When Mark Calaway was handed the blueprints for The Undertaker's gimmick, he probably laughed himself all the way to the bank. Then he took a moment, analysed it, and more than 25 years later he's managed to turn it into one of the most iconic characters in the history of professional wrestling. It's funny how this industry works sometimes, isn't it?
But instead of talking about the greatness of Taker, we're instead choosing to focus on what would happen if the ball was given to someone else - say, a UFC fighter for example. It's an entirely different scenario altogether given the nature of their field in comparison to the world of sports entertainment, but it's fun to ponder over these things nonetheless.
Obviously, there are certain attributes they wouldn't be able to pull off nearly as well, but in the grand scheme of things, these five guys have at least a few of the traits necessary to make The Undertaker work in the absence of Mr Calaway. Naturally, you aren't likely to agree with all of the entries on this list, but if you take a moment to think about them all there's definitely something to the theory for each one.
So with that being said, let's take a look at five UFC fighters who could totally pull off the Undertaker gimmick.
#1 Junior Dos Santos
We start off with one of the most intimidating figures in mixed martial arts - so naturally, it's a pretty good fit straight off the bat. Junior Dos Santos has the build and appearance of a guy who could strike fear into the heart of his opponent, and he wouldn't have to say a word in order to get across his undead character on WWE television. Hell, you could even stick a Paul Bearer-esque manager with him.
Dos Santos would easily master the character work as it would require minimal effort, meanwhile, his in-ring prowess would be second to none as he has the strength and athletic ability necessary to make it work. He's well rounded, young enough to still go on for quite a few years and always seems ready to take on a challenge.
We stick with the Heavyweights for this next entrant.
#2 Stefan Struve
Whether you think he looks like Slenderman or not, nobody can deny that Stefan Struve grabs the attention of the audience from the moment he steps into an arena. He has a certain presence about him that you can often find in the Heavyweight division, however, it's Struve's figure and imposing height that makes him the perfect choice to be the next Undertaker.
His pale skin tone mixed with his ability to tower over opponents creates that undead atmosphere, with his piercing looks giving him a certain edge over the rest of the roster when it comes to intriguing the audience. Struve is more than capable of doing some great work in the ring, but let us not forget that Taker wasn't the greatest in-ring technician during his early days.
Once again, we're going for a Heavyweight contender.
#3 Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou is one of the scariest men in the UFC and that alone qualifies him for this position. The guy has frightening power combined with a calm and calculated nature that makes him something of a silent killer. That persona would mesh together brilliantly with the unknown entity of The Undertaker, and Ngannou would only grow as the years go on - much like Calaway did.
The Predator would match up brilliantly with a number of talents in the WWE, and he could go on to thrive in any role necessary whether it's as a babyface or a heel. His skill set is second to none and when it comes to potential within this character, Ngannou may well be top of the list as he just has so many different traits going for him.
Onto a man with a name that matches his stature.
#4 Edson Barboza
This is one tough fighter. What Edson Barboza lacks in height, he more than makes up for in intimidation, with his ferocious attitude inside of the octagon being dwarfed only by his terrifying facial expressions. A big part of turning The Undertaker into a success was, and still is being able to tell a story only through the look on your face.
Barboza is a master in psychology and he could easily play the role of a guy who can get inside his opponent's head, but can also unleash a barrage of vicious attacks when push comes to shove. He may not be the most obvious selection, but if you give Edson the ball to run with then we have no doubts he could add a whole new layer to the Taker character.
We conclude with a man who possesses phenomenal knockout abilities.
#5 Uriah Hall
Ever since his tenure on The Ultimate Fighter, Uriah Hall has been tipped for greatness in the UFC. Whilst he hasn't exactly lived up to the hype as of yet, Hall is still one of the most imposing figures we've seen in mixed martial arts for quite a long time. He comes across as a nice guy behind the scenes, but it's his ability to flick the switch that makes him dangerous.
As The Undertaker, Hall's sinister walks to the ring would likely send chills down the spine of the WWE Universe week in and week out. He'd be a different kind of animal as he can finish a match at any given moment, all the while being entranced by his demeanour and the way he carries himself. It seems odd and a little bit out there, but with a bit of tweaking Hall could definitely make it work.
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
