The Undertaker Pulls Back the Curtain: "Moves Don’t Make Stars, Stories Do" — Plus His Mount Rushmore of Wrestling Legends, and More
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has never been shy about sharing his perspective on the business, and his latest comments are sparking debate across the wrestling world.
In a candid sit-down on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, prior to the "BIG" WWE Announcement last Friday—the Deadman made it clear that high-risk moves and flashy sequences don’t define professional wrestling. Instead, he stressed that true success comes from getting fans invested in characters and stories — something that has been hotly debated among fans frustrated with the modern product’s reliance on near falls, repetitive kick-outs of finishers, and countless flips.
“It goes back to that connection that I was talking about, if they’re invested in you and they care about… A lot of the guys, it takes them a while to figure out, because they’re so athletic now, right? That’s what they want to display. They want to display their athleticism. That’s great, right? But at the end of the day, your audience will get desensitized… like, ‘Okay, I’ve seen you do a double backflip off the top rope to the floor, and I’ve seen that a couple times. Now what do you got for me?’”
The Phenom argued that fans become numb when every match relies on spectacular moves rather than meaningful storytelling. What matters most, he insists, is whether the audience is emotionally invested in who you are and why you’re fighting.
“If you can get them invested in the character, and if somebody does that character wrong, now you’ve got them… Wrestling isn’t about wrestling moves. Wrestling is about telling stories. We use the moves to help tell the story, but it’s all on connection.”
Undertaker’s Key Insights from Nightcap
- Wrestling isn’t ALL about moves — it’s about emotion and character. Athleticism is great, but fans quickly tune out if the story isn’t strong.
- Desensitization is real. Too many finishers, kick-outs, and flips lead to diminishing returns — even in standard TV matches.
- His Mount Rushmore of Wrestling: Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Ric Flair.
- His Own Path: He originally wanted to play football or basketball before a chance encounter at a gym set him on the road to wrestling.
- Paying Dues: Early in his career, Undertaker often made barely enough to cover gas, setting up rings just to get booked.
- On today’s stars: He sees potential in the new generation but says charisma and crowd connection remain the true deciding factors.
- His WWE Name: Vince McMahon created the Undertaker character — and once pitched it as needing “a big guy with very limited personality.”
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Undertaker’s words cut to the core of one of wrestling’s most divisive conversations: is the art being lost in the flips? Fans have pointed out for years that constant kick-outs and high spots have dulled their impact, especially on weekly shows like Raw and SmackDown where moves once reserved for big matches now happen every night.
The Deadman’s message is clear — storytelling trumps moves. That’s why his legacy endures. From battling Hulk Hogan to clashing with Shawn Michaels and Triple H, Undertaker didn’t rely on endless backflips. He relied on aura, character, and moments that made you feel something.
For today’s generation, it’s a reminder: the crowd won’t remember every 450 splash, but they’ll never forget how you made them care.
