WWE legend The Undertaker sets a new record in 2021, as it's the first year he hasn't wrestled a single match or made a single televised appearance.
The Undertaker's retirement from WWE now seems more permanent than ever, thanks to a new record set by the Phenom.
2021 marks the first time since his debut in 1990 that The Undertaker hasn't had a single WWE match or on-screen appearance. His last match was at WrestleMania 36 in 2020, where he defeated AJ Styles in a Boneyard Match.
The Undertaker (real name Mark Calaway) made his WWE debut at Survivor Series in 1990 after a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling/WCW. The character was depicted as a macabre mortician-like being who was seemingly impervious to pain, regularly no-selling his opponents' moves. Within his first year with the company, he'd form a partnership with the equally disturbing Paul Bearer, who wielded an urn somehow connected to The Undertaker's "power." He'd also go on to defeat Hulk Hogan to win his first WWE Championship at the following Survivor Series.
Over the course of the '90s, The Undertaker's gimmick would evolve into an even more gothic and sinister version of his original depiction. This included dying his hair dark brown/black, sporting capes and robes and even performing nigh-Satanic rituals. However, after an injury sidelined him at the end of the decade, he came back with a new biker gimmick dubbed "the American Badass."
Several years later, Undertaker took another leave of absence and returned to his Deadman gimmick when he came back. This would persist until close to his final match, where he took elements of both gimmicks to create the final evolution of his character.
Among his numerous accolades, The Undertaker holds an impressive 23-2 record at WrestleMania, losing only to Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.
At Survivor Series in November 2020, The Undertaker took part in a farewell tribute, 30 years to the day of his debut.
