won every match so far at WWE's top Pay-Per-View, WrestleMania. This has given him a 13-0 winning streak, which has consisted of wins over some of the biggest and the baddest. The following are his WrestleMania records:

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◄ Mark Calaway: Introduction

Mark Calaway: Profile ►

~ Table of Content ~

►	Introduction
►	Theiapolis People!
►	Wrestling history
►	Profile
►	Trivia
►	Championships and accomplishments
►	External links
►	Contact Mark Calaway
►	Goodies & Collectibles
►	Posters & Prints

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