Pro wrestler The Undertaker signals retirement at Wrestlemania event - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 07:20 AM | Calgary | -12.8°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Entertainment

Pro wrestler The Undertaker signals retirement at Wrestlemania event

Longtime WWE wrestler The Undertaker appeared to signal his retirement after a nearly 30-year career in the ring at the end of Wrestlemania in Orlando Sunday night.

WWE star leaves trademark hat and trench coat in the ring in Orlando's Citrus Bowl

Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, gazes at the crowd after his match at Wrestlemania 33 on Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Images for WWE)

Longtime WWE wrestler The Undertaker appeared to signal his retirement after a nearly 30-year career in the ring at the end of Wrestlemania in Orlando Sunday night.

Undertaker, real name Mark Calaway, lost his match to Roman Reigns in the main event of professional wrestling's annual equivalent to the Super Bowl.

Calaway, 52, stood in the ring after the match as the crowd of reportedly over 75,000 attendees in the Citrus Bowl stadium chanted, "Thank you Taker."

In a seemingly symbolic gesture, Calaway left his trademark gloves, trench coat and hat in the ring before leaving.

Fans and fellow wrestlers tweeted their appreciation for Calaway's long career with photos and tributes on social media with the hashtag #ThankYouTaker.

Calaway debuted as the Undertaker in World Wrestling Entertainment (then the World Wrestling Federation) in 1990, and has been a fixture with the company ever since. He has since feuded with nearly all of the company's major stars from Hulk Hogan to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to John Cena.

Over the years his fictional in-ring character has taken the form of an undead mortician from Hollywood westerns, an "American bad-ass" biker and a cult leader with supernatural powers. He became a major attraction of Wrestlemania for his long-running undefeated streak which ran from 1991 to 2013.

23 wins at Wrestlemania

A win against the Undertaker at the annual pro wrestling gala has regularly been promoted by the company, and embraced by fans, as equal to or more prestigious than winning the world championship. Including last night's loss to Reigns, he has a record of 23 wins and two losses at Wrestlemania.

Other match results included former UFC champion Brock Lesnarwinning the WWE Universal Championship from Bill Goldberg, the former '90s star who recently returned to the ring after a lengthy absence.

Brock Lesnar raises the WWE Universal Championship after defeating Bill Goldberg. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Images for WWE)