The Undertaker has hung up the hat and coat once and for all.
The Deadman was last seen at the Raw XXX special episode, coming to aid of Bray Wyatt and throwing LA Knight to the Eater of Worlds. While the WWE Hall of Famer was advertised ahead of time, fans would still be surprised at the appearance as Taker would revive the American Badass persona.
The Undertaker Confirms Retirement Of Iconic WWE Persona
The first appearance of The Phenom since the Hall of Fame induction was praised highly, with the segment being described as a passing of the torch ceremony from Undertaker to Wyatt. However, the beginning of the segment was originally planned to look different.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the original plan was for the appearance to be in the traditional attire of long black coat and black hat. Undertaker himself would make the decision to revive the American Badass character, stating that the old iteration was not right for the segment:
“They had a different vision. They didn’t even know that I wasn’t going to have the hat and coat. They totally thought I was coming [out as] old Undertaker. I was like, no. That’s part of me and the storytelling, right? When I lifted the curtain, and when I lifted it back and pulled it back, that’s gone. It’s gone now.”
When Helwani asked the follow-up question of if the fans would ever see an appearance in the iconic attire again, Undertaker confirmed that it would not be coming back:
I won’t bring the hat and coat back out, no.”
The American Badass persona first debuted in WWE at the Judgment Day 2000 pay-per-view, with the gimmick continuing until a hiatus at Survivor Series 2003, where Taker would be buried alive by Vince McMahon. The undead Undertaker character would be revived at WrestleMania 20 in a match against Kane.
In the same interview, The Undertaker would list which 4 legends would be on his Mount Rushmore of wrestling and which of the WrestleMania matches was his favourite.
H/t to Fightfulfor the use of transcription.