The Undertaker has revealed he seriously considered leaving WWE for WCW during the Monday Night Wars before deciding to remain loyal to Vince McMahon and the company that gave him his opportunity.
Speaking on an episode of Six Feet Under, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on one of the most difficult periods of his career, admitting WWE was struggling while WCW was enjoying major momentum.
“We were going through such an incredibly difficult time. They were down there doing really cutting-edge stuff, more mature storylines and things that were much more mainstream. Business was horrible. The direction at the time was horrible.”
The Undertaker recalled that fellow WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash personally encouraged him to make the jump to WCW, where lucrative contracts were being offered.
“I remember talking with Kevin Nash. He said, ‘Mark, you need to make that jump now. I think you can do well down here.'”
Undertaker admitted the offer was tempting given WWE’s struggles at the time and the financial rewards available elsewhere.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t think, ‘Wow.’ We were working 20 or 25 days a month and barely making enough money to survive. They were giving money away just so talent wouldn’t be available to WWE, and honestly, I considered it.”
The Undertaker Said His Relationship With Vince McMahon Made Him Stay With WWE
Ultimately, The Undertaker said one factor convinced him to stay. He credited Vince McMahon for believing in him when others had not, and felt a responsibility to repay that faith.
“The one guy that gave me a chance was Vince and the WWE. That meant more to me than the instant money that I could have made.”
He added that, despite WWE’s difficult position at the time, he believed the company would recover and wanted to be part of that journey.
“Vince believed in me, and I felt obligated to stand by him even when business was so bad. I knew that we could turn it around, and I just said, ‘It’s a great deal, but I can’t do it. I’ve got to stay here and be part of something that’s going to be huge.’ That’s exactly what ended up happening.”
The Undertaker remained with WWE for the entirety of his full-time wrestling career, debuting at Survivor Series in 1990 and spending three decades with the company before retiring from in-ring competition.
