How Much Do You Know About WWE's Beast From The Dark Side, The Undertaker?
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
Smoke fills the arena, the lights get cut, a GONG sounds, and a cold chill falls down the spine of every wrestler in attendance. This order of events can mean only one thing: the Phenom of sports entertainment, The Undertaker, is making his way to the ring. By all appearances, the Dead Man may well have retired after WrestleMania 33, yet the reaction of his fellow superstars and the WWE Universe in general will forever remain the same—pure awe, and no small amount of fear.
Terrifyingly large, imposing, and draped in a darkness that creates a truly demonic visage, there’s no question to why The Undertaker’s fellow superstars respect and revere him. Watch the man move around inside a wrestling ring and it’s just as easy to understand why fans see him as an iconic performer, one who mastered the art of pro wrestling on a level few others can even comprehend.
Whether or not The Undertaker’s legacy is going to continue, he’s already made his mark as arguably the greatest sports entertainer of his era. Some some fans feel The Undertaker’s career has its ups and downs, but it’s nonetheless nearly impossible to find a member of the WWE Universe who can’t list a classic moment or two where the Dead Man reminded us all what the sport we love was made for.
Of course, true fans can remember a whole lot more than a moment or two. If that’s you, then come, creatures of the night, and test your knowledge on the darkest force in the WWE Universe by discovering how much you know about The Undertaker.
What year did The Undertaker make his WWE debut?
In many respects, pro wrestling as a genre hasn’t been the same since The Undertaker first made his way to the ring. Introduced as one of Ted DiBiase’s surprise partners during a Survivor Series match, Undertaker struck fear into onlooker’s hearts from his very first appearance, a feeling that grew stronger with each passing match. Because The Undertaker went on to spend his entire career associated with Survivor Series, asking what show he first appeared on seemed too easy. Instead, we’ll ask what year it all took down, when terror first entered the souls of WWE superstars.
Which of the following nicknames has The Undertaker NOT used?
Professional wrestling is above all else a creative medium, and the writers and announcers of WWE are just as important as the wrestlers in this regard. Considering how long The Undertaker has been around, it should go without saying he’s more than made his mark on wrestling history, and this means everyone concerned with that subject says his name a whole lot. This can get a little repetitive, though, so Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Michael Cole, and a whole slew of others came up with dozens of nicknames to imbue the darkest force in wrestling. Do you know what one we made up?
Who is The Undertaker’s kayfabe brother?
For many years, The Undertaker was without a doubt the biggest and baddest monster in pro wrestling. Vince McMahon created plenty of other scary characters in his day, yet none truly struck fear into fans of sports entertainment quite like the Dead Man. The only way WWE could somehow capture lightning in a bottle twice was to expand The Undertaker’s own family, specifically by giving him a brother who is just as big and scary as the Phenom himself. From hell fire and brimstone, what is The Undertaker’s brother’s name?
Which manager is most commonly associated with The Dead Man?
In addition to his monstrous brother Kane, The Undertaker has long been associated with a ghastly and histrionic manager who helped lead him to great success all throughout his career. Later, WWE would reveal this man was almost The Undertaker’s family, as he was Kane’s father and had some sort of implied relationship with the Dead Man’s mother through that association. Exclusively due to The Undertaker and Kane, this man became a manager of WWE Champions several times over, and eventually earned a Hall of Fame induction.
How many times was The Undertaker a World Champion?
Whether alone or with Paul Bearer at his side, The Undertaker was a force to be reckoned with inside the squared circle in every sense of the expression. That said, the Dead Man only cared about winning World Championships about half the time, knowing full well he could take whatever he wanted through sheer force alone regardless of what gold he wore around his waist. Even so, The Undertaker’s powers were so destructive the WWE Championship made its way to his mantle on several occasions. Do you know how many?
Who did The Undertaker defeat to win his first WWE Championship?
One year to the month into his career with WWE, The Undertaker had an opportunity few others achieve in their rookie year: a show at the WWE Championship. Not only that, but the Dead Man somehow went home with the gold, despite a bona fide legend as his competition, no less. Granted, The Undertaker’s first run with the gold lasted all of a few days before Jack Tunney decided a rematch was necessary, yet the accomplishment wasn’t soon forgotten in terms of his legacy. From his first taste of the gold onward, The Undertaker never lost his main event status.
How many consecutive matches did The Undertaker win at WrestleMania?
Forget about a couple World Championships here or there; The Undertaker is one wrestler who has something a whole lot better. In what has been called the single most impressive record in sports entertainment, The Undertaker enjoyed the longest undefeated streak in WrestleMania history. The Dead Man’s destruction was so natural and unquestioned that it almost went unnoticed for the first decade, his dominance over the industry practically a given. It wasn’t until people actively tried stopping him that The Streak became the biggest draw in the business, making many insiders believe The Undertaker would never lose it.
Who defeated The Undertaker and ended The Streak?
All good things must come to an end, and for The Undertaker and his Streak at WrestleMania, that day came on the thirtieth annual said event. Ironically, the person who defeated The Undertaker was considered amongst the least likely choices to do so, although in retrospect, it somewhat feels as if no one else would have been right for the role. It isn’t that the superstar to end the Streak wasn’t deserving; it just came out of nowhere, their feud and reason for fighting already nearly forgotten to time. However, the outcome is entirely unforgettable, the Dead Man toppled at long last.
True or False: The Undertaker has won the Royal Rumble.
Multiple runs with the WWE and World Championships notwithstanding, The Undertaker would have been a bona fide legend on his WrestleMania record alone. Of course, the man from the dark side would hardly be content wrestling once a year (at least back when he was physically capable of doing a whole lot more). Like practically every WWE superstar to work for the company over a full year, The Undertaker has tried his hand at the Royal Rumble, the 30-man battle royale that decides who goes to the main event of WrestleMania. Has The Undertaker ever gotten there in this way?
Who was The Undertaker’s first opponent at WrestleMania?
Everything has to start somewhere, even iconic sports entertainment landmarks like The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak. Four months after his WWE debut, the Dead Man appeared on the Grandest Stage of Them All for the first time, coincidentally earning his nickname as “The Phenom” by defeating a wrestler who once held that same title. At the time, Undertaker was seen as an underdog rookie facing a future Hall of Famer, and though his opponent did end up with that distinction, the Dead Man had him resting in peace in no time flat.
Which of the following performers NEVER managed The Undertaker?
Given The Undertaker’s unique dominance over mere mortal wrestlers, it could be argued the man never needed a manager to begin with. Sure, Paul Bearer was too fitting an opportunity to pass up, but aside from that match made in heaven (or hell), the Dead Man’s destruction more than spoke for itself. All that said, Bearer wasn’t the only executive consultant offering The Undertaker advice throughout his career, as several other managers guided his dark path at various points. Do you know which of these legends didn’t have anything to do with the Dead Man’s success?
What name did The Undertaker use while wrestling in WCW?
Before he was The Undertaker, the future Phenom of pro wrestling was just another big, tough Texan looking to make his mark in sports entertainment. While he ultimately struck gold in the WWE Universe, believe it or not, The Undertaker also spent a couple months down in WCW prior to Vince McMahon giving him the opportunity of a lifetime. During his stint working for Ted Turner, The Undertaker filled in for an injured Sid Vicious as Dan Spivey’s partner in The Skyscrapers. What was he called when doing so?
What infamous manager introduced The Undertaker to WWE?
With all this talk about The Undertaker’s managers, it might be fruitful to get a little timeline going and figure out who deserves the most credit for what he would become. This quiz has already covered that Paul Bearer was The Undertaker’s most iconic manager, yet this hardly means he was the Dead Man’s first…although he could have been. Technically speaking, Ted DiBiase introduced The Undertaker to WWE as his tag team partner, but the Phenom also already had a manager at his side. Was it Bearer, or one of these other legends?
True or False: The Undertaker has been crowned King of the Ring.
Repeat WWE Championships, the WrestleMania Streak, and a Royal Rumble to boot collectively solidify that The Undertaker’s status as the most feared man in sports entertainment is entirely fitting, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg for his success. On top of all the gold and royal honors, The Undertaker has won literally hundreds of matches where prestige alone was the issue. There was a bit more than that on the line when he entered in multiple King of the Ring tournaments, as most men to win that crown went on to great things after doing so.
What is The Undertaker’s finishing maneuver?
With a legacy that spans nearly three decades, The Undertaker has unsurprisingly had to reinvent himself more than once to keep his character and in-ring style fresh. In maintaining his unique aura, the Phenom has utilized more trademark wrestling holds than almost any other performer we’re aware of, from his Last Ride, to the Hell’s Gates, or simply taking things Old School with a Chokeslam. Far more devastating than even those holds, however, is The Undertaker’s trademark maneuver that often brought his foes right to the brink of death.
Who was The Undertaker’s opponent at the 1998 King of the Ring?
No one match type exemplifies The Undertaker’s unique brand of chaos quite like the Hell in a Cell, a structure forever linked with the Dead Man due to his incredible performances inside the demonic structure. To key things in further and name one specific match, his death defying encounter at the 1998 King of the Ring arguably takes the cake as his most infamous. In one match, The Undertaker inflicted a level of torment that would genuinely kill most men, yet his opponent kept getting back up and fighting, solidifying his insanity and both their places in wrestling history.
What did Paul Bearer and The Undertaker call their interview segment?
Due to the success of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s legendary talk show “Piper’s Pit,” there was a period in WWE history when just about every single wrestler was given a microphone and allowed to ask questions at one point or another. One of the strangest and definitely the most unique of these programs saw Paul Bearer run the show, with The Undertaker’s looming presence always keeping the guests in line when his manager inevitably said something to upset them. Weird as it was, their show had a handful of classic segments, specifics the interviews with Jake Roberts and Ric Flair.
Which of the following wrestlers NEVER won the WWE Tag Team Championships with The Undertaker?
Given his standing and reputation in the wrestling world, there’s a catch-22 regarding The Undertaker’s prospects in the tag team division. The man could easily excel with any partner at his side, yet only the bravest warriors in the WWE Universe have the courage to venture to the Dark Side. Of course, in almost every instance where a wrestler showed that tenacity, it was only a manner of time before he and The Undertaker won the WWE Tag Team Championships together. Ultimately, the Phenom held doubles gold seven times in his career with four different partners. Who wasn’t one of them?
What band performed The Undertaker’s entrance music during his American Bad Ass days?
Considering how powerful The Undertaker’s presence is in sports entertainment, there’s no need for a particularly bombastic theme music to introduce him. All it takes is the ominous GONG followed by soft organ music, and wrestlers know they’re in for some serious torment when the Dead Man arrives. However, during what some call a mid-life crisis phase, the Phenom switched things up and became the American Bad Ass, entering the ring on his motorcycle to blaring modern rock music. His name was taken from Kid Rock, who also originally sang his theme music, until The Undertaker decided to switch to a different song.
Who did The Undertaker face in the first Hell in a Cell match?
Because of what Mick Foley went through at the 1998 King of the Ring, that night’s Hell in a Cell match will forever be remembered as the most infamous in the structure’s history. It was actually the second such match WWE held, though, with the first coming about eight months earlier and in many respects ending up just as destructive. Undertaker was furious with his opponent for costing him his latest run with WWE Championship, and the match was set to crown the number one contender on top of that, making it a heated and bloody affair to remember.
What was the name of The Undertaker’s faction during the Attitude Era?
Terrifying as The Undertaker has always been, there’s no denying the man also possesses a unique charisma that has drawn millions of fans to support him over the years. Combine that with the reality that wrestlers tend to succeed better in packs, and it was really only a matter of time before the Dead Man’s lesser peers flocked to his side. During the Attitude Era, The Undertaker commanded a full stable of gothic goons to do his bidding, including future WWE Champions like Edge and JBL. Do you remember what they were called?
Who did The Undertaker defeat for his one reign with the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Of the seven World Championships won by The Undertaker, it could be argued the most meaningful came in 2002. For two vicious months, Big Evil wrecked havoc over the WWE Universe as pro wrestling’s Undisputed Champion, a feat only a handful of men were able to accomplish before the belts split once again. Appropriately, Undertaker had to defeat one of his oldest and greatest rivals for the honor, yet on the downside, the actual match in which he one it was one of their collective worst.
Which of the following wrestlers was NOT in the Ministry?
Theoretically, only the strongest men and women of pro wrestling would be daring enough to join The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness. Well, that and the weirder looking wrestlers, who could simply deck themselves all in black and fit in on aesthetics alone. Let’s face it, not every wrestler to follow the Dead Man was necessarily of his caliber, and a few of the Phenom’s disciples were little more than glorified jobbers. With that in mind, it might be hard for even his biggest fans to remember exactly who was in The Undertaker’s group.
What wrestler has The Undertaker faced at WrestleMania the most times?
The incredible undefeated streak The Undertaker enjoyed at WrestleMania lasted 21 matches, but this doesn’t mean he faced 21 opponents. In fact, there were only 17 men who dared face the dark side at WrestleMania, two of them in a handicapped match. This means several wrestlers took wrestling’s greatest challenge more than once, each time coming up short against the Phenom. Ultimately, three men would challenge The Undertaker twice, yet only one would get a third shot at defeating him. Their series became so legendary the last match between them was billed as “The End of an Era.”
Who was The Undertaker’s partner during his first WWE Tag Team Championship reign?
While it took The Undertaker all of one year to capture his first WWE Championship, it wasn’t another eight until he found that same success in the tag team division. As this quiz already mentioned, The Undertaker had little trouble finding gold once he crossed over to the doubles ranks, but finding a partner in the first place was a bit more of a challenge. Obviously, everyone in WWE understood Undertaker had some huge positives as a partner, yet there was a huge downside in whether or not they could trust him and his evil ways.
To which retired female wrestler is The Undertaker married?
Notwithstanding all the darkness in his wrestling character, The Undertaker is a regular person with a normal love life like any other entertainer playing a role. Something else he has in common with humanity at large is that he’s shown a propensity for dating his coworkers, specifically the much younger former diva he now calls his wife. The Undertaker’s bride was a big success in WWE before the two even hooked up, in a way making them a perfect match from the beginning.
To what backstage organization did The Undertaker once belong?
Though they were never explicitly mentioned on TV in their true form, The Kliq has managed to become one of the most infamous groups in pro wrestling. Many insiders claim Shawn Michaels and his buddies were basically running the show backstage in WWE during the New Generation, yet a more full view of history knows The Undertaker had his own counter-organization of like minded individuals keeping HBK’s worst instincts at bay. The strange thing is how few fans were aware of The Undertaker’s group in comparison, given he eventually got a big tattoo of their initials across his abs.
Which rival wrestler claimed to stalk The Undertaker’s ex-wife Sara?
The Undertaker’s current wife is actually his third, with two other women having previously filled the role in his lifetime. One of these women even got to stand by his side in the WWE Universe in ways Michelle McCool never did, albeit few fans have found remembrances of the time she did so. A big part of the problem was the angle Sara was involved in, which saw an almost completely random wrestler suddenly start stalking him just to make the Dead Man mad. It did, but the secondary effort of making himself famous was a bit less fruitful.
Who did The Undertaker wrestle in the main event of the first episode of Monday Night Raw?
Showing just how long The Undertaker has been along, some fans may not even remember he wrestled in the main event of the very first episode of Monday Night Raw. Granted, it isn’t entirely The Dead Man’s longevity causing fans to forget this fact, as truth be told, his opponent was significantly less iconic a performer than he was, to say the least. In fact, even the most die hard pro wrestling fan in the world would be hard pressed to name another notable match The Undertaker’s victim that evening participated in, let alone a time he came anywhere near the main event.
What wrestler caused The Undertaker to earn his only DQ victory at WrestleMania?
Wrestling is an industry filled with shocking what if’s, and one of the most intriguing might be pondering how things could be different had The Undertaker lost one of the earliest matches in his eventual WrestleMania Streak. Believe it or not, this idea was actually very much on the table, as there were talks to have the Dead Man fall victim to one of his most monstrous opponents, suffering a high profile loss at the Grandest Stage of Them All. However, Vince McMahon and his writers gradually came to decide The Undertaker should win, albeit it by disqualification.
True or False: The Undertaker once performed wearing a mask.
Generally speaking, professional wrestlers don’t simply wear masks for aesthetic reasons. Sure, they look cool, and sometimes strike some sort of fear into the hearts of opponents, but there’s a whole lot more to the average wrestling mask than meets the eye. In one respect, The Undertaker’s character is definitely in line with the long lucha libre tradition where wrestling masks come from, yet at the same time, the specifics in his case are almost too well defined for him to suddenly start covering up his face. Be honest—it’d be pretty weird seeing the Dead Man hit the ring with a mask on.
Who was the “Higher Power” The Undertaker’s Ministry followed?
To many wrestling fans, the Attitude Era was a literal interpretation of the phrase “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” For all the incredible, memorable moments fans will never forget, there were also some seriously high profile misfires, like when The Undertaker and Shane McMahon converged their powers to form The Corporate Ministry. Fantastic entrance music notwithstanding, the group didn’t make much sense, especially not the fact Undertaker and his minions all bowed down to a “Higher Power.” And if you thought it was confusing before that power was revealed, wait until you find out who it was.
What did The Undertaker and Kane call their on and off tag team?
Trying to recap the long and utterly baffling saga of Kane and The Undertaker is way beyond the bounds of a simple quiz like this one, so we’ll simply say the kayfabe brothers have had their ups and downs. Sometimes, the two monsters are at one another’s throats, and/or shooting lightning bolts and fire towards each other in bizarre magical displays. Other times, the two decide to work together, a union that has lead to both the WWE and WCW Tag Team Championships. When on the same page, the duo go from enemies to friends, taking on a familial name to make the connection clear.
Who did The Undertaker defeat for his only WWE Hardcore Championship?
For the most part, once a wrestler won the WWE Championship they could pretty much assume they’d never be wrestling for a comedy title like the WWE Hardcore Championship ever again. The Undertaker especially probably expected he was set to coast in main events for life, making it a shock when he suddenly entered the extreme division and picked up its top prize in late 2001, almost entirely out of nowhere. It’s not that The Undertaker couldn’t excel in a hardcore environment, but most fans felt he had better things to do.
What Hulk Hogan movie features a cameo from The Undertaker?
Larger than life in every sense of the word, The Undertaker’s presence in professional wrestling has in and of itself made him a crossover star in mainstream popular culture. Even people who never watched a single wrestling match are probably aware of “The Undertaker” in some vague, general sense, truly making him one of the biggest names in wrestling. That said, it’s highly unlikely he’ll ever succeed in the same way as The Rock or Hulk Hogan by transitioning that fame into film, as his one attempt at doing so didn’t turn out well for anyone involved.