The origin of the name "Undertaker" suits the macabre wrestling persona Mark Calaway cultivated so masterfully in the WWE. But why did they choose old-timey mortician as the gimmick that launched The Undertaker‘s legendary career?
As you‘ll see, the funeral director motif allowed Calaway to create an instantly iconic character that stood out in the flashy, loud WWE of the early 90s. The name "Undertaker" hearkens back to a bygone era, evoking images of grave-diggers and funeral parlor operators of the old west. This grim gimmick provided the perfect foundation for The Undertaker to become one of wrestling‘s most unique and enduring superstars.
From basketball player to mortician wrestler
Long before he was The Undertaker, Mark Calaway was just a former college basketball player looking to break into the pro wrestling business. After stints in various independent promotions, he joined WCW in the late 80s as "Mean" Mark Callous.
Unfortunately, this bland, uninspired gimmick failed to get over with fans. Calaway‘s career seemed stalled until he caught the eye of WWE executive Bruce Prichard. Prichard saw potential in the tall, athletic Calaway and knew WCW was wasting him as Mean Mark.
When Calaway made the jump to the WWE in 1990, Prichard took the opportunity to completely reinvent his character. They wanted something fresh and unlike anything else in wrestling at the time. According to Prichard:
"We focused on the mortician aspect… Made him mysterious and cast him in the role of a funeral director to make him stand out in a big way."
And thus, with the backing of WWE owner Vince McMahon, The Undertaker was born. McMahon originally planned to call him "Kane the Undertaker" but ultimately went with just The Undertaker.
Why "The Undertaker" was the perfect wrestling name
The name Undertaker immediately gave Mark Calaway‘s new persona a backstory. Fans imagined he lived at a funeral parlor and handled bodies as part of his mortician duties. This built-in mystique added credence to The Undertaker being an undead zombie who felt no pain and could not be killed.
In the flashy, loud WWE of the early 90s, the creepy funeral director from ages past stood out in stark contrast. While other wrestlers had cool or intense names and outfits, none evoked sheer macabre quite like The Undertaker.
As wrestling journalist Tom Breihan explained:
"Within wrestling’s outsized mythos, the undertaker character is still an impressively original creation, drawing connections between Western horror imagery, carnival mortician history, and zombie movies."
The name "Undertaker" perfectly captured this vintage macabre vibe. It conjured chilling images of grave-diggers, funeral carriages, and candle-lit mortuary slabs. This differentiation was crucial in allowing The Undertaker to stand out from muscular superstars like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior.
By the numbers: The Undertaker‘s unparalleled WWE career
The Undertaker gimmick clearly resonated with fans, as evidenced by Calaway‘s incredible 30+ year WWE career:
- 7x World Champion
- 4x WWE Champion
- 1x Winner of Royal Rumble (2007)
- 21-2 Career record at Wrestlemania events
- 14x Wrestler of the Year awards
No numbers tell the story of The Undertaker‘s success more than his staggering 21 wins at Wrestlemania events until finally losing to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXX in 2014. This feat earned him the nickname "Mr. WrestleMania" and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest performers in Wrestlemania history:
| Year | Wrestlemania Opponent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jimmy Snuka | Won |
| 1992 | Jake Roberts | Won |
| 1993 | Giant Gonzalez | Won |
| 1994 | Yokozuna | Won |
| 1995 | King Kong Bundy | Won |
| 1996 | Diesel | Won |
| 1997 | Sycho Sid | Won |
| 1998 | Kane | Won |
| 1999 | Big Boss Man | Won |
| 2001 | Triple H | Won |
| 2002 | Ric Flair | Won |
| 2003 | Big Show & A-Train | Won |
| 2004 | Kane | Won |
| 2005 | Randy Orton | Won |
| 2006 | Mark Henry | Won |
| 2007 | Batista | Won |
| 2008 | Edge | Won |
| 2009 | Shawn Michaels | Won |
| 2010 | Shawn Michaels | Won |
| 2011 | Triple H | Won |
| 2012 | Triple H | Won |
| 2013 | CM Punk | Won |
| 2014 | Brock Lesnar | Loss |
While The Undertaker finally lost at Wrestlemania XXX in 2014, ending the vaunted 21-0 streak, this run exemplifies his sustained excellence and longevity in WWE.
The Undertaker‘s wealth reflects his superstardom
As one of the most successful wrestlers ever, The Undertaker has amassed an impressive net worth estimated between $17 million and $19 million.
Let‘s look at how he earned such wealth:
- Career Earnings: $10 million
- Decades of WWE salary, bonuses, and royalties
- PPV Earnings: $4 million
- Estimated $150k per main event match
- Merchandise: $3 million
- Cut of massive t-shirt, hats and other memorabilia sales
- Investments: $2 million
- Savvy investing over 30+ year career
- Real Estate: $1 million
- Owns property and a bar generating income
The Undertaker is not flashy with his wealth, but he has earned every penny through his incredible longevity and consistency in WWE. Even in retirement, his legend will endure thanks to prudent business decisions like signing a 15-year deal to keep making WWE appearances.
The Bottom Line:
The Undertaker stands out as one of wrestling‘s most unique, enduring characters. His career earnings reflect how the macabre mortician gimmick captured fans‘ imaginations and catapulted Mark Calaway to icon status. The name "Undertaker" evoked chilling images that perfectly complemented this zombie-like phenom. Three decades later, the Undertaker remains a beloved pillar of WWE history.
I hope this gives you insight into how Mark became The Undertaker and built such wealth playing this legendary character. Let me know if you have any other questions!
