The Undertaker: WWE Hall of Famer Reflects on Distinguishing Between Work and Violence

Reflecting on WWE’s Iconic King of the Ring ’98: The Undertaker’s Insights on Wrestling Violence

In the annals of WWE history, the King of the Ring pay-per-view in 1998 remains etched not for its anticipated tournament, but for an unforgettable showdown between The Undertaker and Mick Foley inside the Hell in a Cell structure. Foley’s breathtaking fall from the cell’s summit, crashing through a table below, defined the event’s legacy.

Recently, The Undertaker, on his podcast “Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway,” delved into the intense level of violence inherent in his feud with Foley. Reflecting on the era, he acknowledged that their actions were deemed exceptionally violent for the time. According to “The Phenom,” their portrayal of brutality stood unparalleled amidst the wrestling landscape of the late ’90s.

The Undertaker emphasized the coherence of their characters’ actions within the narrative. He contended that each violent encounter, whether in a Boiler Room Brawl or a Buried Alive Match, was meticulously crafted to advance their storyline. In contrast, he lamented the current trend in wrestling, where gratuitous violence often lacks narrative depth, resembling sensationalized gore movies rather than coherent storytelling.

Expressing his views on contemporary wrestling promotions, The Undertaker criticized the prevalence of violence devoid of purpose. Wrestlers hurling themselves through tables or enduring unnecessary brutality merely for shock value, he argued, detract from the artistry of the sport. While not opposed to violence in wrestling, he stressed the importance of it being integral to the narrative rather than a gratuitous spectacle.

In acknowledging WWE’s shift away from extreme violence, The Undertaker underscored the necessity for storytelling to take precedence over shock tactics. As the wrestling landscape evolves, his insights serve as a reminder of the importance of coherence and narrative depth in captivating audiences.