Former WWE superstar The Undertaker, also known as Mark Calaway, recently discussed his post-retirement life on his podcast Six Feet Under. The legendary wrestler opened up about the challenges he faced (and still faces) after hanging up his boots, revealing mixed emotions and a sense that he has trouble staying away.
Reflecting on his transition from in-ring competitor to a fan who offers advice from time to time to the new generation of WWE performers, The Undertaker expressed mixed emotions about no longer performing himself. He acknowledged the inevitability of his in-ring retirement due to physical limitations but admitted that he wasn’t fully prepared for the reality of life beyond the squared circle. Wrestling had been his life for over half of his existence, making the adjustment profoundly challenging.
He noted:
“It’s hard for me still to this day. When I retired, I retired in 2020 and here we are in 2024. I still find myself sometimes struggling, not so much at home. I’m more analytical and more of an analyst type while I’m watching it at home. But if I’m like live in the venue, there’s a lot of times where I just have to leave because there’s that thing in me that saying ‘You should be getting ready to go to the ring.’ I hope it goes away at some point but as of now, it hasn’t.”
To say the least, The Undertaker has the itch and if the circumstances were right, a return could be in the cards, even if it were just to make an appearance.
Wrestling Is All The Undertaker Knows
The Undertaker confessed to feeling a significant void in his life since retiring, describing the struggle to find a new passion as daunting. Wrestling had been his everything, and the absence of it left a gaping hole.
The wrestling icon’s admission of difficulty in attending WWE events without feeling the urge to compete again speaks volumes about the lasting impact of his career. Even years after his retirement, The Undertaker still wrestles with the idea that he may never step foot in the ring again. Then, when you watch a match like Sting’s retirement match with AEW, it has to be even more difficult to stay away.
With WrestleMania around the corner, The Undertaker could potentially be part of the mix. Wrestling a match isn’t on the docket, but appearing and being part of the show might offer some sense of relief.
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