WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker addresses the origin of the signature victory pose

Several aspects of Mark Calaway’s “Undertaker” character make it memorable, from his haunting promos to his extravagant WrestleMania entrances, and one thing that has always been a part of his gimmick was the iconic pose he would strike after big victories and towards the urn that Paul Bearer would carry to the ring. In an episode of his “Six feet under” podcast, Calaway explained why he started doing the pose and how it connected him with his fans.

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“That’s what was referred to as ‘Shakespeare’ back then, that’s what it’s called, that’s what everyone refers to it as,” the veteran revealed, finally naming the position. Calaway recalled how he originally started doing “The Shakespeare” after hitting his signature Flying Clothesline and having Paul Bearer lift the urn up to him. “And then because I didn’t pander to the audience (…), it kind of became my signature bow, really without actually bothering the audience.”

Calaway then tried to remember when he started using the position after finishing matches when he and Bearer split up, but admitted that he doesn’t remember and claims that he feels like he just always did it. However, he noted that Bearer would often use the urn to “contain” the Undertaker, which was when he originally created the position. “After Paul was gone, I was on my own, it became part of my repertoire,” he explained. Regardless, like the way he rolled his eyes and his catchphrase, ‘rest in peace’, the Undertaker character eventually became iconic.

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If you use quotes from this article, please credit the “Six Feet Under” podcast and give a/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.