The “Phenom”, “Big Evil, The Skyscraper, The Undertaker

We can go “Old School” or you can receive a tombstone piledriver and be buried alive…No matter how you meet your fate; few have gotten up after being hit by this “Skyscraper”.

A look into the evolution of the Undertaker.

Mark Calaway made his debut in 1984 for World Class Championship wrestle as Texas Red. After a brief stint there He made his way to USWA, there, he wrestled and won his first title on April 1, 1989 versus Jerry Lawler under the name “The Master of Pain”.

Time for the big leagues…1989-1990 WCW saw Mark Calaway as Mean Mark Callous; He was paired with Dan Spivey as the “Skyscrapers”. This team; two men 6’10 fought and feuded briefly with the famed Road Warriors. Exit Dan Spivey, WCW briefly attempted to keep the skyscrapers going by pairing Mean Mark with Barry Windham, another big man, however WCW not giving Mark more exposure….The Bell tolled in October of 1990 from the WWE.

Survivor series 1990, Ted DiBiase’s led team touted a mystery partner….THE UNDERTAKER. He dominated the match by eliminated the other team’s opponents, this “supernatural” deadman –“Kane” the Undertaker rolled his eyes in his head and could command fire and lightning….Managed then by Brother Love, handled by Ted DiBiase; The Kane was dropped (who knew what was to come of the name Kane) enter Paul Bearer and the Urn.

Wrestlemania VII, The Undertaker beat “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (1-0) from here to build his character he ran over several B wrestlers until Survivor Series 1991 when he beat Hogan for the Title…Does anyone remember Jack Tunney? He came and held up this victory and the title until the following “Tuesday in Texas” special PPV and Hogan won the title back; yes, a six day reign. (This was back when the Survivor Series was on Thanksgiving Day and not on Sunday).

Undertaker was gaining popularity, thus becoming a “fan-favorite” so they had to put him against strong heels, the likes of Jake the Snake, whom he beat at Wrestlemania VIII (2-0), Kamala, whom he beat in the first ever coffin match and then the Giant Gonzales at Wrestlemania IX (3-0).

Yokozuna WWE champion at this time wrestled Taker in the now called Casket match, in this match, with the help of other wrestlers the Undertaker was put in the casket and loss the match… In one of several special effects, the “Spirit” of the Undertaker came on the Jumbotron stating he would return. (This gave the Undertaker time to heal from a legit back injury).

The Dead Man Returns…? Ted Dibiase introduced us to the “Underfaker”, once the real one came back we saw Taker VS. Faker at Summerslam 94’ where the original and real Undertaker defeated the fake one with three consecutive piledrivers (sorry Prime Time Brian Lee, 911) a character from the Original ECW who had this brief stint with the WWE. From here the rematch Casket match had to take place vs. Yokozuna…Even with outside interference again, the Undertake booted the big Yokozuna right out the ring and into the casket.

Wrestlemania XI the Undertaker while facing and beating King Kong Bundy (3-0), his Urn was stolen by then super star Papa Shango, I mean The Godfather, no…Kama Mustafa. And the Urn was melted down into a gold chain. The Undertaker beat Kama in a casket match at Summerslam but soon after was assaulted by Yokozuna and Big Daddy V or King Mabel…which again forced Undertaker to “rest” another legit injury this time to his orbital bone.

The Dead Man is back, looking more grimacing with a skeleton mask on fighting Bret Hart. Hart removed the mask in a title match that then superstar Diesel interfered in. This led to the Undertaker coming up from the ring and interfering in the Diesel VS Hart steel cage match costing Diesel the match. This spot was enhanced by Taker rising from a cloud a smoke in a hole in the ring. This led to the match at Wrestlemania XII (4-0) in which the Undertaker not only won, but took the fallen Diesel under the ring again via another smoke filled hole in the ring…..Pulled him straight down to “hell” Diesel was later found somewhere in WCW….can you say “Outsiders”.

Wrestlemania 13, (I guess it’s unlucky for a reason) Taker won his second WWE from Sycho Sid. Shortly thereafter Paul Bearer states he has a secret; The Undertaker has a “brother” who was burned badly in a fire…hmmm. Undertaker was at the time feuding with Bret Hart which led to him feuding with Shawn Michaels after a mistaken chair shot. Remember “In Your House” at Badd Blood the Undertaker fought Shawn Micheals in the first ever HELL IN THE CELL. Towards the end of the match we saw a tall figure approach the cage and ripped the door off the cage entered the ring and gave a tombstone piledriver to the Undertaker to give Shawn Michaels the win. Could this be the Undertaker’s brother? Or his “dentist”? This was KANE (there’s that name again) his brother badly burned in the “fire” he was there for revenge!!!!

This interference led to a return match vs Michaels this time a casket match…. Kane interfered with vengeance locking the Undertaker in the Casket and setting the casket on fire. Upon putting the fire out and opening the casket, Taker had disappeared…Only to come back two months later to beat Kane at Wrestlemania XIV (5-0) and also in the first ever inferno match at Badd Blood “In Your House” by setting Kane’s arm on fire.

At this time Mankind came back to feud again with Taker which led to HELL IN THE CELL at “King of the Ring”. In one of two horrific spots, Taker threw Mankind of the top of the cage unto the Spanish announce table and then threw him thru the roof of the cage unto the mat. He beat Mankind by choke slamming him unto a pile of thumbtacks.

From here enter Stone Cold Steve Austin, vs. a demonic, satanic Undertaker which led to a spot where Taker and his infamous druids hung Austin high above the ring on Takers Symbol which then lead to Austin coming to save Stephanie McMahon who was later almost sacrificed into being the Undertaker’s “wife”. From here the Ministry of Darkness was established and Taker was being commissioned by a “higher power”, from here the corporate ministry was created with Taker and McMahon but once Taker lost the Title to Stone Cold, the Corporate Ministry was disbanded.

American Bad Ass/Big Evil

Gone was the darkness and mystic, He came in on a motorcycle and adapted the “Long Ride” a move and a look that went away from the Dark side. He was an all American Biker. He went on to continue his Wrestlemania undefeated streak took on the McMahon-Helmsley faction even Triple H. He beat Triple H at Wreslemania X-Seven. He also fought Kane again and unmasked him; Even in the first ever 6 man HELL IN THE CELL (now the elimination chamber) he threw Rikisi off the roof of the cell.
Big Evil even beat up Ric Flair’s Son David.
After many feuds and matches which included being switched from RAW and Smackdown the American Bad Ass loss a buried alive match vs. McMahon with the help of Kane. Was Big Evil finally buried???

The Phenom came back at Wrestlemania XX and defeated Kane he went on to battle the likes of JBL, the Dudley’s in tag action and Beat Heidenreich in a Casket match. From here He was challenged by Randy Orton who put Taker in a Casket along with Father Bob Orton and set the Casket ablaze. Upon opening the casket the Phenom was gone, came back weeks later emerging from a blazing coffin, This set up a HELL IN A CELL which saw the disappearance of Bob Orton and the defeat of Randy.

At this point The Phenom feuded with Mark Henry, beat him at Wrestlemania to go to 14-0, however he had a new bigger challenge the “Punjabi Giant” the Greta Khali. After a failed meeting but hyped Punjabi Prison match The Phenom beat the Big Show who subbed in for Khali we saw the Phenom win then go on to battle for the title against then “King Booker”.

After a brief disappearance, we now have the Undertaker, at a record 15-0 at Wrestlemania. He is headed back to fight for the Title at this years Wrestlemania as he recently won the Elimination Chamber match which was for the number one contender spot. Amidst battling Mark Henry, Big Daddy V, MVP and Khali….Might we see another ‘Phenom”inal victory at this year’s Wrestlemania…..Until March 30, 2008 ….or until we see the evolution of Kane…. REST IN PEACE!!!!!

© 2008 Martin A. Bryant