Professional wrestlers have had mixed results when transitioning to the world of MMA.
Brock Lesnar is the best of them after becoming the UFC heavyweight champion in just four fights.
CM Punk didn’t do too well as he lost back-to-back fights against unknown opponents before retiring.
Bobby Lashley had an impressive 15-2 run in the sport before returning to the WWE. In contrast, Batista won a sloppy debut by TKO before deciding MMA wasn’t for him and chasing a movie career instead.
The Undertaker contemplated MMA move in the 1990s
The Undertaker – real name Mark Calaway – is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time after enjoying a Hall of Fame career that included 14 title wins.
However, things could’ve been so much different as he considered pursuing a different path in the 1990s.
The Undertaker admits he wanted to change sports and fight for real when MMA became popular.
Ultimately, it was his lack of wrestling fundamentals and the fact he had a young family to feed that led to him deciding to stay in his lane.
“Honestly, this is what a lot of people don’t know,” Undertaker told Busted Open Radio.
“UFC is coming up big at this point. They’re growing. If I had an amateur wrestling background, there is a good chance I would have tested those waters. I felt like I would have been able to get my stand up on point. I have no idea, I might get my a– smashed.
“At this time, you have to understand the immense pressure that I’m under. I have a family. If I had an amateur background, a base, something to base my whole thing off of, I probably would have tested those waters.”
The Undertaker reacts to UFC 276 entrance
Despite opting against a career in MMA, The Undertaker’s impact on the sport is noticeable, especially when fighters decided to cosplay as him for their ring walk.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page was the most recent MMA star to mimic the WWE icon. ‘MVP’ went full Undertaker when he made his promotional debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in March 2024.
However, the most notable fighter to do it is Israel Adesanya, who mimicked The Undertaker before defending his middleweight belt against Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 in July 2022.
The man himself was watching from home and impressed by what he saw from ‘Stylebender’.
“I thought it was great,” The Undertaker said after UFC 276.
“He’s not only a great fighter, he’s an awesome entertainer as well!
“Tyson Fury gets knocked down & sits up like The Undertaker and Adesanya uses my walkout! Pretty damn cool!”