WWE News: Surprising reason why The Undertaker didn't want to return to the Deadman character

What's the story?

The Undertaker became an important figure in the pro wrestling industry and WWE with his Deadman character, but also briefly portrayed an American Badass gimmick, where he was a motorbike-riding badass.

'Taker is known for his Deadman gimmick, but it seems like he wasn't a fan of returning to that gimmick after the American Badass character, as per Bruce Prichard.

In case you didn't know...

Following a decade in the WWE as The Deadman, Undertaker switched to the American Badass gimmick following 8 months out due to injury.

Leading up to WrestleMania XX, WWE teased a return of The Undertaker with his original gimmick, and he returned at WrestleMania as The Deadman, and has since stuck to it.

The heart of the matter

In his "Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard" podcast, the former WWE writer and producer revealed why Mark Calaway, aka The Undertaker, did not want to return to his Deadman gimmick.

“Mark Calaway hated the idea [of going back to the Undertaker]. Absolutely hated the idea of coming back as the Dead Man because he thought with the American Badass character, it was multi-dimensional and he wasn’t, uh, doing the head snaps and everything.

"He could work and go out and have a different style of match. And he felt that if he came back as the Dead Man, that he would have to go back into the Dead Man persona in the ring.” (H/T 411Mania for the transcription)

What's next?

We aren't sure when we'll see The Undertaker next inside the WWE ring, but he will make an appearance at Starrcast in May this year.