Though he's known as the phenomenal "Phenom" in the WWE, some did not see it that way during The Undertaker's earlier years in the ring. However, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman did. Meeting him in 1990, Heyman and the Undertaker went from being paired on-screen to "The Oracle" helping him jump ship to the WWE. In his interview with Graham Bensinger, Heyman described how he violated his WCW contract to help the Undertaker find a much brighter and more deserving spotlight to shine in."Ole [Anderson] didn't believe in Mark [Calaway/The Undertaker], to the point where when Mark's contract came up in September 1990, they tried to lowball him. There was someone in WCW that violated their contract with Turner Broadcasting and WCW, and snuck Mark into a meeting through a mutual friend or a friend that I had in WWE, snuck him into the meeting with Vince McMahon," Heyman began. "And that meeting led to Mark being signed by the WWE and becoming the Undertaker...I thought it was great because I was that person."His unique eye for talent helped launch the Undertaker's indestructible yet decorated three-decade- long in-ring career. The Undertaker officially retired from his full-time run on November 22, 2020, yet still plays a vital role on how the WWE and its sister promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide operates today, as an in-ring coach for younger talents and head of AAA's creative, among other important roles.If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "In Depth With Graham Bensinger" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
