WWF Insider

After touring the Indy circuit and a brief unsuccessful spell in WCW, Callaway signed for the WWF 10 years ago. Originally on Ted DiBiase’s payroll and billed as Kane The Undertaker with Brother Love as his ‘manager’. This didn’t work out, and eventually dropped DiBiase, Love & the ‘Kane’ part of his name, and was paired with Paul Bearer.

The gimmick took wings, and ‘Taker flew. As a monster heel, he excelled. Showing unparalleled agility and speed for his size, he quickly hit the main event, and feuded with Hulk Hogan amongst others. Turned from Heel to Face and back again with ease throughout the 90’s, he eventually won the World Title.

Lost the title but remained at the forefront of The WWF when he was involved in two of the most memorable matches ever to be seen. The first Hell In A Cell against Shawn Michaels, was a brutal bloody brawl, that also saw the debut of his long lost ‘brother’ Kane.

The Taker lost, but kept going strong into a feud with his brother. Coming out of that and into a feud with Mankind, they faced off in another Hell In A Cell at King Of The Ring 1998, and everyone remembers that purely for Foley’s dive off the cage.

Became the Lord Of Darkness when he headed up the Ministry of Darkness, and later the Corporate Ministry, winning the WWF Title another couple of times.

10 years of injury took their toll, however and an enforced 9 month absence left fans wondering if there was still a place for the ‘Taker in the present WWF.

A resounding yes to that answer was logged when he returned, with Kid Rock theme music and a new American Bad Ass biker gimmick that looks set to carry the ‘Taker through to the next generation of fans, and fortify his Living Legend status.