For nearly 15 years now, the Undertaker has been the unstoppable force in World Wrestling Entertainment. He is the Phenom, the Dead Man, the monster who always seems to be able to rise up no matter the assault. He has made hundreds of wrestlers Rest In Peace, either by Tombstone Piledriving them through the mat or by giving them the devestating Last Ride Powerbomb. He is a four-time WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and has held the WWF/WWE World Tag-Team Titles half a dozen times. Yet more remarkably than all that, the Undertaker is still going strong as a major threat to any foe that happens to be in his way.
Mark Calloway grew up in Dallas, Texas, where he continued to grow in size and power as he went into high school. He played basketball at West Texas High, with his height (over 6 feet at the time) giving him a sizable advantage in the game. But Calloway's love of the sport was overshadowed by another interest: professional wrestling. Despite being offered athletic scholarships to go to college, Calloway opted to began training as a wrestler instead, where he was discovered by Fritz von Erich and given a referral to Don Jardine, who was better known in wrestling circles as the Spoiler. Calloway debuted as the masked Texas Red in '84, facing (and being brutally beat by) Bruiser Brody. Part of the reason Calloway wore a mask was because of his high school basketball coach, who was reportedly upset at a great b-ball player "wasting his time" with wrestling. When it came down to a choice, though, Calloway went with what he loved: wrestling.
It was announced at the next Raw that the WWF had become World Wrestling Entertainment (due to a lawsuit with the World Wildlife Fund). During the night, the Undertaker's motorcycle was stolen by Hogan, who later destroyed it by hitting it with an 18-wheeler. The Undertaker got revenge in a brutal way the next week, as he attacked Hogan with a tire iron, then chained him to a motorcycle and dragged him behind it, eventually sending Hogan spinning into some boxes. Hogan had to be put on a stretcher. At Judgment Day '02, the two men went at it for Hogan's Undisputed World Title. The match started with the Undertaker using Hogan's own weight belt against him, only to have Hogan steal it back and whip the Undertaker instead. The two legends fought in and out of the ring, with the Undertaker getting busted open at one point. At the end, Hogan "hulked up" and had the Dead Man on the ropes, getting the Immortal Leg Drop, but the Undertaker kicked out at 2. The Undertaker then managed to take Hogan down and grab a chair, only to have the Hulkster kick it back into his face. But when Hogan went for the pin, the ref was distracted by Mr. McMahon, who had come to ringside. While Hogan attacked and Leg Dropped Mr. McMahon, the Undertaker recovered, flattening Hogan with a chair shot, then Chokeslamming him for the pin, winning the WWE World Title for the fourth time.
The Undertaker made an immediate impact on the next Raw, as he attacked Rob Van Dam from behind when RVD was coming out for the first match. The Dead Man claimed that, since he was the World Champ, no one should come out before him. However, before he could finish his speech, a recovered RVD attacked, catching the Undertaker with the Five Star Frog Splash. This led to the Undertaker defending the World Title one night after winning it, and nearly losing it, as RVD pinned him after hitting his Rolling Thunder. But since the Undertaker's feet were on the ropes, the now-heel GM, Flair, restarted the match, and the Undertaker caught the distracted Van Dam with the Last Ride for the victory. The Undertaker continued his brutal streak the next Raw, making Tommy Dreamer drink his tobacco spit, then taking Dreamer out.
Going into June '02, the Undertaker got into a match with Dreamer, beating him with the Dragon Sleeper, then dumping a bucket of vomit that Dreamer had brought to the ring onto the downed wrestler. However, the Undertaker was then attacked by Jeff Hardy, who dropkicked him into the vomit, a disgusting sight. The Undertaker went to get Hardy afterwards, but was only able to find his brother, Matt, whom the Undertaker gladly beat up as a message to Jeff. On the next Smackdown, the Undertaker made an appearance, attacking the man who won the right to challenge for the title at the next PPV, Triple H. The Undertaker then returned to Raw to call out the Hardy Boyz, who decided to answer his call, taking out the Undertaker with a double-team while using a ladder. The feud between the Undertaker & the Hardyz continued the next week, as the Dead Man defeated Matt in a Non-Title Match, thanks in part to Raven helping to take out Jeff. After the match, while Raven subdued Matt, the Undertaker destroyed Jeff. He then spoke in the back afterwards, stating that this was what Triple H had in store for him.
On the Smackdown before the PPV, the Undertaker went to try and assault Triple H after he had just had a match with Billy Gunn. Kurt Angle also came down to help out, but accidentally hit the Undertaker with a steel chair in the process. A furious Undertaker demanded a Non-Title Match with Angle that night, which Mr. McMahon reluctantly gave. Both the Undertaker and Angle talked about destroying each other, which led Mr. McMahon to bring both to his office. The boss tried to get both men to shake hands and agree to have a "clean competition", i.e. not cause any injuries before the PPV. But the two men couldn't be contained, as things erupted into a brawl in the boss's office! The match was just as intense, with both men looking for a big move for the win. Near the end, the Undertaker managed to escape the Ankle Lock, then got a Chokeslam. But he was then distracted by Triple H, who came to ringside. Angle then rolled up the Undertaker from behind, getting the quick victory! Afterwards, the Undertaker and Triple H brawled, while Angle had to deal with Hulk Hogan.
The fight between the Undertaker and Triple H at King of the Ring '02 was a brutal one, as old emotions roared to the surface. During the match, the referee was taken out, adding to the chaos. This was only heightened as the Rock came to the announcers' table. Meanwhile, the Undertaker tried to use a steel chair on Triple H, only to be knocked out of the ring. The Undertaker then opted to nail the Rock, before reentering the ring. The Rock followed with the chair, but accidentally hit Triple H instead, bloodying him! The Undertaker quickly took advantage, nailing Triple H with the Last Ride. But when a 2nd ref could only get a 2 count, the Undertaker attacked him as well, throwing him out. This, though, allowed the Rock to reenter and get the Rock Bottom on the Dead Man. Triple H recovered and got the Pedigree, but the 1st ref was still down. As Triple H went to get him up, the Undertaker scored a low blow, then rolled him up for the pin, retaining the Undisputed World Title.
The Undertaker had a Non-Title Match with Jeff Hardy the next day, defeating him with the Last Ride. But a resilient Jeff challenged the Undertaker to another match on the next Raw, a Ladder Match for the Undisputed Title! The Undertaker agreed, setting the stage for a great non-PPV bout.
The Undertaker made an immediate impact on the next Raw, as he attacked Rob Van Dam from behind when RVD was coming out for the first match. The Dead Man claimed that, since he was the World Champ, no one should come out before him. However, before he could finish his speech, a recovered RVD attacked, catching the Undertaker with the Five Star Frog Splash. This led to the Undertaker defending the World Title one night after winning it, and nearly losing it, as RVD pinned him after hitting his Rolling Thunder. But since the Undertaker's feet were on the ropes, the now-heel GM, Flair, restarted the match, and the Undertaker caught the distracted Van Dam with the Last Ride for the victory. The Undertaker continued his brutal streak the next Raw, making Tommy Dreamer drink his tobacco spit, then taking Dreamer out.
Going into June '02, the Undertaker got into a match with Dreamer, beating him with the Dragon Sleeper, then dumping a bucket of vomit that Dreamer had brought to the ring onto the downed wrestler. However, the Undertaker was then attacked by Jeff Hardy, who dropkicked him into the vomit, a disgusting sight. The Undertaker went to get Hardy afterwards, but was only able to find his brother, Matt, whom the Undertaker gladly beat up as a message to Jeff. On the next Smackdown, the Undertaker made an appearance, attacking the man who won the right to challenge for the title at the next PPV, Triple H. The Undertaker then returned to Raw to call out the Hardy Boyz, who decided to answer his call, taking out the Undertaker with a double-team while using a ladder. The feud between the Undertaker & the Hardyz continued the next week, as the Dead Man defeated Matt in a Non-Title Match, thanks in part to Raven helping to take out Jeff. After the match, while Raven subdued Matt, the Undertaker destroyed Jeff. He then spoke in the back afterwards, stating that this was what Triple H had in store for him.
On the Smackdown before the PPV, the Undertaker went to try and assault Triple H after he had just had a match with Billy Gunn. Kurt Angle also came down to help out, but accidentally hit the Undertaker with a steel chair in the process. A furious Undertaker demanded a Non-Title Match with Angle that night, which Mr. McMahon reluctantly gave. Both the Undertaker and Angle talked about destroying each other, which led Mr. McMahon to bring both to his office. The boss tried to get both men to shake hands and agree to have a "clean competition", i.e. not cause any injuries before the PPV. But the two men couldn't be contained, as things erupted into a brawl in the boss's office! The match was just as intense, with both men looking for a big move for the win. Near the end, the Undertaker managed to escape the Ankle Lock, then got a Chokeslam. But he was then distracted by Triple H, who came to ringside. Angle then rolled up the Undertaker from behind, getting the quick victory! Afterwards, the Undertaker and Triple H brawled, while Angle had to deal with Hulk Hogan.
The fight between the Undertaker and Triple H at King of the Ring '02 was a brutal one, as old emotions roared to the surface. During the match, the referee was taken out, adding to the chaos. This was only heightened as the Rock came to the announcers' table. Meanwhile, the Undertaker tried to use a steel chair on Triple H, only to be knocked out of the ring. The Undertaker then opted to nail the Rock, before reentering the ring. The Rock followed with the chair, but accidentally hit Triple H instead, bloodying him! The Undertaker quickly took advantage, nailing Triple H with the Last Ride. But when a 2nd ref could only get a 2 count, the Undertaker attacked him as well, throwing him out. This, though, allowed the Rock to reenter and get the Rock Bottom on the Dead Man. Triple H recovered and got the Pedigree, but the 1st ref was still down. As Triple H went to get him up, the Undertaker scored a low blow, then rolled him up for the pin, retaining the Undisputed World Title.
The Undertaker had a Non-Title Match with Jeff Hardy the next day, defeating him with the Last Ride. But a resilient Jeff challenged the Undertaker to another match on the next Raw, a Ladder Match for the Undisputed Title! The Undertaker agreed, setting the stage for a great non-PPV bout.
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