Unc & Ocho LIVE from WWE World ft. The Undertaker | Nightcap WrestleMania Takeover

WrestleMania has transformed from a limited-access event into a massive spectacle offering extensive fan interaction, including meet-and-greets and autograph signings. This shift has blown away even long-time veterans like The Undertaker, who notes the current level of fan access was unimaginable when he started.

The Undertaker states, 'When I started at WrestleMania 7, this did not happen. This access, the ability to come and meet superstars, take pictures... it blows me away. Every year when I come and do an autograph signing or picture signing, it's incredible.'

While WWE may present a wrestler with a 'look' and a name, true character success comes from the talent making it their own. The Undertaker was given an initial image and the concept of an 'old western undertaker,' which then sparked his own creative development, including ideas like putting opponents in body bags, suggested by Ricky Steamboat.

The Undertaker explains, 'For me, I was presented a look and the name... once I was given the initial image and then told me, you know, okay, this is going to be based off of an old western undertaker... the lights just kind of started going off for me.' He adds, 'That's the key to being successful. You can have the greatest idea, the greatest look, but if you don't make it your own, these people are here, they're not going to buy it.'

When working on the creative side of wrestling, the perspective shifts from personal preference to what will resonate with the broadest audience. It's challenging to balance individual creative desires with the need to capture the interest of the majority, requiring a broad approach rather than a niche one.

The Undertaker notes, 'You have to remember that you're not necessarily creating for yourself anymore... you're creating for the masses so you have to not only be able to take okay well this is what I like okay well that may be great but that's only going to affect like 20% of these people. You have to be able to get your fingers out there and make it a net and get that get everybody what everybody wants to enjoy.'

The ability to captivate an audience with a microphone is arguably the most crucial skill for a top-tier wrestler, even more so than in-ring athleticism. While wrestling moves can be taught, the 'gift' of connecting with people through speech is what truly separates the great from the good.

The Undertaker states, 'If I can give you a mic and you can go out there and you can captivate your audience, I can teach you to wrestle... There's been great guys that drew a lot of money that could barely tie their shoes and not trip, but put a microphone in their hand... Oh my god. Like I want I I want to see that guy fight.' He uses The Rock as an example, initially doubting him until he 'got a hold of the mic and then he separated himself.'

The Undertaker believes that revealing too much about the behind-the-scenes aspects of wrestling, or 'how the sausage is made,' diminishes the product's entertainment value. He advocates for a degree of secrecy to preserve the illusion and anticipation for the audience, likening it to a magic trick.

The Undertaker expresses, 'I wish we wouldn't tell all the secrets of how the sausage is made... I think if there was a certain amount of secrecy being able to have that, I think it would be I think the product would be more fun... You had no clue what was going to happen and you just again you had to you had to wait.' He uses the analogy of not wanting to know how a magic trick is done.