The Undertaker believes today’s WWE stars may be sacrificing long-term careers in pursuit of short-term crowd reactions.
Speaking on the Hall of Fame podcast with Booker T and Brad Gilmore, the WWE Hall of Famer praised the athleticism of the modern roster but expressed concern about the increasing emphasis on high-risk moves and spectacular spots.
According to The Undertaker, the industry’s focus has shifted away from one of wrestling’s most important fundamentals.
“It’s almost sometimes it’s a curse because they’re so athletic and they rely so much on that aspect that they forget the most important aspect of what we do, and that is storytelling,” he said.
The WWE Hall of Famer explained that wrestling moves should be used to enhance a story rather than become the story themselves.
“Wrestling isn’t about wrestling moves. It’s not. We use wrestling moves to help tell that story, but it’s not about all that. That’s just a tool to get to the essence of A vs. B and whatever that story is that wraps them up.”
The Undertaker revealed that he has raised the issue privately with senior figures within WWE, but was told the industry may have already moved too far in that direction.
“I’ve mentioned it to different people high up, and it’s like, ‘Hey, we can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.’ But I think at some point we’re going to have to figure out a way to get it back in there.”
The Undertaker Voiced His Concerns On The Fast-Paced Modern Wrestling Style
Beyond the creative side of wrestling, The Undertaker also voiced concerns about performer safety. He argued that every match carries inherent risks and that increasingly dangerous spots only increase the chances of serious injuries.
“In any given wrestling match, any match, at some point in that match, you’re two inches away from something really catastrophic happening,” he said. “The stuff that these guys are doing to get reactions from the crowds, it just makes it exponentially more dangerous than what it has to be.”
The WWE legend also suggested fans have become desensitised to the increasingly spectacular moves seen on modern wrestling shows.
“After a while, people get desensitized to the crazy moves, the double back flip off the top rope onto the floor. I’ve seen it done a couple times. Now, what do you have for me? So, you have to continue to push the envelope.”
While acknowledging that business remains strong, The Undertaker warned that the current approach could come at a cost for today’s performers.
“You’re not going to have careers like we had. You’re going to burn out. You’re going to get hurt.”
