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Whenever we’re talking about larger than life gimmick, you need to remember these two names: Andre The Giant and Undertaker.

A long, long, time ago (and many people can still remember), Vince McMahon had a pressing issue on his hands.

You see, for years, Vince always touted a Giant, the likes of which had never been seen in professional wrestling lore. That man was the Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant. This is the man that went undefeated for 15 years (That is, if you’re going to forget matches against Inoki and El Canek or if you’re going to forget draws against Harley Race.) Still, this Giant had seen better days.

With a throbbing back and unable to move without feeling pain, Vince finally decided it was time to put the big man down. He was going to relegate him to managing, occasional appearances, and that was pretty much the gist of it. But now, without that Giant, Vince was going to need an attraction, similar to this big man.

Andre was always a spectacle, so in spite of him not being Vince’s creation, Vince decided to let the guy inspire crowds worldwide. Now that man was gone, and no one was left to take that spectacle.

Hogan was a spectacle, but nowhere near the type of awe-inspiring creature Andre was. Besides, by that point, Vince was eager to phase Hulk out, too, so he needed a new spectacle. Someone that just wouldn’t be a star; he needed an attraction.

Someone to have that same aura as Andre.

In short, Vince needed a Phenom.

And lo and behold, Vince rolled the dice on a red-haired kid from Texas. That kid was Mark Calloway. But you know him best as The Undertaker. And The Undertaker took the responsibility, and ran with it.

For two decades, this man has been a staple in the WWE. Even now, the guy works his ass off. Though, and while it’s sad to admit, this guy has to be nearing the end of the line. No mere mortal can withstand that much wear and tear.

So, call me bat shit crazy, but I see this guy retiring at next year’s Wrestlemania. The spectacle has run for 19 years now. In comparing the aura of these men’s career, one can’t help but wonder how these two will be tied forever in history. These men were the leaders of the locker room, and the most respected guy backstage.

Before Andre came to USA, he worked constantly in Japan, and was one of the larger draws they had—pardon the pun. It was here he’d regularly wrestler the biggest names that Japan had to offer. Inoki, Hansen, The Machines.

Everyone was brought in to take this Giant off of his feet. Very few could, and to the Japanese, they treated him as one of their own. While people in Japan know who the Undertaker is, few latch onto him like they did to their beloved Andre.

He was continuously voted the most popular wrestler in kayfabe magazines, even though he wouldn’t step foot into the WWE until 1973. As soon as Vince could use him, he’d continuously run Andre on shows in America, while still keeping him under engagements in Japan.

The reason why is simple: he was absolutely over in Japan. It’d be here that Andre brought along the likes of Hogan and company, and expose them to the Japanese market.

Canada was no different.

It was the first place he’d work in North America. They absolutely revered the guy. Almost every day, Andre stopped by the home of family royalty in Canada, the Hart family.

Jean Ferre first made a name for himself throughout Canada, and although he was inexperienced and raw, it didn’t take a seasoned pro to spot the potential in the seven-footer.

Soon after his rookie year, the young giant (who soon changed his name to reflect his immense stature) steadily made his way through virtually every regional promotion in the country, working in major cities and small towns alike.

After a short time paying his dues on the undercard, Andre the Giant—the biggest wrestler, or athlete, the world had ever seen—quickly became the largest box-office attraction in the world of professional wrestling.

What about in other areas of the world, you say? Just as revered, if not more.

France latched onto the big guy as their national hero. All of Europe absolutely loved watching Andre perform, and was continually the most over guy on Vince’s constant tours of Europe.

Even when Andre could no longer wrestle, Vince Jr. Saddled up Andre, and had him take the journey over, just for the pop of the matter. Everyone clamored to see Andre.

And everyone wanted a piece of the action.

Simply put, Andre was Hulk Hogan, before Hogan ever existed.

Andre was famous for working with any celebrity athlete that wanted a piece of the action, and many of all shapes and sizes wanted to take on the big man. In Japan, while Antonio Inoki was fighting Muhammad Ali, Andre was fighting the likes of Chuck Wepner. That’s right; Andre was fighting the man that inspired Rocky Balboa. If that’s not sports iconography, I tell you I have no idea what is.

In what was an accomplishment at the time, Andre was featured in Sports Illustrated . Fittingly, Andre’s S.I. profile was the largest featured article up to that point in time for the publication.

Consider that: Andre had breached the world of professional wrestling enough that he was viewed as a legitimate superstar in the world of sports. Only one other wrestler has even been featured (in a positive light, mind you) in the pages of Sports Illustrated .

If you guessed Hulk Hogan, you understand your rudimentary professional wrestling. Even legendary sportscaster Bob Uecker wanted in on the action, being the man to interview and, consequentially, get choked by Andre the Giant.

The Undertaker gimmick is that of an “undead demon who only shows up to beat people into submission and collect their souls”.

What does an “undead demon” care about earthly human possessions? Take the gimmick into account!

The Undertaker even said not too long ago (in a TV promo) that the only reason he wants the WHC Title is because souls come to HIM now instead of he having to chase them. That explained everything; it doesn’t get any plainer than that.

Because The Undertaker is such an integral part of the WWF/E’s success, and because the fans place such importance on material things, Vince has chosen to “reward” him for his services by making that Streak his “legacy.”

While there isn’t a title belt, crown, sword, or anything material to show the fans, The Undertaker is still known as the “king” of Wrestlemania, having never been defeated at that event. The WWE goes out of its way to tell us over and over that he’s never lost at WM.

The Undertaker does indeed rule Wrestlemania, the biggest yearly wrestling event in the world. The “undead demon” continues to collect his souls every year at Wrestlemania. For a gimmick that doesn’t care about championships and only cares about collecting souls, that’s damn impressive.
No other character epitomizes the wonder, the excitement, and the majesty of the WWE quite like the Undertaker. For almost 20 years the Deadman has unleashed a trail of bodies, built up a PHENOMenal fanbase, and given us as many memorable moments befitting a Hall of Fame-bound Superstar as any.

Now you might ask me, wonder? What wonder has the Undertaker brought?

If you’ve ever witnessed one of his entrances, whether on television or live, you might understand what I mean. His bell tolls, the flames rise, the eerie theme plays, his opponent cowers and the Phenom makes his way to the ring all the while there is a steady roar coming from the fans.

You wonder what is the Deadman going to do once he enters that ring.

For me, his entrance is entirely enough. His in-ring ability through the years from the time he debuted at Survivor Series in November of 1990 to the present has, at least, in my opinion been consistent.

Sure, he doesn’t do the Last Ride as often as some fans would like but, the man is 43-years-old and being a pro wrestler for 25 years takes a toll on the body. It’s a wonder he hasn’t retired already.

His move set isn’t the question here. It’s the myth of the Undertaker, his legend.

Excitement? Does anyone remember the Steel Cage match between Diesel and Bret Hart when the Undertaker burst up through the ring and dragged Diesel down costing him the match in 1996?

Wasn’t that exciting?

The famous Hell in a Cell match with Mankind? The inception of the Ministry of Darkness? The destruction of Kane at Wrestlemania 20?

Yes, he is a man of few words, but I believe his actions speak louder than any words can say. Any storyline Calaway is involved in, the anticipation and excitement has to build up.

Did anyone expect him to bury Paul Bearer at the Great American Bash (I kind of did) in 2004?

His pyro, special effects, and all around presence bring forth the majesty of both his character and the WWE.

We know the Undertaker is not from Death Valley. He can’t make lightning bolts shoot from his hands. He can’t rise from the dead. An urn can’t control him. However, his mythos and dedication to his character and what he does makes the Undertaker one of the most beloved characters and gimmicks of all time.

Mark Calaway is a Hall of Famer already in my book and he’s my favorite wrestler, all time.

Can anyone think of a better gimmick who has accomplished more than the Undertaker?

Give me someone I can fear, love, grab my head in disbelief at what I just saw, or boo at the absolute perversion of something or someone completely wholesome and I might accept defeat.

I can’t think of anyone, can you?

The Undertaker is larger than life, much like Andre The Giant who was unique. There is only one Andre and there will never be another like him. A real-life giant who was larger-than-life without needing a team of writers and advertisers to convince people that he was.

In the 80s during the height of “Hulkamania,” only Andre was a serious rival to Hogan’s world-wide popularity. In the 70s (before the acromegaly got the better of him) Andre was an incredible athlete. Fast for his enormous size and agile, everybody was amazed by him, for being a real giant and for not being a clumsy danger to anybody.

For Wrestlemania 3, to get Hogan over the way it did, only Andre and nobody BUT Andre could have done that. Andre was always larger-than-life for real, a one-of-a-kind phenomenon that will never be duplicated.

The Undertaker, similar to Hogan, is a “made up” larger-than-life character. The difference, and it’s a major one, is that the Undertaker stays in character and doesn’t break kayfabe, lending more credibility to his “other-worldly” gimmick.

He doesn’t drag family problems out in public and put them on TV and in newspapers for the whole world to gossip about. The Undertaker, for nearly two decades, has maintained the credibility of his character, and just as important, has maintained the mysteriousness of the character.

We can guess and speculate about him all we want, but because he keeps kayfabe, doesn’t get involved in scandals outside the WWE, and doesn’t talk very much, he has managed to keep his character “other-worldy” and larger-than-life MUCH more effectively than Hogan has.

Andre the Giant cannot be compared to those who have been confined to the wrestling business and not ventured into other areas of entertainment on a mass level. Andre is a pop culture icon of the 70s and 80s. The Undertaker is “merely” a wrestling icon of the 90s up until now.

Andre the Giant created new stars yes, because his kayfabe character allowed it to be written into storylines and still keep him strong. The Undertaker’s gimmick is not really compatible with putting people over. To keep the character as a mainstay and a top draw, the character has to win, and win often and dominantly.

The Undertaker’s character was and is built around him kicking ass and taking people out. Also to add, the Undertaker’s career is still in full effect. We will not know what his mark is on professional wrestling until he is gone, and I have a feeling that he will be one of those guys that when he is gone, he will be gone for good.

As a pop culture icon Andre the Giant is in a class with very few men, and of course has a more solidified legacy than The Undertaker.

As a professional wrestler, you can create a very strong argument that The Undertaker is very much in the same league as the Andre, and in many ways can and will pass him as a professional wrestling icon. I don’t think we will be able to go toe to toe on that subject until The Undertaker is gone.

As far as passing the torch, when The Undertaker does lose at ‘Mania (I am one of them who thinks he should and will end the streak), we must then gauge his career with that great defining moment which will definitely sweeten the pot with talking points, for a great debate on the two men’s careers.

The remaining question is, after Andre The Giant, we have Undertaker as our current Larger Than Life gimmick. But, do you think we will ever witness another Larger Than Life gimmick after The Undertaker retires?

Thank you for reading.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/361661-will-we-see-another-larger-than-life-gimmick-in-wwe-after-undertaker