Thank you, Taker

I didn't become a full-fledged fan of Professional Wrestling and Sports Entertainment until roughly the early to mid-90s when World Wrestling Entertainment was still known as World Wrestling Federation. During that time, guys like Hulk Hogan sought the spotlight in other promotions such as New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and WWF was going through what they called the "New Generation" Era, which put a lot of emphasis on stars like "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, Bret "Hitman" Hart and others who are now in the WWE Hall of Fame. One name that will surely follow them, and has remained a constant in one form or another for the last 30 years, was The Undertaker.

Sure, I was a fan of Bret Hart, but there was always something about The Undertaker during that time that I found fascinating! Perhaps it was how his character spoke to my like of all things horror and macabre. I was awestruck at how he no-sold his opponent's pin attempts and rose like a reanimated corpse, and how someone at or near 7 feet tall walked along the top rope with such ease. I actually got the chance to experience seeing Taker's entrance at my first Monday Night Raw in Mobile, AL. Prior to my first attendance, I would hear the commentators on TV talk about how it would start to get cold anytime The Undertaker appears for a match. Even in an arena packed with people and the heat generated from all those bodies, the sudden drop of the thermostat could still be felt from start to finish of the match. I still get goosebumps even thinking about seeing and feeling the show that night.

My first taste of cosplay--and one of my best--came from dressing up like The Undertaker. I had gloves, a hat with a very large brim, and a long, bulky black coat my mother bought me that I refused to wear to school because I kept getting picked on over it (as with anything she bought me to wear, but that's another story for another time!). Needless to say, that coat found a new and a better purpose!

When I first moved to Colorado, one of the first things I did was load up on action figures and toys. One of my favorites in the collection was a Talking Undertaker, which, sadly, I don't think I have anymore unless it's buried with the rest of my figures in storage. It was fun to press the button on his back and hear him say "Rest In Peace!"

I'll admit that I liked the Deadman and Lord of Darkness eras of The Undertaker better than his American Badass and Big Evil incarnations. Even though the latter personas were still him and more like the real person behind the Undertaker, I had a hard time relating to them. For one reason or another those versions just didn't resonate as much, and I was happy when he went back to being the Deadman.

Like the rest of the world, I was floored when the infamous Streak was broken at WrestleMania 30 by Brock Lesnar. Lesnar was one of the last people I thought would do it, but he succeeded. I low key wish they had waited until his match with Roman Reigns three Manias later, but that's neither here nor there. What's done is done now.

Fast forward to last night. Watching The Undertaker's Final Farewell segment at Survivor Series brought back a lot of memories for me. Remembering the chills I got when the lights came down and were replaced with an eerie bluish glow and the fog that followed. Remembering the chills I got when I saw him in person for the first time. Remembering that he was one of several reasons why I became a fan of Professional Wrestling and I still am to this day.

Thank you, Taker.