This week’s Wrestler’s Tribune in Sports Illustrated Extra Mustard‘s Week In Wrestling features Something To Wrestle host and former WWE / TNA creative member Bruce Prichard, who talks about The Undertaker’s origins in WWE. You can read a few highlights below:
Bruce Prichard on why his Brother Love character was phased out for Paul Bearer as Undertaker’s manager:
If you are wondering, “Why didn’t he manage ‘Taker longer?” Well, the answer is simple. My longevity was behind the camera instead of in front of it. At that point, I’d had a hell of a run of three-and-a-half years on camera with the Brother Love character. I’d reached the point of overexposure and redundancy, but we had Percy Pringle—William Moody—or as most people know him, Paul Bearer. His background was as a mortician, which helped with the authenticity. Percy was ‘Taker’s first manager when he broke into the business, so they knew and liked one another. Sometimes you have to put the product ahead of yourself. Selfishly, I wanted to do both—work with Vince and manage ‘Taker, but I also wanted longevity in the business, and for me, that was behind the scenes. When I looked objectively with my producer hat on, it was clear that Brother Love was a niche character and ‘Taker needed someone to talk for him. Paul Bearer was the better fit.
Prichard reveals how he pitched Vince McMahon the idea that Undertaker would ultimately become a huge babyface character for WWE:
I really and truly believed ‘Taker would be huge. I always imagined him as champion. One day, I was going to the gym with Vince, ‘Taker, and two other people in the car. I played a cassette tape of ACDC’s Hells Bells and explained to Vince how I wanted to make a video with ‘Taker and that song. Vince said, “Goddamn pal, that would be great. He’d be a babyface if he did that,” and I remember saying that day, “And what a f—— babyface he would be.”
Vince agreed. He said, “When it’s time, The Undertaker will be the hottest f—— babyface in the world.”
