10 Backstage Tales About The Undertaker Fans Should Know
A wrestler can win any number of matches and championships with his skills and power, but it takes a lot more than that to earn the respect of his peers and fans. The Undertaker is one such wrestler who has commanded respect from everyone throughout his iconic career.
10 Times The Undertaker Used His Backstage Influence To Get His Way In WWE
Just because The Undertaker was respected in the locker room, doesn't mean that he wasn't guilty of using his influence to get his way in WWE!The Undertaker established himself as a friend, loyal employee, and a leader among his co-workers over the years, and wrestling fans have heard numerous interesting stories about The Deadman inside and outside the ring. With that said, let's take a look at ten backstage tales about The Undertaker fans should know about.
10 How The Undertaker Gave In To Chris Jericho's Wild Request
Happened When He Went Out To Drink With Chris Jericho In Tokyo
- Total Matches Between The Undertaker & Chris Jericho - 24
- Won By The Undertaker - 21
- Won By Chris Jericho - 2
- Draws - 1
WWE wrestlers travel the world in style and do what they do best by putting on great shows. During one such tour of Tokyo, Japan, The Undertaker went out drinking with his co-workers, including Chris Jericho.
While they were enjoying their drinks, Chris Jericho made a wild request to The Undertaker and tried to persuade the Deadman to let Jericho kiss him on his lips. After a three-hour-long drinking session, The Undertaker eventually gave in to Jericho's request and let him kiss him on his cheek.
9 He Gave An Unorthodox Punishment To Writer Brian Gewirtz
The Undertaker Was One Of The Judges Of The Infamous Wrestler's Court In WWE
- Brian Gewirtz's WWE Career - 15 Years
- Major Positions Held - Head Writer Of Monday Night Raw
- WWE Career End - 2015
- Other Notable Works - Executive Producer Of "Young Rock" Series
The Undertaker was a highly-respected locker room leader backstage in WWE and often acted as the judge during the Wrestler's Court sessions. He once officiated a session against WWE writer Brian Gewirtz, in which the latter got charged for allegedly favoring certain talent over others.
Gewirtz himself recalled the incident while he was a guest on Chris Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast. Instead of handing out a harsh punishment, The Undertaker reportedly told Gewirtz to write an essay on why he respects the business.
8 The Undertaker Has A Strange Fear Of Cucumbers
The Fear Allegedly Stems From His Childhood
- Paul Bearer used to hide slices of cucumbers inside The Undertaker's hat and gloves to freak him out.
- Owen Hart allegedly put a cucumber in The Undertaker's iced tea at a Waffle House, which resulted in him throwing up all over the place.
The Undertaker was one of the most feared characters throughout his iconic career, but The Deadman himself had a fear that many fans found hard to believe.
9 Real Fears & Phobias That Wrestlers Actually Have
Pro wrestlers are presented as larger-than-life figures, but they actually have real fears and phobias just like the rest of us.The Undertaker allegedly developed a fear of cucumbers from his childhood, which remained intact during his later days. Some of his colleagues who were aware of Taker's bizarre phobia even played numerous pranks on The Deadman over the years.
7 The Aftermath Of The Pyro Botch At Elimination Chamber 2010
He Competed In The Match Despite Suffering Second Degree Burns
- The Undertaker suffered burns on his neck and chest.
- Edge and Chris Jericho recalled The Undertaker being twitchy and jumping around while locked in his pod.
- Chris Jericho recalled The Undertaker dousing himself in cold water for 20 minutes after going backstage.
The Undertaker defended the World Heavyweight Championship inside the Elimination Chamber at the namesake PPV in 2010. While he was making his iconic entrance down the ramp, a pyro botch resulted in The Deadman getting engulfed in flames about three times.
However, The Undertaker went on to compete in the match and dropped the title to Chris Jericho following Shawn Michaels' interruption. After going backstage, The Undertaker reportedly told Vince McMahon that he didn't want an apology or money but that he never wanted to see the pyro technician again.
Vince McMahon gave in to The Deadman's demands and ended up firing the guy responsible for the botch.
6 The Deadman Once Found A Comfy Napping Place Backstage
It Was Something The Fans Have Associated With The Undertaker For Many Years
- No. Of Casket Matches The Undertaker Competed In - 165
- No. Of Matches Won - 148
- No. Of Matches Lost - 16
- Draws - 1
Getting inside a coffin while still alive might be a haunting thought for any normal person, but The Undertaker not only put many of his opponents inside the last resting place, but also jumped inside many over the years.
He's competed in several casket matches throughout his career, but his association with coffins went beyond television when he once decided to take a nap inside a casket backstage while waiting for the show to start. Many wrestlers even surrounded the coffin to see what was happening, but The Undertaker simply got up and walked away after waking up from his nap.
5 He Made Sure Shawn Michaels Put Over Steve Austin At WrestleMania 14
Shawn Michaels Was Known For Being Hard To Work With During His Prime
- Total Matches Between The Undertaker & Shawn Michaels - 24
- Won By The Undertaker - 15
- Won By Shawn Michaels - 8
- Other Finishes - 2
As mentioned earlier, The Undertaker was one of the most respected locker room leaders in WWE throughout his career, and despite having cordial relationships with the other members of the roster, he always made sure the company came first.
When Shawn Michaels was supposed to put over Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14, there was a fear in the locker room that HBK wouldn't do the job for Austin.
The Undertaker took things into his hands and reportedly warned Michaels to do what's right and was even taping his hands to fight HBK if he didn't act professionally.
4 The Undertaker Used To Play Dominoes With His Crew Backstage
His Inner Circle Was Known As The Bone Street Krew
- There were plans for making The BSK as an on-screen faction in the mid 90s, but it never materialized.
- Four of its members (The Undertaker, Savio Vega, Fatu and Henry Godwinn) did team up on-screen as The Darkside at Survivor Series 1995.
- The group dissolved in the late 90s after several members left WWE.
Like on-screen factions, wrestlers had backstage inner circles with unique names like The Kliq and the Bone Street Krew. It was the late WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna who formed the group and coined the name, and over the years, members like The Undertaker, Crush, Henry O. Godwinn, Mideon, Mr. Fuji, Paul Bearer, The Godfather, Rikishi, and Savio Vega joined the ranks.
10 Backstage Stories About The Undertaker's Bone Street Krew Fans Should Know
The Bone Street Krew is one of the most legendary backstage groups in wrestling history, and there are a number of things fans should know about them.While The Undertaker is known for playing cruel mind games on his opponents, he also resorted to playful games like dominoes while the Bone Street Krew were together backstage.
3 He Made Vince McMahon Talk To Bret Hart After The Montreal Screwjob
The Undertaker Was One Of The Few Wrestlers Vince McMahon Highly Respected
- Total Matches Between The Undertaker & Vince McMahon - 5
- Won By The Undertaker - 1
- Won By Vince McMahon - 4
Vince McMahon had the final say in almost every aspect in WWE throughout his time as the company's Chairman. However, only a few had the courage to stand up to the boss, and The Undertaker was one of them.
Following the infamous Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997, a lot of things happened backstage as it was complete chaos behind the screens. Bret Hart talked about the day during an interview with Sports Illustrated, and the Hall of Famer claimed that it was The Undertaker who pounded on McMahon's door and forced him to walk to the dressing room and explain himself, and also claimed that McMahon might not have listened if it were anyone else.
2 The Undertaker Almost Choked Out Kurt Angle Once
Took Place During The Infamous Plane Ride From Hell
- Total Matches Between The Undertaker & Kurt Angle - 60
- Won By The Undertaker - 42
- Won By Kurt Angle - 14
- Other Finishes - 4
The infamous Plane Ride From Hell, which took place on May 5, 2002, is a well-known tale among pro wrestling fans. Many stories emerged from the incident, and one of which is Kurt Angle trying to get Vince McMahon to wrestle him on the plane.
Angle reportedly knocked McMahon down from behind and tried to pin him, and while the other wrestlers were aware that it was just a playful situation, The Undertaker didn't understand what was happening and thought Angle was fighting McMahon for real.
The Deadman reportedly got out of his seat and literally choked Angle, trying to save the boss from the latter's grasp.
1 He Once Saved Bruce Prichard From Getting Robbed
Prichard Was The Undertaker's First Manager
- Bruce Prichard has managed several other wrestlers, including The Headbangers Mosh and Thrasher.
- He's currently the Executive Director of the WWE Creative Team.
The Undertaker is one of the most intimidating on-screen characters in WWE history, and is known for never breaking character. He took that to a whole different level when he saved Bruce Prichard from getting robbed.
Prichard was The Undertaker's first manager when the latter made his debut in 1990, and it was common for them to travel together. During one such car ride, Prichard and The Undertaker got lost along the way and stopped to ask for directions.
However, the person they asked for directions tried to rob them with some accomplices. But when the robbers glanced at the big demonic man inside the car, they got shaken a bit, and once The Undertaker did his eyerolling trick in front of them, the robbers reportedly got scared out of their wits and fled the scene.
