WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has issued a sharp critique of the current wrestling landscape, taking aim at what he sees as a misplaced focus on acrobatic maneuvers over compelling narrative. During an episode of his Mic Check show, the iconic figure voiced his concerns, which stem from his work mentoring the next generation of talent.
His message to young wrestlers is direct and unambiguous, urging them to prioritize emotional connection and realism in their performances.
“Man, I don’t care. I don’t need to see flippy-dos. I don’t need to see this. What I need you to do is tell me a story.”
The Undertaker explained that many performers are simply emulating complex sequences they see on television without grasping the fundamental principles of selling or making the action feel authentic. He advises them to connect with the raw emotion of a fight.
“Go out there and feel this. Feel like you’re kicking somebody’s ass. Feel like you’re getting your ass kicked. Make it organic.”
To illustrate his point, he recounted an interaction with a skeptical young wrestler who later saw the value in his advice after generating a significant crowd reaction without resorting to a high-risk move.
“I had one of the kids the other day come up to me. He wasn’t one of mine. He was on another team, and he goes, ‘You kind of know a little bit about this business.’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He was being sarcastic—but you could also tell he was starting to put some of this stuff into practice. And it worked. And he was just amazed that he didn’t have to do a backflip off the top rope to get a reaction.”
This philosophy is not just theoretical; The Undertaker has been actively putting it into practice. He returned as a coach for the second season of A&E’s “WWE LFG” series alongside his wife, Michelle McCool. His renewed passion for developing talent has even led to discussions about him potentially joining WWE’s creative team, a role he confirmed he is considering if he can fully commit to the responsibility.
Despite his retirement, speculation about one final match continues. Fellow Hall of Famer JBL recently commented that The Undertaker is in “terrific shape” and could physically handle another bout, suggesting Gunther as a credible opponent.
This desire to shape wrestling’s future comes after a significant health scare. Following WrestleMania 41, The Undertaker underwent emergency heart surgery for chronic atrial fibrillation. He has since recovered from the “terrifying” ordeal, an experience that adds another layer of gravity to his perspective on the industry and its physical demands. His connection to storytelling also continues with his popular “1 deadMAN SHOW” tour, which has dates scheduled for August and November.