Mark Calaway’s stage name, The Undertaker, and WWE go hand in hand. Thus, when the legend returned to the ring at WrestleMania 40 for Team Rhodes and chokeslammed The Rock, it was undoubtedly an epic moment for the fans. Thereafter, becoming one of the most iconic moments in WWE history, let alone WrestleMania 40. But as it turns out, it was a significant moment for Calaway himself as well. In a recent podcast episode, the star explained how this opportunity gave him closure.
How The Undertaker’s WrestleMania 40 Cameo Provided Him With Closure!
First, there was darkness, then came The Undertaker, and finally, The Rock got chokeslammed. The WrestleMania 40 match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns was undeniably epic. With multiple interferences throughout the match, which only heightened the showdown’s intensity, fans didn’t mind at all when Mark Calaway paid a visit!
The Undertaker has returned to WWE & choke-slammed The Rock. pic.twitter.com/XWxrYCWIzv
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 8, 2024
As the arena was pitch dark, fans sensed something was up. Suddenly, the legend emerged into the ring, and joy among the crowd knew no bounds. Ultimately, the WWE star helped Cody Rhodes secure a victory against Roman Reigns.
For many witnessing the Undertaker’s return to action was extremely significant, but for the man himself, it carried even greater weight. In the most recent episode of his podcast Six Feet Under, the star revealed why so. He said,
“I have been struggling with it since I retired, but this weekend [WrestleMania 40] gave me closure. It really did. It was fun, obviously, it was fun. Doing this for as long as I have and being involved in that and how important that storyline was and is. —It was like a moment of clarity, like, I’m okay now.’So yeah. It was such a cool weekend all the way around. Then to finish off and have closure to the wrestling part of my career, it was so cool. It was really cool, and it was a great feeling. It’s amazing.”
He further added,
“It really is an amazing feeling because I don’t have that pressure now. It’s been difficult the last couple years. Even going to a regular premium live event, I would leave before the matches because I get to that point where I’m, ‘Man, I need to be out there.’ So I was out there. My goodness, what a moment to have. Such great storyline, but yeah man, it was like, I can close this book now.”
With COVID-19 keeping fans away, his final WrestleMania match was nothing he expected to be. Despite all the hype around his battle with AJ Styles, the Undertaker felt like there was something lacking. For someone as legendary as him, it was a major letdown to deliver his last match in an empty arena.
However, the much-expected frenzy from fans during his recent cameo turned out to be the missing piece he needed for closure. It was definitely a big moment, and as it turned out, he enjoyed it just as much as the fans did.
The Undertaker’s WrestleMania 40 Cameo was Spontaneous!
Contrary to popular belief among fans, the Undertaker’s return was not meticulously planned but rather a spontaneous decision that wasn’t confirmed until a quarter of the way through the show.
While many speculated elaborate strategies behind his comeback, the truth is that it unfolded organically. In his podcast, Six Feet Under, he also revealed,
“It happened pretty spontaneously. We got to Philadelphia on Wednesday. I got a call on Tuesday from Triple H. —I don’t hear anything else until Thursday. —I’m at the One Deadman Show. I get a text from Paul Heyman. –I told Paul originally, ‘This isn’t about me. If the guys want me involved in it, whatever I can do, let me know. If they don’t, it ain’t going to hurt my feelings.–It had gone back and forth. I get a text during Sunday, and that’s when you see me get up. At that point, I knew there was a good chance.”
He also reassured fans that this isn’t the end of the road. Even though he’s retired, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s bidding farewell to the ring altogether. As he said,
“I’m not saying that I wouldn’t do something like that in the future, but I don’t have that feeling in my chest like I’ve had since I retired that I need…I hadn’t come to peace with it. I knew, just like when it was over in the Boneyard Match at four in the morning, like I’m good. I had no clue, but I just knew once it was done, I was like, you’re good, man. It’s time to flip the page and go to the next chapter.”
Even though he’s committed to his retirement, this experience helped the Undertaker close one of the most legendary chapters of his life. Now, he’s eagerly looking ahead to what the future holds and the new opportunities that await him and so are the fans.
