History Trivia / TheUndertaker

* FanCommunityNicknames: Creatures of the Night.

** The "Sara" tattoo on his neck was often edited out of promotional photos (and the video games, since 2008) before he eventually had it removed, due to divorcing his wife, Sara, in 2007.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Too many to count, as much as the man's career itself. See them [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/TheUndertaker here]].

* FriendshipOnTheSet: Taker is good friends with Wrestling/BookerT, having taken him under his wing after the latter's move from WCW. He shares he always felt Book was talented & enjoyed watching him become a big star.

* OldShame: Described his feud with Giant Gonzalez as "taking years of his career", especially since he badly wanted to work with then-newcomer Wrestling/{{Yokozuna}} at the time.

** The "Sara" tattoo on his neck was often edited out of promotional photos (and the videogames, since 2008) before he eventually had it removed, due to divorcing his wife, Sara, in 2007.

** The "Sara" tattoo on his neck was often edited out of promotional photos (and the videogames, since 2008) before he eventually had it removed, due to the separation from his wife, Sara, in 2007.

** The "vegetative state" storyline was a direct result of an injury suffered while wrestling Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr. Undertaker had his orbital socket broken by one of Rey's knee braces.

* ReclusiveArtist: Prior to his retirement in 2020, Undertaker rarely did any interviews or public appearances and avoided social media for the most part (the few times anything about him popped up on social media, it usually came from his wife Wrestling/MichelleMcCool), likely to preserve the mystique of his character. He joindc social media in the late 2010s and became much more open after retiring.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Undertaker married Wrestling/MichelleMcCool in 2010.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Too many to count, as much as the man's career itself. See them [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/TheUndertaker here]].
* Taker is good friends with Wrestling/BookerT, having taken him under his wing after the latter's move from WCW. He shares he always felt Book was talented & enjoyed watching him become a big star.
** His wife, Wrestling/MichelleMcCool, became very close friends with Sharmell (Mrs. Booker T.) when she joined WWE in 2006 and she has shared that she & Mark are the [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvX9nlPh7r3/ Godparents to the couple's twins]].

*** It would have been a last hurrah for Undertaker before retirement due to those injuries, but [[Main/TheDeterminator he persevered anyways]].

** His wife, Wrestling/MichelleMcCool became very close friends with Sharmell (Mrs. Booker T.) when she joined WWE in 2006 and she has shared that she & Mark are the [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvX9nlPh7r3/ Godparents to the couple's twins]].

* DoesNotLikeSpam: Wrestling/PaulBearer mentioned in a shoot interview that Undertaker is ungodly afraid... of '''cucumbers'''. One time, after he played a joke on Paul, Paul paid him back by putting cucumbers everywhere. Taker proceeded to puke.

* LongRunners: Debuting in 1990, he's wrestled every big name wrestler for the past two decades, from Wrestling/HulkHogan to Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin to Wrestling/JohnCena to Wrestling/RomanReigns and most everyone in between. And smarks have been expecting him to retire since ''2000''. Hence the nickname "The Last Outlaw" in 2011. In all Taker's WWE career lasted for 30 years. To put that into perspective, that's longer than Hogan, the Rock, and Stone Cold's longest runs with the company, ''combined''.
** Pretty much the only big name wrestlers that he hasn't wrestled are those who have never worked for WWE, most notably Wrestling/{{Sting}}, and even then, 'Taker started out in the NWA just as it was transitioning into WCW as "Mean" Mark Callous, and did in fact have a match or two with Sting back then. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been. Due to both men's advanced ages and DentedIron status as well as Sting being part of Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling, the match will probably never happen.

* DyeHard: He is a redhead and performed as one early in his career, but eventually dyed it black and kept it that way ever since. You could see his hair shift a bit back towards red during his [[FanNickname BikerTaker]] days when he had short hair and didn't have to do the Deadman jet-black dye job.

* FanNickname: Bikertaker for his American Badass period.
** "Underfaker" for the Brian Lee Undertaker in the "Two Undertakers" storyline.

* LongRunners: Debuting in 1990, he's wrestled every big name wrestler for the past two decades, from Wrestling/HulkHogan to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to John Cena and most everyone in between. And smarks have been expecting him to retire since ''2000''. Hence the nickname "The Last Outlaw" in 2011. In all Taker's WWE career lasted for 30 years. To put that into perspective, that's longer than Hogan, the Rock, and Stone Cold's longest runs with the company, ''combined''.
** Pretty much the only big name wrestlers that he hasn't wrestled are those who have never worked for WWE, most notably Wrestling/{{Sting}}, and even then, 'Taker started out in the NWA just as it was transitioning into WCW as "Mean" Mark Callous, and did in fact have a match or two with Sting back then. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been. Due to both men’s advanced ages and Sting’s retirement from injuries, the match will probably never happen.

* LongRunners: Debuting in 1990, he's wrestled every big name wrestler for the past two decades, from Wrestling/HulkHogan to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to John Cena and most everyone in between. And smarks have been expecting him to retire since ''2000''. Hence the nickname "The Last Outlaw" in 2011. In all Taker's WWE career lasted over 29 years. To put that into perspective, that's longer than Hogan, the Rock, and Stone Cold's longest runs with the company, ''combined''.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Too many to count, as much as the man's carrer itself. See them [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/TheUndertaker here]].

* LongRunners: Debuting in 1990, he's wrestled every big name wrestler for the past two decades, from Wrestling/HulkHogan to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to John Cena and most everyone in between. And smarks have been expecting him to retire since ''2000''. Hence the nickname "The Last Outlaw" in 2011.
** Pretty much the only big name wrestlers that he hasn't wrestled are those who have never worked for WWE, most notably Wrestling/{{Sting}}.
** And even then, 'Taker started out in the NWA just as it was transitioning into WCW as 'Mean' Mark Callous, and did in fact have a match or two with Sting back then.
** In all Taker's WWE career lasted over 29 years. To put that into perspective, that's longer than Hogan, the Rock, and Stone Cold's longest runs with the company combined.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The Undertaker's original manager, back when he was "Kane the Undertaker" (get a load of ''that'' name)? '''''Brother Love'''''. Now just imagine how the character would have evolved if Brother Love had ''stayed'' his manager.
** This led to one '''hell''' of a BrickJoke about [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsC5ACBmEbc a decade later]].
** The name "Kane the Undertaker" turned into an even more massive BrickJoke [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASmdxXaOzd4 later on]].
** Mark Calaway originally wanted to be a pro-basketball player as well.
** Wrestling/{{WCW}} had their chance with Mark, who wrestled there in the late 80's, but true to WCW style they fired him because [[ItWillNeverCatchOn they thought he'd never catch on]].
** Mark almost became Wrestling/TheGobbledyGooker! Vince [=McMahon=] wanted Mark to debut by being hatched from the egg as "The Eggman", but was persuaded by Wrestling/PatPatterson to take up the Undertaker persona he had created.
** Taker very briefly worked a gimmick that was essentially a post-Ministry Undertaker who rode a motorcycle. Not too long after he started the gimmick, Music/LimpBizkit came out with "Rollin'" and Taker's theme music was switched to that to cash in on its popularity, and then the demonic aspects of the character were dropped because they didn't fit in anymore. If Limp Bizkit hadn't written Rollin', we might never have had Bikertaker as we know him.
** The Undertaker long knew he was taking some time off in 2000 to heal up from some injuries, and wanted to come back with a new gimmick, as he felt the Deadman had run its course. This ultimately led to Bikertaker. One of the ideas bandied about was that Jake Roberts would "save" the Undertaker and he would come back wearing all white and basically be a reverse of his Phenom character. Taker rejected this, as it would have been worse than the deadman character, and ultimately the biker gimmick was born.
* The Streak has dozens of opponents who nearly fought Undertaker:
** Several fans have remarked about what might have been had the Wrestling/UltimateWarrior resolved his differences with Wrestling/VinceMcMahon after the 1991 Wrestling/SummerSlam and continued his feuds with Undertaker and Wrestling/JakeRoberts. These hardcore fans wanted to see -- after disposing of Roberts -- a final, ultimate showdown pitting Warrior and a still-heel Undertaker at [[Wrestling/WrestleMania WrestleMania VIII]], with Warrior gaining a decisive victory. Surely, Undertaker's push would have been squashed (as his credibility as an unbeatable, more-dire-than-usual force would have been destroyed) and certainly there would never have been anything close to resembling "The Streak," much less Calaway remaining with WWF/WWE all these years, and certainly not as the Undertaker.
** Thrice over at [=WrestleMania=] 21:
*** The original plan was for Taker to feud with then newcomer [[TheFundamentalist Religious Zealot]] Wrestler, Mordecai. Vince, Taker, and Mordecai were all set on the idea, but the plan was scrapped after Mordecai was fired for getting involved in a bar fight.
*** The second plan was for Taker and Kane to reunite to face Heidenreich and Snitsky. Taker refused as he wanted to face Wrestling/RandyOrton so he could help build the future of the company.
*** Taker actually wanted to ''lose'' to Orton, but Orton flat out refused out of respect. This was probably also why this was the first year that The Streak itself became a major built part of his Mania match.
** According to Wrestling/KurtAngle, he was considered to end Undertaker's streak at [=WrestleMania=] 22 in a match for the World Heavyweight Championship instead of at No Way Out 2006. Undertaker was willing to take the loss because he hadn't had a 5-Star [=WrestleMania=] match and the writing team was willing to do it to keep Angle looking strong as champion.
** Wrestling/TommyDreamer mentioned that he had worked out a deal for Wrestling/{{Abyss}} to come to WWE, and they were even considering him as an opponent for The Undertaker at ''[=WrestleMania=] 23''. Unfortunately, Abyss got cold feet about leaving TNA, and backed out of the deal at the last minute.
** Twice over at [=WrestleMania=] XXVII:
*** Wrestling/{{Sting}} was approached to wrestle the Undertaker, but turned it down because he disliked Vince [=McMahon=]'s treatment of former WCW talent.
*** There were also plans to have Wrestling/WadeBarrett vs. Undertaker at quite early on, which appears to be evidenced by the rather sudden beatdown by The Nexus upon the Undertaker at Bragging Rights 2010.
** Plans were for Undertaker to originally face Wrestling/JohnCena at [=WrestleMania=] 32 onwards, and Taker himself handpicked Cena to potentially be his final opponent. However, there are two separate reasons why it was called off:
*** ''[=WrestleMania 32=]'': Cena is still recovering from his latest injury (although he briefly showed up to help Wrestling/TheRock fend off the Wrestling/WyattFamily), resulting with Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon taking over in Cena's place.
*** ''[=WrestleMania 33=]'': Vince replaced Cena with Wrestling/RomanReigns because he wanted to build on future stars instead. Cena brought this up and lampshaded it during a ''[=SmackDown!=]'' segment with Wrestling/TheMiz and Wrestling/{{Maryse}}.
----> '''Cena''': If I were really this "black-arts manipulator", pulling all the strings this close to ''[=WrestleMania=]'', you really think I'd be standing in a ring toe-to-toe, face-to-face with YOU!? Hell no! I'd be standing face-to-face with the Undertaker!
* Sting vs Undertaker is the dream match that never happened and, due to both men’s advanced ages and Sting’s retirement from injuries, will probably never happen. Except it has, in 1989 in WCW, Sting wrestled “Mean” Mark Callous shortly before Mark jumped to WWF. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been.

* Sting vs Undertaker is the dream match that never happened and, due to both men’s advanced ages and Sting’s retirement from injuries, will probably never happen. Except it has, in 1989 in WCW, Sting wrestled {{Jobber}} “Mean” Mark Callous shortly before Mark jumped to WWF. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been.

* Taker is good friends with Wrestling/BookerT, whom he took under his wing after the latter's move from WCW.
** His wife, Wrestling/MichelleMcCool became very close friends with Book's wife, Sharmell when she joined WWE in 2006 and she has confirmed that she & Mark are the [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvX9nlPh7r3/ Godparents to Book & Sharmell's twins]].

* He & Michelle seem to be good friends with fellow wrestling couple, Wrestling/BookerT and Sharmell, the respective wives even referring to each other as sisters. Meanwhile it's said Taker & Book bonded due to being fellow Texans. As a result of their close relationship, [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvX9nlPh7r3/ Michelle has shared that the couple's twins are her & Mark's Godkids]].

* Sting vs Undertaker is the dream match that never happened and, due to both men’s advanced ages and Sting’s retirement from injuries, will probably never happen. Except it has, in 1989 in WCW, Sting wrestled {{Jobber}} “Mean” Mark Callous shortly before Mark jumped to WWF. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been.

** In all Taker's WWE career lasted over 26 years. To put that into perspective, that's longer than Hogan, the Rock, and Stone Cold's longest runs with the company combined.

*** It would have been a last hurrah for Undertaker before retirement due to those injuries, but [[Main/TheDeterminator he perservered anyways]].

* Sting vs Undertaker is the dream match that never happened and, due to Sting’s retirement from injuries, will probably never happen. Except it has, in 1989 in WCW, Sting wrestled {{Jobber}} “Mean” Mark Callous shortly before Mark jumped to WWF. No footage exists, and we can assume it was not the grand spectacle that the Icon vs the Phenom would have been.

** The Hell's Gate is a mixed-martial-arts grapple called the Gogoplata; 'Taker is a huge MMA fan.

* FountainOfExpies: Popularized the {{Light Flicker Teleport|ation}}, the Chokeslam, the tombstone, the no sell sit-up and various supernatural monster gimmicks. Did not start most of them but definitely caused a trend. Also inspired the use of mixed martial arts equipment, even for wrestlers who have no background in the sport or relating gimmick.