The Undertaker Questions Loss of Mystery in Modern Wrestling – The Undertaker has shared candid thoughts on the modern presentation of professional wrestling, expressing concern that projects pulling back the curtain on the industry risk stripping away too much of its mystique.
Speaking on his Six Feet Under podcast alongside Cody Rhodes, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed shows like Unreal and the broader trend of openly showcasing backstage processes. While acknowledging the high production value of such projects, The Undertaker made it clear that the concept does not sit well with him.
“Everything is wonderful, right from my aspect and my end of the business, I don’t like it,” Undertaker said. “Everybody’s gonna, ‘Oh my God, it’s old school. That’s an old school guy trying to protect kayfabe.’ Look, I don’t care if it’s 2025, it’s 1990, or it’s 1984. Everybody understands what wrestling is, everybody knows. Ain’t no big veil been lifted. Except I don’t want to go to see a magician and know how he’s doing everything.”
Undertaker explained that while fans may already understand the mechanics behind wrestling, there is still value in preserving a sense of illusion. For him, the goal has always been to create moments that feel real, even if only for a brief second.
“Everybody knows what we do, right? But when I’m in the ring, my whole goal, my motivation, is to get one person to think, ‘Wow, yeah, Undertaker just clocked him.’ Yeah, I don’t care what everybody else is doing, that right there, that was the real thing,” he said.
He added that the industry has become too comfortable openly discussing its inner workings, even among performers themselves.
“I don’t think we have to throw it in people’s face. I think we’ve got too comfortable. I think we’re too comfortable now in talking about our business, and I struggle on these podcasts, too,” Undertaker admitted. “Because it’s hard to talk and tell stories without lifting it up a little bit. But I think we’ve gone too far.”
Cody Rhodes offered a different perspective, noting that today’s challenge lies in adapting storytelling to an audience that already knows the basics. He explained that his approach is to add another layer beneath the surface.
“When I look at it, I try to think, what’s the work under the work?” Rhodes said. “There’s an opportunity now to tell them, ‘Hey, you guys do know everything, but do you really?’”
The discussion highlighted a philosophical divide between preserving wrestling’s traditional mystery and evolving with a more informed fanbase. For The Undertaker, however, maintaining even a small sense of wonder remains essential to the art form.
The Undertaker Questions Loss of Mystery in Modern Wrestling
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