The Undertaker talks about his friendship with Vince McMahon and being awarded creative freedom.
The Undertaker's character has created nearly 30 years of destruction in WWE. Throughout that time, the Undertaker has forged a special bond with WWE CEO Vince McMahon. The two even squared off in a Buried Alive Match at the 2003 Survivor Series event, where the American Bad Ass character would meet its untimely demise.
In past interviews, Vince has even referred to "The Phenom" as his favorite WWE Superstar of all time.
Speaking to Steve Austin on the Broken Skull Sessions special on WWE Network, 'Taker detailed his friendship with the WWE mastermind and how the creative freedom he's been afforded has played a role in his career throughout the years.
"We had a really good creative collaboration and it just through the years our friendship grew, but he obviously trusted my judgment with a lot of the things with the character. It was originally his vision, but he gave me a lot of creative liberty with it and he trusted me when I felt like I needed to turn into the American Bad Ass. He obviously must have felt it too," he began. "I mean we've butted heads and things have been rough but at the end of the day we both... Our passion is the same. We want to put out the best product possible. I never thought of myself as the locker room leader. It just kind of happened in a sense. It's just because I was there for everything. And I tell people that sometimes, and I never mean for it to come off like I'm being an ass. But times were so hard, so lean, when business was so bad. I've made more and one pay off than I did in a whole year. It's just another little thing that I put in the back of my head because I know this is where I need to be."
Undertaker, who has remained loyal to the WWE since Survivor Series 1990 when he debuted as a mystery partner on Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Team, affirmed that he will never forget being given the opportunity by Vince McMahon and that ultimately wins the day over small creative disagreements that they might?ve had over the years.
He continued, "regardless of if we butt heads or we don't agree, which is gonna happen, it's a creative business. We're not gonna always see eye to eye. You and I may not have the same vision on a finish but we'll get there. You know, that's just the process and it's the same with him. But we know where we got to be. I mean, I always knew that. Regardless, he gave me my chance. [There's] no telling where I would have been if he hadn't Give me the chance. And I just never forgot that."
The Undertaker hasn?t wrestled since WWE Extreme Rules earlier this summer, but he hasn?t fully called it a career yet, and the WWE fan base waits for the day that they can hear the bell toll again.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the Broken Skull Sessions with a h/t to Fightful for the quotes.