The Undertaker is one of the most iconic characters in all of professional wrestling, as The Deadman commanded the respect of his peers and fans alike through the success he enjoyed throughout his decorated career.
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The Undertaker's early years in WWE saw him slowly sell his character to the fans and break out as a major star. WWE felt that he needed a manager to do all the talking and brought in the services of Paul Bearer, who would go on to become an integral part of The Undertaker character's history. Apart from their time together in the ring, The Undertaker and Paul Bearer became close personal friends outside the spotlights as well, and their friendship continued until the day of Bearer's passing. With that said, let's take a look at ten things fans should know about The Undertaker and Paul Bearer's relationship.
10 They Worked Together Outside WWE
While most would think the on-screen partnership between The Undertaker and Paul Bearer began in WWE, the two known each other years before they made it to WWE. The Undertaker's official pro wrestling debut took place on June 26, 1987, at a World Class Championship Wrestling event, in which he faced off against Bruiser Brody in a losing effort.
Paul Bearer who went by the name Percival "Percy" Pringle II, accompanied The Undertaker to the ring during that match, and let's say it was destiny that brought them together in WWE.
9 Paul Bearer Was A Real Life Mortician
While discussing the details of The Undertaker character with Pat Patterson, Vince McMahon described it as a big man dressed like a doctor who came through old west towns to handle corpses. Patterson explained to McMahon that he was describing a western mortician, and it was the framework for building up the iconic character.
While The Undertaker played a kayfabe mortician on television, his manager Paul Bearer was one in real life. Bearer had a degree in mortuary science and earned certification as an embalmer and mortician, which made him the perfect fit to be The Undertaker's manager.
8 They First Thought They Failed In Their Tryouts With WWE
When The Undertaker's WCW career was going downhill, he got an unofficial tryout match with WWE and knew that Vince McMahon would have his eyes on him. He competed in the match with a dislocated hip and thought he might not get hired by the company.
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Similarly, Paul Bearer sat down for an interview with Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson and had a conversation regarding the character. When McMahon and Patterson found out Bearer was a licensed mortician, they laughed out loud, amazed at their good fortune. But Bearer thought the laughs meant he didn't get the job, but McMahon and Patterson explained the situation to Bearer and brought him in.
7 How They Got Together
WWE brought The Undertaker and Paul Bearer and The Undertaker together in storyline by having The Deadman's former manager Brother Love bring in Paul Bearer as his replacement to manage The Undertaker.
Their combination worked out very well among the fans as Bearer's creepy voice and attire made him the perfect manager for The Undertaker, and the introduction of the urn in the later years made their storyline even more interesting.
6 Paul Bearer Helped The Undertaker In Booking Tickets & Hotel Arrangements
Apart from their in-ring partnership, The Undertaker and Paul Bearer became close friends over the years, and the latter took a personal liking to the Deadman.
He helped out The Undertaker during the long and hectic travel schedule by booking tickets and making hotel arrangements for them. Bearer also talked to The Undertaker's opponents to discuss the matches, which proves that Bearer took his on-screen managerial position very seriously and ended up being a personal advocate for The Undertaker backstage.
5 Bearer Felt The Undertaker Shouldn't Compete At WrestleMania 29
As The Undertaker grew in years, his body couldn't take the abuse of a full-time wrestler, and The Deadman had to stick to a part-time schedule in the later parts of his career, which saw him making a return in time for the annual WrestleMania events.
However, The Undertaker's health conditions made his appearance at WrestleMania 29 almost very unlikely. Talking about the reports, Paul Bearer focused on the fact that The Undertaker had been carrying the company on his shoulders for a long time, and he definitely needed to take a break and stated he wouldn't be surprised if The Deadman chose not to compete at WrestleMania 29.
4 Bearer Inducted The Undertaker Into His Personal Hall of Fame
The Undertaker took his place in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022 after retiring from in-ring competition at the 2020 Survivor Series PPV. However, Paul Bearer inducted The Undertaker into his personal Hall of Fame, which he posted on his website.
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The list of other wrestlers who made it into Bearer's Hall of Fame includes Kane, Ric Flair, Michael Hayes, Rick Rude, Bobby Heenan, and many more. He got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame posthumously in 2014 and got inducted by Kane while The Undertaker paid tribute.
3 Paul Bearer Knew What Scared The Undertaker
The Undertaker is one of the most intimidating characters in pro wrestling history, which gave the fans nightmares over the years. However, while The Deadman went on his scaring his opponents and fans, only Paul Bearer knew what scared The Undertaker.
When they were at a Waffle House together on one occasion, The Undertaker reportedly lost his appetite when he saw cucumbers on his plate. He decided to prank The Deadman with his phobia and once filled his hat full of cucumbers, and when The Undertaker picked it up and saw what was inside, it made him sick, and The Deadman dropped the hat to run off and throw up.
2 It Was Rumored Paul Bearer Would Introduce More Family Members Of The Undertaker & Kane
Paul Bearer introduced Kane as The Undertaker's long-lost half-brother at the 1997 Badd Blood: In Your House PPV, where Bearer brought out Kane to attack a confused Undertaker who was on the verge of victory against Shawn Michaels in the first-ever Hell in a Cell match.
It was rumored that Paul Bearer would bring out more family members as part of the storyline, but former WWE official Bruce Prichard denied the rumors stating that it was already hard for WWE to bring in Kane as a part of the storyline and there were no plans to bring in more members as the rumors suggested.
1 The Undertaker Had Reservations About Using Bearer's Name In Feud With CM Punk
Following Paul Bearer's passing in 2013, WWE chose to use his name controversially in the storyline between CM Punk and The Undertaker. WWE put on an angle where CM Punk stole Paul Bearer's urn and showered the ashes on an unconscious Undertaker while Paul Heyman dressed up like vintage Paul Bearer.
The segment received widespread hate from the fans as they felt it was disrespectful to the late legend. However, even The Undertaker was hesitant at first to go ahead with the segment but chose to do it either way because he felt it's how Paul Bearer would've wanted to go as well.
