On a recent edition of his “Six Feet Under” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker discussed working with Jake Roberts early in his career, his violent gimmick matches with Mick Foley, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On learning from Jake Roberts in WWE: “I was already traveling with Jake and the amount of knowledge of the business and why he did things and how he did things, I learned so much. I learned a lot of bad habits from Jake … but the knowledge that he spit traveling up and down the road, wow. He was honestly a wrestling genius in everything that he did.”
On when the match really starts: “He goes, ‘Your match starts as soon as you walk through that curtain. It doesn’t start at ding ding ding, the match starts as soon as you come out of Gorilla Position.’”
On his matches with Mick Foley: “You would expect us to be in a Boiler Room Brawl because of his character. You would expect a Buried Alive [Match], you would expect a body bag. It just all made sense to where we were at in our story and what we were doing. I think a lot of times, nowadays, you could sit and scroll through social media and all these wrestling sites and there’s just, these smaller independent, outlaw promotions just doing violence to be violent. It’s almost like, like gore movies, kind of. It’s just how graphic can you be?”
On not going to that level just for the sake of it: “You don’t go to that level just for the sake of going to that level. Obviously, you’re not going to see that stuff with WWE anymore … that’s off the table for what they can do.”
In a recent episode of his podcast “Six Feet Under,” WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker opened up about his early career experiences working with Jake Roberts, his intense matches with Mick Foley, and the current state of violence in professional wrestling.
Undertaker spoke highly of Jake Roberts, emphasizing the amount of knowledge he gained from the veteran wrestler during their time together in WWE. While acknowledging that he picked up some bad habits from Roberts, Undertaker praised his wrestling genius and the valuable insights he shared while traveling on the road. Roberts’ teachings helped shape Undertaker’s understanding of the business and influenced his approach to matches.
One important lesson Undertaker learned from Roberts was that a match starts as soon as the wrestler walks through the curtain, not just when the bell rings. This mindset highlights the importance of creating a captivating entrance and engaging with the audience from the moment the wrestler steps into the spotlight.
Undertaker also discussed his memorable matches with Mick Foley, which often featured violent gimmicks such as Boiler Room Brawls, Buried Alive Matches, and body bags. According to Undertaker, these gimmicks made sense in the context of their storylines and characters. However, he expressed concern about the current trend of smaller independent promotions using violence for the sake of being graphic, comparing it to gore movies. Undertaker emphasized that extreme violence should serve a purpose in storytelling and should not be used just for shock value.
Undertaker acknowledged that WWE has moved away from such extreme levels of violence in recent years. The company has shifted its focus towards a more family-friendly product, which restricts the use of certain gimmick matches. While some fans may miss the brutality of these matches, Undertaker believes that it is essential to prioritize storytelling and character development over gratuitous violence.
The Undertaker’s insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of professional wrestling and shed light on the importance of learning from experienced veterans like Jake Roberts. His comments also prompt reflection on the role of violence in wrestling and the need for it to be purposeful rather than gratuitous. As the industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for wrestlers and promotions to strike a balance between entertainment and responsible storytelling.