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Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965), better known by his ring name The Undertaker, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he has worked since 1990, making him WWE's longest-tenured performer.Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1984. After wrestling for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as "Mean" Mark Callous from 1989 to 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1990.As The Undertaker, his gimmick is that of a macabre entity who employs scare tactics and has links to the supernatural. He is the storyline half-brother of fellow WWE wrestler Kane, with whom he has alternately feuded and teamed with as The Brothers of Destruction. Since unseating Hulk Hogan as WWF Champion in 1991, The Undertaker has been involved in various pivotal storylines and matches within WWE history.The Undertaker is synonymous with The Streak, an unprecedented run of 21 straight victories at WWE's annual WrestleMania pay-per-view (including main event bouts at WrestleMania 13, WrestleMania XXIV, and WrestleMania XXVI); he sustained his first loss at WrestleMania XXX to Brock Lesnar. He was also winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble. Among other championship accolades, Calaway is a four-time WWF/E Champion, three-time World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion.
Calaway made his debut in 1984 for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) under the ring name Texas Red. He wrestled and lost his first match against Bruiser Brody. In 1988, after four years in the promotion, he left and joined the Continental Wrestling Association (which became part of the United States Wrestling Association after Jerry Jarrett bought World Class Championship Wrestling and merged the two organizations into one), wrestling under several gimmicks.On February 2, 1989, managed by Dutch Mantell, he debuted as The Master of Pain, a character fresh out of the Atlanta State Penitentiary after serving five years (much in solitary confinement) for killing two men in a fight. After his second match the next week, he stayed in the ring, challenging USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler to an impromptu match. The Master of Pain easily dominated Lawler until Mantell entered the ring and called him off, saying they'd done what they'd wanted. Lawler agreed to a title match, and on April 1, The Master of Pain won the title. He held it for just over three weeks before Lawler became the first man to pin him, winning it back.While performing as The Punisher, Calaway won the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship on October 5, 1989, when Eric Embry forfeited the title.
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