Undertaker to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame in April

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Mark Calaway, better known as TheUndertaker, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1, it was announced Friday.

Calaway has had many extended title reigns throughout his career in professional wrestling and was involved in some of the most memorable moments in the industry.

He made his debut as The Taker at the 1990 Survivor Series, creating an icon whose influence extended far beyond the squared circle. His ring walks and win streak were must-sees.

Calaway said that the longevity of The Undertaker was due to the fact that all they got was him.

I think what helped me stay viable was that I protected that character. I did not give them anything other than the character. You did not see me doing movies as something else. I had opportunities to do other things. I was familiar with wrestling. I knew about it. I knew Vince. That was my passion, and to this day it still is. I knew I couldn't be The Taker here and then do something else. I don't think people would have accepted it and stayed interested in the character.

The wrestler known as The Taker held the world title multiple times. He was a seven-time tag team titleholder, teaming with Stone Cold and Steve Austin. He feuded with many of the superstars of the Attitude Era.

His win streak of 21 matches at WrestleMania was ended by Brock Lesnar, but his most memorable moment may have been throwing Foley off the top of Hell in a Cell at King of the Ring in 1998.

The Undertaker reinvented himself a number of times after becoming a mortician. His ability to pivot the character kept fans interested and he stood out in the locker room.

Edge said that there will never be an enduring character like that. If you heard that character on paper, you would think that it wouldn't work. He made that thing work with some great opponents and rough opponents, but also some great ones.

He was able to plug his way through all of that and make this enduring character. By retooling a style, by not staying stagnant and comfortable in something that worked, and always reaching to try and find the next thing to do in terms of a transformation.

The last match that The Undertaker competed in was against AJ Styles at Wrestlemania 36. It was a cinematicBoneyard match that was filmed without fans during the start of the COVID epidemic.

Calaway said that wrestling isn't about the moves. You use wrestling moves to tell the story, but that is not what it is all about.

The event takes place in Dallas. The Hall of Fame is usually honored during the event.