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Mark Calaway (also spelled incorrectly as either Callaway or Calloway), better known by his ring name, The Undertaker, is an American professional wrestler, currently performing for the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment. He was born March 24, 1965 in Houston, Texas.As Undertaker, Calaway has experienced considerable success. In addition to multiple title reigns, he is undefeated at the flagship WWE pay-per-view, WrestleMania, having won all of his thirteen matches. He is also one of the few wrestlers to have been consistently pushed throughout his career, and the only wrestler to have pinned Kevin Nash, Kane, Big Show and Giant Gonzales - four of the tallest men in wrestling history. Calaway is generally seen as a company loyalist and prominent "ambassador" for WWE. He is one of the company's longest-serving employees, having wrestled for WWE for over fifteen years. At the 2006 Royal Rumble he made his return and his presence felt after World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle defeated Mark Henry
Old Western Undertaker - November 1990 - January 1994
This was The Undertaker's first incarnation.
He was portrayed as a western mortician who was impervious to pain, sporting grey gloves and grey boots. He was obscenely difficult to knock down due to the power of the urn, even when clotheslined over the ropes he would land on his feet. This Undertaker was a heel character, who would often choke his victims with wires or his own hands. Paul Bearer would often assist him by striking his opponents with the urn (the most famous victim of this being Hulk Hogan who dented the urn when it hit his head). Bearer would also choke his opponents for him while the referee wasn't looking. This character would later turn face, and continue that way until his Royal Rumble Casket Match with Yokozuna.Deadman - August 1994 - October 1996
After being put into a casket by Yokozuna and an assortment of heels, Undertaker vowed that he will return someday.
He redebuted at Summerslam, defeating the fake Undertaker. He wore purple gloves and boots instead of grey like his old persona wore. He had grown a short beard and mustache and wore his hair in front. This Undertaker was generally a tweener character, with an established fanbase. He referred to these fans as "The Creatures of the Night" and drew superhuman come backs from their cheers. This character would be the last face Undertaker to have Paul Bearer as his manager (excluding Wrestlemania XX and subsequent appearences until the Great American Bash of that year), as Paul would betray him for Mankind during the end Takers run with this gimmick.Lord of Darkness - November 1996 - December 1998
After being buried alive by The Executioner after his showdown with Mankind,
Undertaker returned again, this time attired with bat-like wings and a leather cape, and a teardrop under his right eye, often accompanied into the ring by his druids. It was during this gimmick that Undertaker's half brother Kane was introduced. This Undertaker was more babyface than the previous gimmicks, though billed as a Lord of Darkness. He feuded mainly with his brother Kane, and also feuded with the likes of Triple H's heel stable D-X, and used his dark powers (e.g. lightning bolts and flames)in order to seek redemption and forgiveness from his dead parents, who died in the very fire that supposedly scarred his vicious monster heel brother Kane.Ministry - January 1999 - September 1999
His most dramatic incarnation was his monster heel Minister of Darkness.
In this gimmick he performed evil rituals on his opponents and even sacrificed wrestlers so they can become part of his stable, the Ministry of Darkness. He sacrificed wrestlers such as Bradshaw and Faarooq, Dennis Knight (Mideon), Mabel (Viscera) and Gangrel. He wore a Druid like cloak, and had a goatee instead of the traditional Undertaker beard. Near the end of the Corporate Ministry angle, his ring and entrance wear was just a black shirt with his symbol and black pants. In this gimmick he attempted to take control of the WWF through Stephanie McMahon. This also saw the return of Paul Bearer as his manager.American Bad Ass / Big Evil - May 2000 - November 2003
This was very successful because it was a reflection of the true Mark Calaway. Instead of the supernatural gimmicks, he was a bad ass biker.
Instead of the gothic clothing, he wore bandannas, shades, beanies and even came into the ring riding a Titan motorcycle. He cut promos like Stone Cold, and wrestled like classic Taker. His matches became more technical during this time period as well, to coincide with the style of popular stars as Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and the late Eddie Guerrero. He was more mortal than the other Taker's, this time selling more moves and not being completely invulnerable. In this gimmick, he had his most surprising heel turn when he forced JR to kiss Vince's buttocks, becoming Big Evil. He later won the WWE Undisputed title from Hulk Hogan. In late 2002, he turned face and feuded with Brock Lesnar. At Survivor Series 2003, he was buried alive by his brother Kane. This event ended the ABA verson of the Undertaker.Hybrid - March 2004 - Present
The current Undertaker is a hybrid of all the past Taker incarnations. e.g.
The Leather Trenchcoat (ABA), the Black Cowboy Hat (Old Western Undertaker), Supernatural Powers (Lord of Darkness), invulnerability (Deadman and old western Undertaker) and druids (Lord of Darkness), Tanktop (ABA), Sacrifices (Ministry). This Undertaker yet again no-sells but is more mortal than past incarnations of the Undertaker because he actually sells signature moves, mainly Randy Orton's RKO and JBL's Clothesline from Hell. After recent events involving Randy Orton, this Undertaker might be yet another Deadman gimmick, as the Undertaker was burned alive in the casket at No Mercy, courtesy of Randy and Bob Orton. only to have a shocking return at Survivor Series. He later beat Orton in a Hell in a Cell match
WrestleMania winning streak
The Undertaker has won every match he has wrestled at WWE's flagship pay-per-view, WrestleMania, consisting of wins over:
1. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (WrestleMania VII in 1991)
2. Jake "The Snake" Roberts (WrestleMania VIII in 1992)
3. Giant Gonzales (WrestleMania IX in 1993)
4. King Kong Bundy (WrestleMania XI in 1995)
5. Diesel (WrestleMania XII in 1996)
6. Sycho Sid (WrestleMania 13 in 1997)
7. Kane (WrestleMania XIV in 1998)
8. Big Boss Man (WrestleMania XV in 1999)
9. Triple H (WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001)
10. Ric Flair (WrestleMania X8 in 2002)
11. A-Train and Big Show (WrestleMania XIX in 2003)
12. Kane (WrestleMania XX in 2004)
13. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 21 in 2005)
Finishing moves
* Tombstone Piledriver (Belly-to-belly piledriver)
* The Last Ride (elevated powerbomb)
* Chokeslam
* Iron claw (pre-1995)
* Heart punch (pre-1993)
Signature moves
* Old-School / Dead Man Walking (arm twist ropewalk chop)
* Takin' Care of Business (dragon sleeper)
* Snake eyes
* Guillotine leg drop
* Flying clothesline
* Running big boot
* Charging DDT
* Reverse STO
* Triangle choke
* Fujiwara armbar
* Sidewalk slam
* Choke (early 1990s)
Managers
* General Skandor Akbar
* Paul Bearer
* Downtown Bruno
* Paul E. Dangerously
* "Ted DiBiase"
* Mr. Fuji
* Sylvia Fuller
* Ronald Gossett
* Theodore Long
* Brother Love
* "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
* Sara
Nicknames
* The Man From The Dark Side, Advance Man for the Grim Reaper
* The Reality of Death, The Emissary of Death,
* The Reaper, The Phenom, The Deadman, The Pale Destroyer
* The Lord of Darkness, The Prince of Darkness, The Personification of Evil, The Minister of Darkness
* The American Bad Ass, Deadman, Inc., Original Deadman, Dead Man Walking
* Big Evil, Big Dog, The Red Devil, Your Worst Nightmare, Booger Red
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o PWI ranked him # 17 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
* United States Wrestling Association
o 1-time USWA Texas Heavyweight Champion
o 1-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion
* World Championship Wrestling
o 1-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
* World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
o 4-time WWF/E Champion
o 1-time WWF Hardcore Champion (longest reigning champion under 24/7 rule)
o 6-time WWF World Tag Team Champion
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
o He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (inducted in 2004)
o 1991 Best Heel
o 2001 Most Overrated Wrestler
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