It’s nearly impossible to imagine The Undertaker going by any other name. For over three decades, he was one of WWE’s biggest stars — a former world champion, WrestleMania main-eventer, Hall of Famer, and a true once-in-a-generation talent. But in a recent podcast appearance, The Deadman revealed something that might shock longtime fans: he was almost called “Kane The Undertaker.”
The Early Days: “Kane The Undertaker” Was Nearly Permanent
During a new episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker sat down with WWE executive and longtime creative mind Bruce Pritchard. The two looked back on the early creative process that birthed one of WWE’s most iconic characters — and the surprising twist in the name that almost stuck.
“They sent over the drawings of different looks for you to be this dark character, and the coolest one was what we ended up with,” Pritchard recalled.
Back then, Pat Patterson reportedly commented that the mysterious figure resembled an “old-fashioned undertaker.” Pritchard agreed — but added a darker twist to it.
“I wanted to call you Kane,” said Pritchard, referencing the biblical Cain, “because Kane was the first man to commit murder.”
To satisfy both creative ideas, WWE combined the names, and for a brief period in 1990, the new WWE Superstar was known as Kane The Undertaker.
The Name Change That Made Wrestling History
While “Kane The Undertaker” was the name he used during his first few appearances — including in dark matches and promotional materials — WWE eventually dropped the “Kane” after just three weeks.
“Three weeks later, we dropped the Kane and you were just The Undertaker,” said Pritchard. “And I was like, ‘That’ll never get over.’”
Of course, The Undertaker did get over — in a massive way. He made his on-screen debut at Survivor Series 1990, and by Survivor Series 1991, he had already defeated Hulk Hogan to become WWE Champion.
The rest is wrestling history.
The Name ‘Kane’ Lives On — As His Brother
In one of wrestling’s most poetic twists, WWE later repurposed the name “Kane” for a new character — The Undertaker’s storyline brother. Played by Glenn Jacobs, Kane debuted in 1997 and was written into WWE canon as the sibling who was horribly burned in a fire allegedly started by The Undertaker.
The two would go on to become:
- Bitter enemies: Facing each other in iconic matches at WrestleMania 14 and WrestleMania 20
- Tag team partners: As the Brothers of Destruction, a fearsome team that dominated the tag scene in the early 2000s
Had WWE stuck with the original name, the legacy of both The Undertaker and Kane may have looked very different.
The Undertaker’s Final WWE Moments
While The Undertaker officially retired from in-ring competition, he hasn’t disappeared from WWE entirely.
Latest Appearances:
- WrestleMania 40 (2024) – In a surprise return, Taker appeared during the main event in Philadelphia to help Cody Rhodes fight off The Bloodline, chokeslamming The Rock and giving Rhodes the chance to pin Roman Reigns and become World Champion.
- Wrestlepalooza 2025 (on ESPN) – Undertaker made a non-wrestling appearance to announce that Stephanie McMahon would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Even in retirement, The Undertaker continues to make an impact.
