Original Western Undertaker: November 1990 - January 1994 Symbolised by the original western look with a black overcoat, hat, grey leather gloves and grey boot-covers. The birth of this persona was at the Undertaker's debut at the 1990 Survivor Series. Always remaining a quiet character, originally lead by Brother Love, until aligning himself with Paul Bearer during a segment called the Brother Love Show. This was the beginning of a long time partnership that would have many twists and turns in nearly all of Undertaker's facets. The persona itself can be split into two halves in that he was originally a heel from his debut, including his minor feud with Hulk Hogan in late 1991 where he defeated Hogan to win the WWF Title. Rescuing Miss Elizabeth from the hands of Jake "The Snake" Roberts just before WrestleMania VIII in 1992 and then his defeat over Jake at WrestleMania VIII, lead to the Undertaker's babyface turn during which he feuded with Kamala and Giant Gonzalez. We also saw the introduction of the Casket Match which put fear into the hearts of his opponents and was eventually the demise of the Western Undertaker as he "died" and ascended to the heavens as a result of being entombed in a casket at the 1994 Royal Rumble.
Deadman: August 1994 - October 1996 The Undertaker returned from the dead at SummerSlam 1994 with an updated attire, wearing purple leather gloves, purple boot-covers, etc. to take on Ted DiBiase's fake Undertaker. This persona continued through to the Undertaker's revenge on Yokozuna, his feuds with Kama and Mabel, Goldust and Mankind. It was during this era that he wore a grey mask, fought in a Boiler Room Brawl and was betrayed by Paul Bearer. Undertaker participated in the first ever Buried Alive Match against Mankind at In Your House 1996, winning the match but the Executioner interfered afterwards, burying the Undertaker alive signalling the end of this era.
Lord of Darkness: November 1996 - December 1998 The Undertaker was reborn again a month after being buried alive. This time he descended to the ring from the rafters in black leather attire and bat-like wings. The long-term feud with Mankind was temporarily sealed shut, as was a defeat over The Executioner. Into 1997, 'Taker focused his attention on winning the Royal Rumble and The Final Four. Failing in both he was finally granted a shot at the WWF Championship at WrestleMania 13 on Raw. After winning the WWF Championship Undertaker told his Creatures of the Night that this gave birth to the dark days of the WWF. He went on to hold the title for 5 months before losing to Bret "Hit Man" Hart at SummerSlam 1997. This title loss was the birth of a feud with Shawn Michaels, including the first-ever "Hell in a Cell" match and a Casket match. The Phenom also faced the challenge of his brother Kane who set him on fire inside a casket at Royal Rumble 1998, resulting in an historic match at WrestleMania XIV and an Inferno match. The two brothers briefly became allies against Stone Cold Steve Austin at one point, then turned on Vince McMahon and then the Phenom turned on Kane, realigning himself with Paul Bearer.
Ministry: January 1999 - September 1999 Still with Austin and Kane set in his sights, towards the end of 1998, the Undertaker began speaking of a Ministry of evil and the dark days that would soon be taking over the WWF. This was the first sign of the Undertaker becoming more demonic than ever before. Austin was crucified on an Undertaker symbol and almost embalmed in a sacrifice. However, Kane assisted Austin in burying the Undertaker alive at December 1998's PPV. When the Undertaker returned just before the 1999 Royal Rumble, he was draped in a black hooded cloak with a Satan-like beard. The Lord of Darkness began selecting members for his evil Ministry of Darkness. The Undertaker met again with the likes of Austin and The Rock in WWF Championship action. The siding with Shane McMahon and unveiling of the "Higher Power" (Vince McMahon) later led to the formation of the Corporate Ministry, one of the biggest factions in the WWF ever. However, after losing the WWF Championship, the Undertaker took the Big Show under his wing and the two giants forming the Unholy Alliance, along with Paul Bearer and began searching out the Tag Team Titles. In September 1999 when the Undertaker was told by Vince he would have to earn his shot at the WWF Championship, 'Taker expressed his refusal to keep on taking orders from Vince and walked out on the WWF on SmackDown!
American Bad Ass: May 2000 - December 2001 After 8 months time-off due to real life injuries, the Undertaker made his long-awaited return at Judgment Day in May 2000. However, the days of pitch black, blue fog and church organ music entrances were gone. The Undertaker was now an American Bad Ass biker complete with sunglasses, bandana, leather trench coat and motorcycle. The Badass allowed everyone to see a new side to the Undertaker, he was still one of the most dominant forces in the WWF but he appeared more human. He introduced us to his wife Sara, who was being stalked by DDP at the time, but it was soon apparent she could fight her own battles. The Undertaker soon found his way back into WWF Championship action towards the end of 2000. In 2001, the American Bad Ass formed an alliance with Kane. The Brothers of Destruction were on a war path for the Tag Team Titles. After supporting Team WWF at the InVasion 2001 against WCW/ECW's Team Alliance, then Undertaker and Kane seemed to go their separate ways.
Big Evil: December 2001 - November 2003 In probably the most shocking of the Phenom's heel turns Undertaker attacked JR on Raw, fed up of kissing Vince's ass for all those years, he decided he had, had enough. The Undertaker now had a new shaved haircut dyed jet black. Leading into 2002, the Undertaker had a new kick-ass, take-no-sh*t, brawling attitude, arguably more aggressive than ever before. He had now assumed the Red Devil Big Evil persona, defeating Rob Van Dam for the Hardcore Championship at Vengeance 2001, winning the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan at Judgment Day 2002 and having a feud with Brock Lesnar towards the end of 2002, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match. Throughout 2003, Big Evil encountered the Big Show and A-Train on numerous occasions. He met with Brock Lesnar again in a Biker Chain match and then with the boss Vince McMahon in a Buried Alive match. This resulted in the Undertaker being buried alive with the help of his psychotic brother Kane.
Original Deadman: March 2004 - Present For three years the Undertaker showed a different side to himself, a more human side, but after a series of traumatic events resulting in him being buried alive, he returned as the Deadman at WrestleMania XX. The Hybrid was originally a culmination of all his previous personas, dressed in his Big Evil attire accompanied by a long leather trench coat and hat. Paul Bearer returned by his side but was soon deposed of by 'Taker himself, as he was a weakness the Phenom couldn't afford. He feuded with JBL most notably in an attempt to become a five time WWE Champion, however his chances were thwarted by the psychotic Heidenreich. Other memorable feuds included those against Randy Orton, Kurt Angle and Mr. Kennedy. Undertaker updated his attire within this persona going back to his routes, with tights as part of a full body suit, as a sign of a gradual transition back to the Original Deadman. In late 2006, Kane switched to the SmackDown roster, where Undertaker had permanently been since 2002. This led to the Brother's of Destruction reuniting on a semi-permanent basis for the next couple of months. Early 2007, was arguably the Undertaker's most successful year of any of his personas, winning the Royal Rumble and claiming his fifth Championship win, of the World Heavyweight Title.
Being the Undertaker, this match seems only fitting to have been pioneered by the Man From The Darkside. To win the match, the scary stipulation is that all that must be done is to ensure the opponent is placed in the casket and the lid is shut, everything else is therefore legal. The African beast, Kamala was the first vitcim to fall prey to having his fate sealed shut in a casket, although many others have had a date with the Deadman in this type of match. Even the Undertaker himself has fallen victim to his own creation when being shut in the casket twice at the Royal Rumble, firstly, by a team of heels at the Royal Rumble 1994 and secondly, by the interference of his trecherous brother Kane at the Royal Rumble 1998, where the Undertaker was also screwed out of winning the WWF Championship from Shawn Michaels. A similar incident occurred when the Undertaker had an opportunity against Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship, only to be attacked by foe, Mankind. The Undertaker has ascended to the heavens and been set on fire, however, the Deadman has scored many victories in casket mathces, including defeats over Kamala, Yokozuna, Kama, Mabel and Heidenreich. A whole long list of Casket Matches have taken place over the past 15 years, but the most famous ones have been on pay-per-view.
Undertaker's Record
- Undertaker defeated Kamala at Survivor Series 1992
- Yokozuna defeated the Undertaker to retain the WWF Championship at Royal Rumble, 22, January 1994
- Undertaker defeated Yokozuna at Survivor Series, 23, November 1994
- Undertaker defeated Kama at SummerSlam, 27, August 1995
- Undertaker defeated Mabel at In Your House 5, 17, December 1995
- Goldust defeated the Undertaker at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, 26, May 1996
- Shawn Michaels defeated the Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble, 18, January 1998
- Undertaker defeated Heidenreich at Royal Rumble, 30, January 2005
- Randy Orton and "Cowboy" Bob Orton defeated the Undertaker at No Mercy, 9, October 2005
- Undertaker defeated Mark Henry at Wrestlemania XXII, 2, April, 2006
This match first came about as a result of the Undertaker's unforgettable and brutal feud with Mankind in 1996, as a challenge by the Undertaker to rid himself and WWE of "the deranged one". The objective of the match is to put one's opponent in a specially constructed grave and to proceed to cover them in dirt, thus, 'bury him alive'. The first ever Buried Alive Match took place at In Your House 11: Buried Alive in October 1996. The Undertaker has been involved in all four Buried Alive Matches, winning the first to defeat Mankind, only to be buried alive himself. Undertaker and Big Show won the first and only ever tag team Buried Alive match with the help of Triple H. Kane aided in burying the Undertaker in the Buried Alive matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon. After burial, it has been commonplace, for the Undertaker to rise again from the dead and return in an extraordinary fashion.
Undertaker's Record
- Undertaker defeated Mankind at In Your House 11: Buried Alive, 20, October 1996
- Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated the Undertaker at Rock Bottom: In Your House, 13, December 1998
- Undertaker and Big Show defeated The Rock and Mankind on SmackDown!, 07, September 1999
- Vince McMahon defeated the Undertaker at Survivor Series, 16, November 2003
From the dark, damp depths of the boiler room, there lurked a strange and deranged being, a man who had entered WWE with a hatred of the Undertaker, Mankind. As part of their well-documented and violent feud during 1996, the challenge for the Undertaker was to be victorious against his nemesis in his playing ground by overcoming the eerie strangeness of battling in a boiler room, making his way to the ring and capturing the urn from his manager, Paul Bearer. In a brutal match that involved pipes, poles, ladders, boxes, fire extinguishers, hot steam, hot coffee, the Undertaker was finally beaten by Mankind when his long time friend, manager and mentor, Paul Bearer made the ultimate betrayal by refusing to hand his Phenom the urn, instead hitting him over the head with it and aligning himself with "the deranged one".
Undertaker's Record
- Mankind defeated the Undertaker at SummerSlam, 18, August 1996
Arguably the deadliest, most dangerous match in WWE history, a Hell in a Cell match takes place in a 16-foot enclosed, roofed steel cage, "the cell". Originally designed for the Undertaker to battle Shawn Michaels, the structure was intended to stop Michaels's D-Generation X associates from interfering in the match. However, it was the Undertaker's brother, Kane who would rip off the cell door and cost 'Taker the match. Action often takes place outside of the cell, including Shawn Michaels falling from the top of the cell and the Undertaker throwing Mankind both off and through the cell. Rikishi also fell victim to the Undertaker and was pushed off the cell in a six man match for the WWF Championship.
Undertaker's Record
- Shawn Michaels defeated the Undertaker at In Your House 18: Badd Blood, 05, October 1997
- Steve Austin & the Undertaker battled Kane & Mankind to a No Contest on Raw, 15, June 1998
- Undertaker defeated Mankind at King of the Ring 1998, 28, June 1998
- Undertaker defeated the Big Boss Man at WrestleMania XV, 28, March 1999
- Kurt Angle defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Rock, Rikishi and the Undertaker to retain the WWF Championship at Armageddon 2000, 10, December 2000
- Brock Lesnar defeated the Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2002, 10, October 2002
- Undertaker defeated Randy Orton at Armageddon 2005, 18, December 2005
In a bitter battle with his "burned and scarred" younger brother, Kane, their feud continued not only into a heated battle with each other, but with an unforgiving enemy, fire, at Unforgiven 1998. The first ever time this match had taken place, both men, the fans and announcers were concerned about the metal piping structure surrounding the ring, which was throwing flames of hot fire via gas supply. With temperatures increased in more ways than one, the two brothers battled it out within the burning ring of fire. The match was soon taken outside, with the Undertaker making a brave, high-flying deadly leap over the top rope and over the shooting flames, knocking down Kane and an interfering Vader. Undertaker won the match after kicking Kane into the flames, setting his arm on fire. The two would meet again in an Inferno Match a year later on RAW, where the Undertaker was victorious once again.
Undertaker's Record
- Undertaker defeated Kane at Unforgiven: In Your House, 26, April 1998
- Undertaker defeated Kane on Raw, 22, February 1999
One of the more recent speciality matches, the Undertaker has been involved in and apt to his Big Evil persona, the Deadman took on Brock Lesnar in the first ever Biker Chain Match for the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2003. The object of the match was to grab the chain that was hung from a pole and use it on your opponent. However, the odds were stacked against Big Evil with lights going out, interference from the FBI and Mr. McMahon as part of a cunning plan by McMahon to screw 'Taker out of the title.
Undertaker's Record
- Brock Lesnar defeated the Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2003, 19, October 2003
As part of a feud with JBL and new title hunt for the WWE Championship upon his return as the Original Deadman, the first ever Last Ride Match took place at No Mercy 2004. The object of the match is to stuff your opponent into the back of a hearse and take them for their "last ride" and drive them out of the arena. With two consecutive losses at the last two No Mercy pay-per-view events, some felt a sickening feeling that the Undertaker's luck would be fatal once again, whereas others believed the Undertaker would win the Championship and take JBL for his "Last Ride". The Undertaker's fate was apparent when a psychotic Heidenreich, hiding in the back of the hearse, interfered, rendering the Phenom unconscious and helping JBL to retain the WWE Championship. The hearse was driven to backstage, with none other than Paul Heyman getting out of the driver's seat. Heidenreich then proceeded to crash into the hearse with another vehicle, an attempt to kill the immortal Deadman once again.
Undertaker's Record
- JBL defeated the Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2004, 03, October 2004 - Undertaker defeated Mr. Kennedy at Armageddon 2006, 17, December 2006
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