Photo: AMER HILABI / AFP / Getty Images
By: Kike Frías Updated 02 Apr 2022, 16: 48 pm EDT
Excited, on the verge of tears (some may have escaped), the fighter known as The Undertaker was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday, April 1, in recognition of his long, respected and successful career in the sports-entertainment business.
His fans know this, so they honored him with five minutes of applause and applause.
It was the president of WWE, Vince McMahon, who gave the induction to Mark Callaway, real name of the fighter. In his speech he did not leave out the incredible number of victories of the ‘Deadman’ (Dead Man, in English) in the company’s biggest event: Wrestlemania. Among the names he has beaten are Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels (whom he retired), Triple H, Yokozuna, John Cena and CM Punk, among others.
“For the last 04 years my identity has been The Undertaker. Tonight I want to open the curtain and let them meet the man behind it”
The Undertaker
In his speech, Undertaker did not leave anyone out. He mentioned each and every one of the great moments in his career and those who have been part of them, from fighters, trainers, managers and even make-up artists and production staff.
Of course he mentioned his parents, always present in each of his exploits , as well as his children and his current wife, the retired fighter Michelle McCool.
“In addition to the moves in the ring, I learned three moves that They helped me throughout my career. The first is to learn that reality is undeniable. The second is to be respectful to everyone . And the third is to always seek the highest possible height. It is thanks to these three moves that I am here tonight”, he said, between incessant applause and the ovation of the public present at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, in the state of Texas.
He did not leave out who was his main promoter and with whom he began his entire ‘Undertaker’ story: the great Paul Bearer, deceased in 2013 and who played a pivotal role in Callaway’s rise in the early 90′.
Was a 22 November when a dark-skinned, somber-complexioned wrestler made his appearance in the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In the Survivor Series event he appeared as the unknown partner of Ted DiBiase, whom he later betrayed to continue his path in wrestling with the push received that night.
His walk in the ring was with another well-respected manager known as Brother Love, but was later changed by Paul Bearer, who played a role of a funeral home owner, much more in line with the Undertaker character.
The Goodfather, Dusty Rhodes, Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart, Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair, in addition to the McMahon family, from Vince to his children Shane and Stephanie (the latter he referred to as the ‘sister I never wanted’) were mentioned in his speech.
The Undertaker was a seven-time world champion in WWE, as well as a multiple-time champion in pairs with Kane (his brother in fiction), The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Although his record at Wrestlemania will always be the main memory for fans and the history of wrestling, it was in a Survivor Series ( the event where it all began) in which a 16 November 2020 announced his retirement from wrestling, exactly at 16 years of debut.
His streak in “La Gran Noche” was 25 wins and two losses; The only two fighters who came out of the ‘Deadman’ were Brock Lesnar and Roman Reings.
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