The Undertaker is starting to feel it.
After a career full of iconic moments in WWE’s history, he has another on the way to prepare for.
“I’ve got papers all over the place with notes and ideas. It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of nervous energy,” he said.
The Undertaker, real name Mark Calaway, is headed into the WWE Hall of Fame. The company he spent three decades wrestling for announced him as the headlining member of the 2022 class a month ago, and the enshrinement ceremony is set to take place Friday, April 1 at American Airlines Center in Dallas to help kick off WrestleMania weekend.
For the first time in history, WWE is hosting both Friday Night SmackDown and the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony on the same night at the same venue, giving all fans in attendance at AAC the opportunity to see both events for the price of a single ticket.
In a continuing series of interviews with some of WWE’s top stars helping us chronicle the year leading up to WrestleMania’s return to AT&T Stadium, The Undertaker spoke to The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday (for a second time) to discuss his Hall of Fame induction, relationship with Vince McMahon and more.
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Did you think it would happen so soon after your retirement? Got your whole speech planned already? How are you doing with everything?
Undertaker: “I’m honestly – 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 since the boneyard match. After a 30-plus-year career with WWE, this speech and trying to be different, and not give the same thing most people do, it’s become a task all to itself. And as far as when, this is actually the second time that I was invited to the Hall of Fame. So, I wasn’t as shocked this time. I turned it down the first time because I knew I had unfinished business. I wasn’t at that place yet where I was ready to let go and say that it’s over. So, this time – I’d made my peace, and I’m just honored and humbled that they would induct me.”
When did they offer you the first time?
Undertaker: “I want to say it was after the Brock WrestleMania [in 2014]. … I just, in my head, I couldn’t end on a match that I didn’t remember. I got concussed and I don’t remember even having that match. So, I wanted to at least have a match that I could remember, so I kept working here and there for the next few years trying to leave on that upbeat note. Fortunately, we had the boneyard match and I said, ‘Alright, that’s it. I think I’m good. It’s time to call it a day.’ Now, here we are.”
On WrestleMania Sunday’s main event -- Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns -- between the only two guys to ever defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania...
Undertaker: “Honestly, really I think it’s a coin toss. Right now, I’m not in the day-to-days, so I’m not really in tune with the vibe of what’s going on behind the scenes, but as a fan and [WrestleMania] potentially being in LA next year – I have a hard time seeing Roman lose. But, on the other hand, I mean it’s Brock Lesnar, too. It’s a pick ‘em in my book. I wouldn’t bet it, for sure, if it was on a line somewhere. I don’t know that I could pick – unless I got some really, really good odds somewhere one way or the other. I’m really looking forward to it though. I think it’s going to be an unbelievable match. It’ll have everything – physicality, it’ll have a great story, I think the match has been built wonderfully. I’m excited to watch it and see what they come up with.”
On Vince McMahon being the one to induct him into the Hall of Fame, and what he expects...
Undertaker: “I have absolutely no clue what he’s going to say. I’m a little bit nervous. There’s no one Vince loves to play practical jokes on more than me, and the fact that the Hall of Fame is on April Fools Day – who knows what’s going to happen? I do know it’s going to be emotional, and I’m not sure to what lengths he will go to not completely fall apart and be emotional. So, yeah, we’ve almost had radio silence here for the last few weeks after I asked him to induct me. So, I have no idea what to even begin to expect from him. ... I can only imagine what his mind is doing right now. I’m going to walk out that night looking over my shoulder, looking for anything he could possibly do to me to play some kind of practical joke on me. I don’t put it past him one bit.”
Is there anybody else out there not in the WWE Hall of Fame who deserves to be considered?
Undertaker: “There’s several. Off the top of my head, and this is going to sound really super political, but I believe my wife [Michelle McCool] should be in. She was one working in an era where women didn’t get nearly the opportunities that they do now, and she fought so hard for the women to kind of get more of a spotlight put on them. She was actually reprimanded once for having too good of a match with Melina. That’s a true story. But for her work ethic and what she did in the time period where they weren’t giving a lot of opportunity, I think she deserves a nod. And, my goodness, there’s a laundry list of male talent that I can run off. But I’m just trying to get through this one. I’ve got to get this speech put together. Then, we’ll figure out who else goes in. … I’ve got papers all over the place with notes and ideas. It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of nervous energy, if you will.”
More WWE 1-on-1′s
Damian Priest | The Miz | Drew McIntyre | Bobby Lashley | Kofi Kingston | Liv Morgan | The Undertaker (Part 1) | Montez Ford | Carmella | Corey Graves | Charlotte Flair | Bron Breakker | Sheamus | Sami Zayn | The Undertaker (Part 2)
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