The Undertaker: The Unauthorized Real Life Story of the WWE's Deadman

By Michael Essany

"The Undertaker: The Unauthorized Real Life Story of The WWE's Deadman" is a fascinating, first of its kind, and completely unauthorized inside look at the man behind the WWE legend known as The Undertaker. Detailed and distinct among contemporary pro wrestling biographies, this insightful look at the life, career, and legacy of Mark Calaway is bound to forever change your view of The Undertaker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sports Entertainment Publishing
• Release date: Feb 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301159918

Michael Essany

Michael Essany was the host of The Michael Essany Show from E! Entertainment Television. As a recent groom himself, Essany saw the need for an intelligent guide that would help the couple plan their wedding together.

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The Undertaker: The Unauthorized Real Life Story of the WWE's Deadman

By Michael Essany

Disclaimer

© 2012 by Michael Essany. All Rights Reserved worldwide. May not be copied or distributed without prior written permission from the author.

This eBook is not an official WWE publication nor is it associated, affiliated, or otherwise endorsed by WWE. To visit WWE.com, click here.

All information contained in this eBook has been obtained by exclusive interviews, online research, and information freely available in the public domain.

This eBook provides information that you read and use at your own risk.

Cover image is available (with attribution) royalty free and for commercial use by LINXBAS (Felipe Bascuñan)

Chapter 1: The Living Legend

There may only be one person in the entire WWE Universe who actually wants the Undertaker's renowned undefeated WrestleMania streak to end.

And that individual is said to be the Undertaker himself.

Unlike many larger than life ring personas in the history of professional wrestling, Mark Calaway has always been able to distinguish himself from the iconic on-screen character he has portrayed for close to a quarter century. It's a skill that some of the industry's biggest stars - including Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior - have reportedly been incapable of cultivating.

For all of his accomplishments and unrivaled stature in sports entertainment, Mark Calaway is a man without ego who doesn't believe any one superstar is bigger than WrestleMania itself.

Undertaker is one of the most consummate professionals inside and outside the ring, says famed grappler and WWE Hall of Famer Bret The Hitman Hart.

Hart’s sentiments have been echoed by Calaway’s peers throughout his career. In fact, those who knew Mark Calaway in 1990, shortly before his WWE debut, say he is the same man in 2012.

Despite being arguably the most successful WWE superstar in the company's storied history, Calaway has been every bit as unfazed by his wealth and stardom as he has been unfazed by the mere mortals who have fallen to his character on WWE programming.

Although he had been a fan of professional wrestling while growing up in Houston, Texas, Mark Calaway differed from many of his professional wrestling colleagues like Paul Levesque (Triple H), Shawn Michaels, and even Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) because he never gave much consideration to the prospect of becoming a wrestler.

I was just Mark, Calaway once said with a subtle southern accent. Back then, I had enough to worry about with my studies and basketball.

As difficult as it may be for WWE fans to imagine, the Undertaker's greatest undertaking in youth was being little more than an ordinary youngster. The son of Frank and Catherine Calaway, Mark was born March 24, 1965. As one of five children along with brothers David, Michael, Paul and Timothy, Mark had what some have described as a normal, happy childhood and an uneventful adolescence.

The thing about Mark, one wrestling industry source reveals, "is that he is probably the most private man in our business. Wrestling fans don't know him by design.