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“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” - T.S. Eliot
Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of the season finale of Undertaker - The Last Ride. As WWE did not provide an advance stream of the episode, I will do live thoughts and recap as I watch.
We open with clips from last week of Mark Calaway telling Vince McMahon at Extreme Rules that he felt his tag team bout that night was his final match. McMahon told him he'd follow Mark's lead.
Undertaker said he felt good leaving Philadelphia and went home, content. Michelle McCool said that she believed he'd go back. Undertaker has been his identity for 30 years and she doesn't know that he knows what to do next. Triple H said that he never got the feeling that Calaway would be done ever. The easiest person to lie to is yourself. You are still chasing the dragon. What he deserves is not the moment but to be satisified.
We jump to two months later. WWE wants Undertaker at their TV taping at Madison Square Garden. He says the Garden is the Mecca and special. He's right! He talked about the photos in the hallway of MSG, including Elvis and Muhammad Ali, and look at them before he headed out. He took a photo of a photo of himself under a photo of Elvis in the hallway. They show him preparing for the appearance. He wants everyone not just in MSG but everywhere know how much they've meant to him and how much their responses to him at events that got him through the pain and the nights. They show footage from his promo at the Garden, where he said he's considered the Hallowed Grounds of MSG his home. He doesn't know how often he will get to come back home but he wants everyone to remember the memories and the heroes made in MSG.
Backstage, Undertaker said that was special to see how much everyone appreciates how hard he worked for them. He wishes he could bottle that. He said that if he doesn't get in the ring again, he's OK and it took him a long time to get to that spot emotionally. Getting the energy outside, emotionally, you think you could still do this. Steve Austin noted when you are in the business, you live for the crowd and the pops. Finding something else that brings that same adrenaline and the same highs can take awhile. HHH said that your mind plays tricks on you. You think you can still move the way you used to but you can't. When you have to start thinking about that, it becomes difficult.
Undertaker noted that when you are young on the road, you never think about getting hurt. Now he thinks about that more and more. He doesn't have the strength or the reaction time that he used to happen. You worry about something bad happening and something bad happened against Goldberg. He was two inches away from having his neck broken, making his wife a widow, making his children fatherless. He made it clear it wasn't anyone's fault, but said once those thoughts are in your head, it's really hard to get them out. McCool noted that when those thoughts shackle your mind, it's rough.
Undertaker wondered where he would be in ten years, especially if he doesn't have the burning desire to perform. He said that mentally and emotionally, he is OK if he's not an in-ring performer anymore. He said he wanted to capture what the last few years have meant. He said that the will to be the best that he can be at this part of his career and working his way to being good at walking away is important. He said that when they started filming, he wasn't, but now, "It's all good man. It's all good."
Undertaker told a story about bringing his dad to a Raw in Houston, Texas. He was preparing to get ready and his dad watched him put on his eye makeup and started shaking his head. There was no one prouder than his dad. No one more upset about the career choice but no one prouder of the accomplishments. He had a college scholarship for basketball but Calaway walked away and said he would figure it out. He said that he misses his dad. The priority of his life is to be a good father and husband.
We jump to Los Angeles with Steve Austin interviewing Undertaker for the Broken Skull Sessions. Undertaker said it was the first chance for fans to see what was behind the hat and coat. Austin said that someone that loves the business like Calaway has to wonder what's next. They show clips of them talking about the finality of the character. Calaway said he didn't think that was going to be a gateway.
AJ Styles noted that he was told that Undertaker wanted to retire on his own terms. Styles immediately felt that if he was going to have a few more matches, he wanted to make sure he was one of them. He called Undertaker to reach out and asked if he'd like to do something at Wrestlemania. Undertaker said he feels they could have torn things down 15 years ago but he doesn't have any aspirations of getting back in the ring. Styles asked him to consider it. Edge noted that if he was going to have a final match, Styles is the guy he wants to have it with. Styles noted that some of Undertaker's best matches were with smaller talents like Shawn Michaels. They show footage of Undertaker against different talents, including CM Punk.
Austin said at this point in his career, Undertaker has to be in the ring with someone he trusted. McCool told him if he was going to do one more, there isn't anyone better. Undertaker said to her she was steering him in the direction he didn't expect to go in. Styles said that he told Undertaker, who was going to take a few weeks to think about it, that whatever decision he makes is the right one. Triple H said that Styles calling Calaway with that offer is an interesting dragon to chase.
They show Undertaker coming to the WWE Performance Center to work with NXT talents. They show him entering a meeting room greeting talents. They show him reviewing matches with talents. McCool noted the business is in his heart and he wants to give back to anyone who wants to listen. HHH said it's imperative to the survival of the business that his knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Randy Orton said he got to know Calaway on European tours, getting to pick his brain after matches. He recounted a first match on Smackdown where Undertaker did a lot to make him look strong. Vince McMahon asked him what he was doing and Calaway said it was good for the kid, I am trying to make him strong. Orton said that means he gets to do the same for someone else down the line.
Bray Wyatt and Jeff Hardy recount learning from Undertaker. Hardy said he was so fortunate to have him as a mentor. Main eventing Raw against him was incredible. Wyatt said he learned so many things from him. They show footage of him at the PC coaching. Triple H said you don't become the bitter old guy if you surround yourself with young, knowledgeable talent and engage them. Calaway noted that toy get motivated being with them. He used the time to assess where he is at in the ring. He wants to make sure that if he asks his body to do something, it will answer. After, he said he felt better than he expected. His stride was long but felt natural. He feels strong physically but mentally, he has to make sure where he is. He can't do this half-assed.
Calaway said he had a great showing at Extreme Rules and was happy with it. He talked about wrestling Ric Flair at Wrestlemania 18 and the personal doubts Flair was having at the time. Calaway reflected that his response at the time was, "What are you talking about? You are Ric Flair. You are what pro wrestling is all about." Now, Calaway understands what Flair was going through at the time. He's not worried about the hard work but the sacrifices his wife is going to make and the time away from his daughter. He joked this is going to be the longest documentary in the history of documentaries. Undertaker will not die, making his way to the ring with a walker.
Calaway said he hopes that he has clarity soon, because he has to make a decision.
He decides that he's going to do it but gave himself a few days to make sure he was sure. He called Vince McMahon and told him but asked him to call AJ Styles and rib him by saying Calaway was going to work Wrestlemania but against someone else. Styles said that he was told there's some kid in TN that Undertaker wanted to put over. Styles said he called Undertaker and called bullsh** immediately, laughing that they tried to rib him.
Styles said that it's just another Wrestlemania for Undertaker, but for Styles, he gets to get in the ring with The Undertaker. It's the biggest match of his career. He wants Calaway to be so satisfied with the match that he can feel this is the one he can be done with. Undertaker says he doesn't think there's anyone else he would have come back for.
WWE heads to Saudi Arabia for 2020 Super Showdown. Undertaker is there for a surprise appearance. They show him joking around backstage with New Day. Undertaker said that he's been off TV for some time. They show the footage of Undertaker arriving and laying out Styles, pinning him. He joked with Vince McMahon backstage that the appearance wasn't as long as the flight. Vince commented, "Are you here for a good time or a long time?", laughing.
Calaway said this was a launching pad for Wrestlemania. Last year, he was OK not being on the show until he was backstage not working. He couldn't be more excited to see how it all turns out.
Undertake heads to training in Austin, Texas. He's dieting and training like a madman. Calaway said it feels right and what he should be doing this time of the year. Undertaker's nose started bleeding and he joked you know it's going to be a good match when you start bleeding while you are training. They go into a training montage. He was pushing for harder cardio than he had against John Cena or Roman Reigns. Against Styles, he'd be exposed if he doesn't do that. He's going to close things on his terms. He has to train 10 times harder for a quarter of the results but that's Mother Nature. That's why he's putting in days like today.
Styles said that what he's learned about WWE is that it's all about the moments. He wants to find the way to make as many moments as possible. He wants to make this situation so personal that you aren't going to leave until Undertaker destroys AJ Styles. They show him cutting a promo about Michelle McCool. McCool said the build for the PPV was unexpected. She didn't know he was going to cut such a good promo that for a second, she was going to start hating Styles. McCool texted Styles' wife after the promo and was like Geez, he's doing his job. They show the footage of Styles cutting down Undertaker on Raw, calling him a broken down old man named Mark Calaway. Undertaker said he crossed every boundary that Undertaker would never let anyone cross and that's why it worked so well. He joked that people may not be happy unless Undertaker punches his face back into his head six inches.
Calaway said that he put him in a position where he has to defend Michelle, so he can't just go out there and be Undertaker. As great as the character is, there are limitations. In 2002, he began to feel stale and realized that if he felt stale, what was the audience feel. We dive back into the creation of the American Badass character, with Undertaker evolving so he fits into the Attitude Era. He doesn't believe The Undertaker would have survived without that switch. Calaway said it felt like the other side of who The Undertaker character is, and it really was. Bruce Prichard said Calaway and Undertaker have merged.
They dive back into the build to Wrestlemania 36. Styles is going to pay the ultimate price for disrespecting Michelle McCool. Undertaker envisions having elements of American Badass, Undertaker and Mark Calaway defending his wife's honor. From the time he agreed to do it, he envisioned facing off in front of 80,000 people but then COVID-19 hit.
Triple H said they were flying by the seat of their pants and made the decision to go forward with Wrestlemania 36. HHH said that the company has always been able to shift on a dime. Undertaker talked about how they were handcuffed based on what they could do. Styles cut a promo asking for a Boneyard match. Triple H asked what that was and was told, "I don't know. You figure it out."
Triple H said they went to the site and it was a one acre plot at the end of a residential neighborhood. He and Michael Hayes got out of the car and Triple H said, "You have got to be kidding me." He was speechless. Hayes told him thaty this wasn't going to work. Calaway said they turned chicken sh** into chicken salad. They showed everyone working on setting things up the day before. Taker walked Styles through the concepts. They liked it. HHH ran it by Vince McMahon and explained the cinematic style and Vince said to do it.
Calaway said they were lucky that they got to go off-site. After the build, they couldn't have just a wrestling match the way they originally envisioned it. The Boneyard Match was the best thing they could have done. He was heading back from the site to the PC and got a phone call from his niece telling him his brother Tim had a heart attack. He asked her what hospital he went to and she told him that he had passed away. When Wrestlemania goes perfect, it's stressful but now he has to call his mother and his brothers and let them know and not being able to be there. It's another example of how important being present with your family is because you never know what's going to happen. It was an extremely rough day.
They go to the Boneyard match and show highlights from Wrestlemania 36. Triple H said they beat the hell out of each other for that 25-minute fight scene. They show a montage set to Metallica's "For Whom The Bells Toll." Calaway said that even though it was a different element, you know when something is good. Riding off on the bike...there was a lot more to riding off into the darkness. He was thinking this could the last time he could do this. It was a difficult night and it was every bit of rough as it looked.
Five minutes into shooting, he puts his fist through the hearse window and chews up his arm. They have to stop and clean him up and pick the glass out. When you film that way, you have to start and stop to switch the cameras and prepare for shots. For him, where he is now, standing around is the worst. It allows the adrenaline to come down and to start to feel the pain and know how bad you will feel tomorrow. They finished at 5 AM. The final product was really cool and the positive feedback was the icing on the cake, To get that sort of feedback is so rare. Triple H said that the aura and mystique of The Undertaker was back.
Undertaker said the build and pay-off was storytelling at its best. It wasn't what he envisioned when he agreed but it was damn good. Damn good was what he was looking for. How do you top that?
Two months later, Calaway is fishing. He said there's no pressure. He gets to relax and slow down. McCool said that the more he is out here, the more he is at peace without a worry in the world. He joked he was worried about catching fish. He said that he feels very fortunate they were able to do the Boneyard Match but it was taxing on the body. By the end, he felt he like he had been in a 45 minute match.
McCool noted it had been a rough week and then when they came home, her nephew passed away in a car accident. She said times like that is when you are really grateful for family. Calaway said that even before his brother passed, the death of Kobe Bryant hit home because you never know when your number could be called and it's important to be present in the moment and be there for family. Their daughter teased she was cheering for AJ then said she was cheering for Daddy. He said he was glad he beat him.
Undertaker said his legacy speaks for itself and at the end of the day, that's all that matters. He has another life he needs to experience. The blessings he has, his wife and his children. McCool said his legacy was stamped and it didn't matter if he stepped into the ring the last 5-6 years. He said he believes he's in a place where he beat one of the best and got on his motorcycle and took off. He said it was a powerful moment and you don't always get those.
If there was ever a perfect ending to a career, that was it. If Vince McMahon was in a pinch, would he come back, only time will tell. He'd have to consider if Vince needed to break the glass in case of an emergency, but right now, he has no desire to get back in the ring. Undertaker says he has a pit in stomach right now, but this time, the Cowboy really rides away. There is nothing left to accomplish or do. The game has changed and the time seems right to say goodbye. The documentary has allowed him to discover that and to not judge himself on the last few years. It is IMPORTANT to note he never stated he was officially retired, so I took this as he's gone for now but never say never.
He got a genuine sense of how his peers see him and care for him. He's only given people The Undertaker but he hadn't given them Mark Calaway yet...and now they've accepted Calaway. He can give more of himself outside the ring than he can inside the ring going forward. Again, he didn't say he was done forever. Undertaker said he's been blessed to have two families - his wife and choldren and the family on the road. He said it was important to note how much they all meant to him personally and professionally and began thanking certain names as they went into an awesome montage of photos.
He said he's been blessed to do this for as long as he has. It's a rough life and you have to love wrestling to make it happen. Edge said it's a tough job but when you get to the top, you've caught it. He said Undertaker caught it for 30 years. Roman said he was The Godfather of WWE. Kane said he was the rock that always stood firm. Calaway said he's devoted most of his adult life to the business and wouldn't change any of it. It all helped shape who he is today. He was blessed and had great guys to work with. He's going to be around but he's still going to miss the guys. Some of them, he already misses.
Every time he went out, he went out to do the best that he could. He hopes the fans realize what it meant to him to do it night after night, performing in front of them. It was a great way to spend the last 30 years of his life. Ric Flair said he gave his life for the business and the fans will remember him forever. HHH said his legacy is that there will never be another. Shane McMahon said he's so proud of Mark.
Vince McMahon said Undertaker made the most of every opportunity, from his career to his family to who he is as a person.
Calaway said the business is ingrained in him. He did it his way and he's going to leave it his way.
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