Legendary wrestler The Undertaker retired at WrestleMania Sunday night, after a WWE career that spanned 27 years.
The wrestling champion, known outside the ring as Mark Calaway, left the stadium to a cheering audience after a defeat to Roman Reigns, only the second WrestleMania loss in his career.
After the match, the wrestler stood in the center of the ring adorned in his traditional gear and enjoyed a “Thank You Taker” chant from more than 75,000 people who filled out the arena at WrestleMania, the WWE’s Super Bowl equivalent.
He then slowly took off his coat, hat and gloves and left them in a spot-lit pile in the center of the ring before looking around the stadium emotionally and walking back up the ramp for what seemed to be the last time.
#ThankYouTaker #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/koSpEN7iOh
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2017
Having won 23 WrestleMania matches since his WWE debut in 1990, The Undertaker was a fan favorite and icon in the wrestling world.
The gloves have come off... #Undertaker #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/7MT1b0AOoN
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 3, 2017
He began his WWE career as “Kane the Undertaker,” dressed as a mortician in a trench coat and black Stetson hat and shot to fame after memorable fights with Hulk Hogan and Yokozuna.
His ongoing rivalry with Yokozuna reached its peak in the WWF – now the WWE — World Heavyweight Championship casket match at the Royal Rumble in January 1994.
During the iconic match, Yokozuna sealed The Undertaker in a casket in order to win the match after which the wrestler was not seen in the ring for seven months. In reality, the star was given time off to allow a back injury to heal and in 1995, he defeated Yokozuna in a casket match rematch wearing an updated purple outfit.
During his absence, wrestling authorities introduced an Undertaker back into the ring.
This Undertaker was, however, an imposter played by Calaway’s real-life cousin and was dubbed the “Underfaker” by fans. The real Undertaker defeated the imposter in a much-hyped SummerSlam main event using a “Tombstone Piledriver,” his signature move in which he grabbed the opponent, turned him upside down and drove his head into the mat.
In 1996, he took to the ring with a new persona and dubbed himself “The Lord of Darkness,” a Gothic, rebellious character.
By January of 1999, the wrestling hero took a decidedly darker turn with the introduction of “The Ministry of Darkness,” a stable reigned over by The Undertaker who now dressed as a dark, malevolent priest.
With the help of his minions, the robe-clad Undertaker performed sacrifices on select wrestlers in order to recruit them into his ministry.
The turn of the millennium saw a more rock and roll persona come to the fore, with The Undertaker donning biker clothes and entering the ring to a slew of popular rock songs as the “American Bad Ass.”
However, the new persona wasn’t set to last long. In 2001, The Undertaker became a villain once again as he chopped off his hair and called himself “Big Evil.”
At 2004’s WrestleMania, he returned to the ring in his Stetson hat and black outfit, harking back to his original persona.
Fast forward to 2017 and wrestling fans have been left tearful with the news of his retirement.
“I’ve been watching The Undertaker since I was six or seven years old. This is truly the end of an era,” one user wrote.
“The greatest character in professional wrestling history. No body will ever touch a career as great as The Undertaker,” another posted.
The greatest character in professional wrestling history. No body will ever touch a career as great as The Undertaker. #ThankYouTaker pic.twitter.com/PxsUf5WkWg
— dangerously? (@mrdangerously) April 3, 2017
Wrestling star The Miz posted: “If there’s a dry eye at #Wrestlemania ur a bigger man then me. #ThankYouTaker”
If there's a dry eye at #Wrestlemania ur a bigger man then me. #ThankYouTaker
— The Miz (@mikethemiz) April 3, 2017
While the WWE’s Mick Foley said: “#ThankYouUndertaker — my life has been so much better for having known you.#WrestleMania.”
#ThankYouUndertaker - my life has been so much better for having known you.#Wrestlemania pic.twitter.com/earZXZ9uYF
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) April 3, 2017
"A multiple WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time tag team titleholder and a Royal Rumble winner in 2007, Undertaker’s accomplishments in WWE have cemented his place among the greatest in the game," the WWE said on its website.
