The Undertaker Put Himself in Jeopardy for a 22-Year-Old Wrestler: “Well, It’s Good for the Kid”

WWE owner Vince McMahon brought The Undertaker into his company and made him the greatest of all time. The Phenom has poured his heart into the WWE Universe for over three decades. That is the reason why Mr. McMahon will induct The Phenom into the Hall of Fame.

However, there was a time when Taker went against Vince McMahon’s wish to elevate the young Apex Predator, aka Randy Orton. The Apex Predator was just 22-year-old when he debuted in the company in 2002. 

The Viper was a face (good guy) when he started on SmackDown. It was an enormous deal for a rookie to be put over by Taker.

The Undertaker took shots from a rookie Viper!

Randy Orton respected The Phenom in kind when he recollected a memory from his first match with Taker. When the “Undertaker: The Last Ride” documentary was being filmed, Orton took it upon himself to appreciate the living legend.

Randy Orton mentioned, “I could tell he [Undertaker] likes me because I was arm dragging him, hip tossing him, giving him backdrops. He was taking all these bumps for me cause he wanted to go out there and really make the young kid look good.”

The Apex Predator of WWE recalled that Taker took bumps from him during his first match. Randy Orton himself couldn’t believe that The Phenom was doing an essential part on live television for a rookie.

Taker risked his wrestling career when he spoke to Mr. McMahon about the same. However, Undertaker’s strategy was not an incorrect decision. In fact, Taker’s move has helped Mr. McMahon’s business with a lot of extensive fat checks and beautiful memories.

What did Taker mention to the WWE boss when he got angry at him?

Mark Calway, aka Undertaker during the early days of Orton, had already spent over 10 years with the company. Therefore, Mr. McMahon did not like the idea of Taker giving Randy Orton a spot because he was a new star.

“I remember we came back to the gorilla, and Vince was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And Undertaker just looks at me and goes, ‘Well, it’s good for the kid, I’m trying to make the kid [look better]. Isn’t that what we do?’ And that response right there, I thought, was so cool, and it just showed me he just wants to make me look good because he knows that I’ll return the favor further down the line,” Orton added.

A very few men in the WWE business could speak up to the boss, Vince McMahon. And The Phenom was one of them. The Phenom, during The Last Ride documentary, stated, “This business is forever. The Undertaker character is forever, but I’m not. And it’s my responsibility to guide these younger guys and help them to become the best that they can be. It makes the industry stronger.”

READ MORE: Ric Flair on The Undertaker Facing No Repercussions for His Controversial Stance: “He Can Get Away With Saying That, I Can’t”

WWE legend The Undertaker’s wrestling career has come to a full circle. A night before this year’s WrestleMania, WWE will induct him into the 2022 Class of Hall of Fame on April 1st in Dallas.

Watch this story: – WWE Raw Results: Kevin Owens Impersonates Stone Cold, Edge Costs Seth Rollins a WrestleMania Spot, and More!