In the world of professional wrestling, there are very few sure-fire ways to get over. You never know if what you’re going to try is going to connect well with the audience and what works well in a particular town might just flop in another. Just ask Bayley. But, one of those sure-fire ways is to get put over by an established name.
And, they don't come more established than The Undertaker. An epic encounter with The Deadman could very well be the catalyst to get you well and truly over with the fans, and as you would expect, there have been a number of WWE Superstars who have benefited from The Deadman’s generosity over the years.
Being a believer in the old ways of the business, Taker has always been willing to do the right thing and has put a lot of different names over throughout his career. Some have gone on to greatness while others have faded away into obscurity. Today, we are here to remember those names.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of 10 WWE Superstars who were put over by The Undertaker:
#10 Vladimir Kozlov
When Vladimir Kozlov came in as yet another generic foreign monster, the WWE was keen on pushing him hard and fast. So, they did the logical thing and put him in an angle with The Undertaker. The Deadman played by the rules and lost clean to Kozlov.
The Russian, though, didn’t do capitalise on his push and eventually slid down the card and out of the company. Nowadays, he’s more remembered for terrible comedy segments rather than defeating The Phenom.
Also read: 5 WWE Superstars that The Undertaker didn’t put over
#9 The Great Khali
The Great Kali's ill-fated run as World Heavyweight Champion would have fared even worse if he wasn't given a major boost by The Undertaker. The Deadman lay down for The Punjabi Giant to put him over as a genuine threat.
While Khali did experience success in the WWE, it was fleeting, and he soon went down the same path as Vladimir Kozlov. Shame that.
#8 Maven
Who here remembers Maven? The guy from Tough Enough who was earmarked for a big push in the mid-noughties? Well, the man to get him started on that push was none other than The Undertaker. First, Maven eliminated in one of the most shocking Royal Rumble moments of all-time.
Then, he defeated Big Evil for the Hardcore Championship – albeit with help from The Rock and Al Snow of all people. Unfortunately, Maven is another whose push never led to anything.
#7 Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar really didn’t need to be put over. He was already perched on top of the food chain. But, when the WWE decided that The Streak was going be ended by The Beast Incarnate, The Undertaker lay down for his opponent.
Just like that, Lesnar went from a beast to the mythical monster who finally put down the legendary Deadman.
#6 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle was already on the top of his game when he clashed with The Undertaker in the mid-2000s. So good were their matches, in fact, that Angle was even pencilled in to beat The Streak at a point.
While that never came to pass, the two men had a fantastic match before Wrestlemania where Angle was put over by Taker in one of the finest WWE matches in recent memory.
#5 Kane
When Kane made his WWE debut, he was established as a terrifying monster. What was needed next was to establish him as a presence and not just a flash in the pan. Enter the feud with The Undertaker.
It was a pretty damn good rivalry, and when everything was said and done, The Undertaker had very much put Kane over as a force to be reckoned with. Now, 20 years later, Kane is still a household name for WWE fans.
#4 Randy Orton
Although Randy Orton did not break The Streak, his star was made during his feud with The Undertaker which culminated in an epic Wrestlemania match. Orton was going through his Legend Killer phase, and this was an important rivalry that put him over as a genuine Superstar for the future.
Today, Orton has 13 World Titles.
#3 Stone Cold Steve Austin
When Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker crossed paths in the 1990s, Austin wasn’t yet the megastar we now know him as. The Undertaker had a big part in making sure Austin got the opportunity to reach for Superstardom when he both teamed with and squared off against The Texas Rattlesnake.
Austin very much benefited from rubbing shoulders with The Deadman, especially when he beat Taker at Summerslam 1998 in convincing fashion.
#2 Batista
When Batista was pushed to the very top of the WWE, he was seen as a genuine monster of a man. Unfortunately, he had never faced anyone who could stand up to his power, so the company paired him up with The Undertaker.
The feud against Taker made his career and established him as one of the biggest names of The Ruthless Aggression Era.
#1 Jeff Hardy
The perfect example of how to put some over without losing to them came when Jeff Hardy and The Undertaker went at it in a Ladder Match for the WWE Championship on a random episode of Raw. This was during Taker’s heelish Big Evil phase, and even though he didn't lose to Jeff, it was a hell of a match.
Jeff was put over in a major way when Undertaker raised his hand in respect and thus the younger Hardy brother’s singles career was made.
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