History of The Undertaker: Top 10 Undertaker Returns

The Undertaker has had one of the most illustrious careers in wrestling history and will be a sure-fire Hall of Famer when he retires.

With that imminent day approaching, I have decided to produce a collection of the Undertaker's greatest (and not so great) moments of his career, starting with his top 10 returns to the WWE.

10. Battle of the Behemuths - Royal Rumble 2003

After finishing his well drawn out feud with Brock Lesnar, Undertaker turned his sights on to the biggest athlete in the WWE at the time. The Big Show was a dominant figure and not many men could actually stand up to him. This seemed like the perfect job for the Phenom.

Big Show would bring all this to a halt after launching the Undertaker from the top of the entrance ramp. This would be the last time the Undertaker would be seen for a while until he returned at Royal Rumble and reignited his feud with The Big Show.

This feud would culminate at Wrestlemania 19 in a handicap match pitting the Undertaker against A-Train and The Big Show. The Undertaker, with the assistance of Nathan Jones, would prevail and keep his undefeated streak in tact.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8De7NeDf9yA&feature=related

9. Reinstated - Summerslam 2008

The Rated R Superstar Edge was becoming a huge thorn on the side of the Undertaker. He was constantly interfering in Undertaker's matches, costing him the title on several different occasions.

The two would battle in a series of matches in what some called the best feud of 2008.

With Vickie Guerrero and La Familia on his side, Edge challenged Undertaker to a TLC match at One Night Stand where the Undertaker would be banished from the WWE if he lost.

Due to this stipulation, most expected the Phenom to win the match, but everyone was shocked when Edge successfully retained the title and forced the Undertaker out of the WWE.

This banishment would be upheld for a couple months until Vickie decided to punish her husband Edge for his infidelity. She made a match for Summerslam where Edge would have to face the newly reinstated Undertaker in Hell in the Cell.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIp9FcbFfo

8. Ministry of Darkness - January 1999

Six years after his debut in the WWE, the Undertaker was constantly a fan favourite. He would always go up against the biggest villains in the business and come out on top.

This would all change in 1998 when the Undertaker decided to go down a different path towards greatness.

The Undertaker began targeting the biggest faces in the business, such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. He confessed that he intentionally set the fire that killed his parents and scarred his brother Kane.

His actions would lead to a Buried Alive match with Austin that he ultimately lost due to outside interference from Kane.

The Undertaker made his return shortly after, but his look changed dramatically. He now had different facial hair and began talking in odd languages.

He preached about a higher power and announced the formation of the Ministry of Darkness. This group would wreak havoc on the WWE for the entire year.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlSq9s2ZraA&feature=PlayList&p=EDC2E0F4BAFDEC66&index=0&ytsession=cGZTTfkFqdLH79WML-OS9sd_yvoMH8okI727kaONGz1jASYJx4nW5htcBgAhwBy70P14NI1hFHya2wqxNd1Bx3qXw5SZjcCcMk0ub7iWngHjYgx0sPurXAvE_GkC-ed-r6LcTWsBOJAb13nYyIIpmnpm0QI15Gqo5yWyePNVbJQLMiKB3EmDw1tNnIdj2OOQPkNr2aSI9BC8TbwASEgzlWwGYeEygpkiwaP2vu-WEjNBrJHSSYf0EucLKPqbS0jyFMoZS7VYS1fzNUZ9revFuly4iY4-_ti15gLuqJp3itZ19PJ6PnKYKWi2a8tkA7ocsphjc0SNdyJf1dAFZZPjpw

7. You Call Yourself The Legend Killer? - Survivor Series 2005

Randy Orton was a superstar on the rise. He made his presence known during his time in Evolution, but he really became a main eventer when he began taking out legends of the business. This gave rise to the nickname "The Legend Killer".

Orton's first victim after being drafted to Smackdown was to be the Undertaker. The two would go on to face each other at various points throughout the year 2005 until the Undertaker faced off against both Orton and his father, Bob Orton, in a casket match at No Mercy.

Orton decided to take matters to a whole new level when he trapped the Undertaker inside the casket and lit it on fire. It seemed as though Orton had once again added yet another name to his list of killed legends.

Orton would then reach a peak near the end of the year at Survivor Series when he was the lone survivor in a Raw vs. Smackdown match.

The Undertaker, whose appearance had been advertised for Survivor Series, made his comeback by emerging from a burning casket and decimating the majority of the Smackdown roster before he could get his hands on Orton.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deAAxHFqHa8&feature=related

6. There Is Only One True Undertaker - Summerslam 1994

After being attacked by over 10 men in his Casket match against Yokozuna at Royal Rumble, the Undertaker vowed to return to the WWE and take revenge on those who attacked him.

Everyone in attendance watched in amazement as the Undertaker's "spirit" left the arena and would not be seen again for a few months.

Ted DiBiase, who first brought the Undertaker to the WWE, proclaimed to everyone that he had found the Undertaker and had once again brought him back to the WWE.

The "Undertaker" looked like the real thing and continued his dominance of the WWE, which had everyone convinced DiBiase was right.

However, Paul Bearer insisted that he knew where the real Undertaker was and DiBiase had brought back a fraud.

He would then challenge the new Undertaker to face his Undertaker to determine who the real one was.

DiBiase accepted and a match was made at Summerslam, where the true Undertaker made a memorable reappearance and defeated the fake Undertaker.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg8Ozd0Cl7U&feature=related

5. I'm the Top Dog on Smackdown - Royal Rumble 2006

After finishing his feud with Randy Orton, which culminated with a victory in a Hell in the Cell match, the Undertaker took a short break from wrestling to heal some of his nagging injuries.

In the meantime, Kurt Angle had arrived to Smackdown and captured the World Heavyweight Championship.

He would be instantly placed in a feud with Mark Henry and would have to put up the title in a match at Royal Rumble. Angle would successfully retain the title, but his night would not end on a happy note.

The Undertaker made another surprise return accompanied by his druids and a horse-drawn carriage. A shocked Angle would then have to watch the Undertaker summon lightning from the heavens and destroy the ring.

He made his intentions known to Angle by making a gesture around his waist to let Angle know he was coming for the title.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTdMnZ7Trrg

4. What's Wrong With My Lifestyle? - Summerslam 2009

CM Punk was rising the ranks of the WWE had a very fast pace. He proclaimed himself "Straight Edge", which in his opinion made him better than everyone else, including Jeff Hardy.

Punk wanted back the World Heavyweight Championship, which he believed had been stolen from him, and would get his chance at WWE Summerslam against Hardy in a TLC match.

Punk would come through on his promise and reclaimed the Championship. Standing over his vanquished opponent, Punk raised the title over his head and gave the audience a very smug look.

This feeling of superiority wouldn't last long as the arena was plunged into darkness and the familiar gong rang through the arena.

When the lights came back on, Punk looked down in horror as the Undertaker had made a surprise appearance and delivered a devastating chokeslam to the heavyweight champion.

This was as unexpected of a return that we have seen from the Undertaker in a long time.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R4FlRiGtUU (Sorry for the quality, but this was the best video I could find)

3. Brotherly Love - March 1998

Kane, the Undertaker's brother, came to the WWE to seek retribution for unresolved issues from when they were children.

However, the Undertaker refused to fight his younger brother and allowed Kane to beat him down time after time.

After a few weeks, it seemed as though Kane had forgiven the Undertaker after rescuing him from a potential beat down.

This was all part of Paul Bearer's master plan to get rid of the Undertaker. Kane would shock the fans by ambushing his brother and burning him alive in a casket at WWE Royal Rumble.

After disposing of his brother, Kane turned his attention to the rest of the WWE and seemingly had complete control until the Undertaker made a surprise return and proclaimed himself ready to face Kane at Wrestlemania 14.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFWbhq6NlA

2. Debut of the American Badass - Judgment Day 2000

During the middle of 1999, the Undertaker was in a heated feud with Vince McMahon. Their relationship that had formed the Corporate Ministry had dissolved after Undertaker failed to defeat Stone Cold at Fully Loaded.

Vince would make Undertaker's life a living hell and eventually forced him out of the WWE.

Signs of a return began to appear during the height of the McMahon- Helmsley faction and it culminated during an Iron Man match at Judgment Day between Triple H and The Rock.

The Undertaker returned to the WWE to a massive pop from the fans in attendance.

There was, however, a noticeable difference in the Undertaker's attire, which now consisted of shorter hair, sun glasses, and biker clothes. He also arrived to the music of Kid Rock and on top of a motorcycle.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIgMu2lXsas

1. Resurrection of the Deadman - Wrestlemania 20

Towards the end of 2003, the Undertaker was engaged in a heated feud with Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon.

After unsuccessfully trying to capture the WWE Championship, the Undertaker attempted to finish off McMahon once and for all at WWE Survivor Series in a Buried Alive match.

Things did not go according to plan as his brother Kane once again came back to haunt the Undertaker and buried him alive.

Kane justified his actions by saying the Undertaker had turned into an ordinary person and was no longer a monster.

It seemed as though the Undertaker was finally thwarted by Kane until cryptic messages began to appear hinting towards a potential return of the Deadman at Wrestlemania 20.

Kane insisted that his brother was not returning and after enduring several weeks of mind games, Kane's worst nightmare came true as the Undertaker ditched the American Badass gimmick and returned as the Deadman.

He also brought along an old friend of his, Paul Bearer.

Video Evidence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUR_YxaESUc&feature=related

Final Thoughts

As shown by this comprehensive list, the Undertaker has made a large number of returns to the WWE.

With any other wrestler, fans might have grown tired of the constant disappearances and reappearances of the superstar.

However, the Undertaker is a legend in the business and his returns are always moments that wrestling fans will never forget.

Next time, I will be looking at the Undertaker's more forgettable moments. Any comments or suggestions to improve this would be greatly appreciated.