The iconic gong hits. The lights go out. The crowd rises in anticipation of what’s to come next.
It’s one of the most ingrained reflexes of any professional wrestling fan, the excitement knowing The Undertaker is about to appear.
On Friday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas, “The Deadman” will be appearing at a WWE event once again as he headlines the company’s 2022 Hall of Fame class ahead of WrestleMania’s two-night return to AT&T Stadium this weekend.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed right now with the speech. It’s the closest thing that I’ve had to do since putting a WrestleMania match together. I’ve been pretty much pressure free for the last couple years,” The Undertaker, real name Mark Calaway, told The Dallas Morning News recently.
“I’m just honored and humbled that they would induct me.”
For the first time in history, WWE is hosting both Friday Night SmackDown and its Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on the same night at the same venue, giving fans in attendance at AAC the opportunity to see both events for the price of a single ticket.
Other inductees this year include Vader, Queen Sharmell, The Steiner Brothers, and posthumous “Warrior Award” winner Shad Gaspard.
But “The Phenom” – and the induction speech coming from WWE chairman Vince McMahon – is top billing of the night.
From 1991-2020, the Houston native and lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan was on the card at WrestleMania all but three times, a stretch that included “The Streak” – the most untouchable WrestleMania record in WWE history – and a “Hell in a Cell” match against Shane McMahon at AT&T Stadium in 2016 at the age of 51.
Since The Undertaker was announced as the leading member of this year’s Hall of Fame class, The Dallas Morning News has been collecting a few thoughts and memories about the WWE legend from some of his peers who can better explain how much he means to the wrestling business.
So rather than continue to rattle off the accolades of the seven-time world champion, six-time tag team champion, former hardcore champion, former Royal Rumble winner and arguably the greatest sports entertainer of all-time, here’s what some of today’s WWE superstars have to say about The Undertaker:
Charlotte Flair, SmackDown women’s champion
“When it comes to Taker, there’s not one person in the industry that doesn’t respect him, and that’s what I take away from his career is the respect and the loyalty. I think that’s what he’s earned from everybody, from his peers to the fans.”
Dolph Ziggler, NXT champion
“I’m notoriously like bitter and over it and nothing really gets me excited. ... But when it’s a Raw or a SmackDown and things are going OK and there’s a couple matches, and you hear that sound – that gong – and you know Undertaker is there … there’s something that makes you stop. You get chills. You just want to see the entrance. You want to know what the hell is he doing here? What’s this about? That, for me, is one of those few special moments you can still get. For someone like me who’s seen it all and done it all, and you just see the aura around him – you realize this is such a special superstar.”
Jimmy Hart, WWE Hall of Famer
“He stood the test of time. Year after year. He’s always been a feature, he’s always been a main event someplace, somehow, somewhere – featured in matches with some of our bigger stars that aren’t with us anymore. And he’s still there. If he got in the ring tomorrow, he could still perform – which a lot of people who have been around for that many years aren’t able to anymore because of injuries or health issues or whatever. So, for everything he’s done going seven days, 52 weeks a year ... it’s just amazing. I’m so glad I was a part of that.”
Sami Zayn
“I particularly had a fondness for when he came back as the biker and all that. That was a very, very cool time. And then as I eventually came to WWE, obviously his presence that has been talked about so much by so many of his peers that came up with him – it’s true. It’s true. He sort of has that godfather of the locker room aura about him. When he first came across me and had some very kind words to say, I took it as a huge badge of honor. I still hold onto it every time I think of The Undertaker. I think of that one moment. There was a particular moment at NXT when I was doing stuff with Neville – who now wrestles as Pac – and we were building to our NXT championship match. He saw a promo that we did, a match that we did, and he was just so kind about it, so complimentary, so excited about it in a way I did not expect at all. That meant a lot to me. So, any time I think of fond Undertaker memories, it’s definitely that one.”
Liv Morgan
“I was terrified of Undertaker [as a kid]. Now, being grown-up Liv and looking back at the legacy that The Undertaker has had on the business, it’s unparalleled. His streak, his entrance, his character, his work, the respect that he has across the board from every single person in the wrestling business -- it’s cool to see him honored and as the feature of the Hall of Fame this year. I don’t think it’s a speech that anyone is going to want to miss.”
Sheamus
“When I got to Smackdown – I was part of ECW first – but we were part of the Smackdown roster, he was someone who’s earned and gained a lot of respect from everybody in the locker room. He’s been there forever. I’ve seen him limp into buildings, and then an hour later, two hours later he’s doing all sorts of crazy dives and jumping around like he’s 16 years old. He was a guy, any time the bell went on, he made sure he was in the best shape that he could possibly be and he always put on the best performance he possibly could. ... He’s helped a lot of guys on the roster over the years, and we’re all going to be there to enjoy his moment with him.”
Nikki A.S.H.
“I first started watching WWE in 2000 when I was about 12 years old, and the first time I ever watched I remember The Undertaker was wrestling Kurt Angle, and Undertaker just whipped his butt. It was very entertaining to watch. Just throughout the years, watching The Undertaker perform, it was absolutely amazing to watch. [Seeing him get inducted] is going to be special, it’s going to be special for all of us to kind of be a part of.”
Apollo Crews
“As a wrestling fan, we all grew up watching. My first match was Undertaker vs. Ultimate Warrior – I was a young, young kid. Fast forward to a couple of years ago, we’re at Madison Square Garden – it’s a live event, but Undertaker is there and he is getting ready to do his entrance. And we’re all just all goosebumps, standing at the curtain, just waiting to watch like we’re little kids – and these are grown men we’re talking about and women – we’re all just waiting. For me, it felt like I was a kid again watching his entrance on TV. ... There’s never going to be another Undertaker.”
Bron Breakker
“I’ve never met The Undertaker, but I mean his career affected me just like I’m sure it affected everybody. I watch his matches, and I study a lot of things that he does and just try to get some takeaways or some learning points from it. Just anything that I can because he’s one of the greatest of all-time. ... I’m sure he’s affected everybody in some type of way, everybody in the business in some type of positive way.”
