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The World According to Dutch: University of Dutch Famous Alumni...Undertaker

Posted: Oct 8th 2009 By: mikeiles

For the loyal readers of The World According to Dutch, I'm going to give away for FREE, which I know is in everybody's price range, one of the main chapters of my upcoming book. I call this chapter the University of Dutch Famous Alumni series. This is the first of a three part series.

Enjoy.

There's an old saying in life and it's especially true in the wrestling business. Be nice to people on the way up because you'll be meeting the same people on the way down. I heard that old wives tale the first year I started in the wrestling business and I've always remembered that observation. As a result, I have always made it a point to be nice to people especially those who are just starting out in this business. I learned a long time ago that it takes a lot less energy to be cordial and friendly than to be an asshole. People always remember the ones who treated them with respect. Likewise, they also remember those that treated them badly.

Here's the Dean's List of the University of Dutch Famous Alumni

The Undertaker Class of 89

Kane Class of 94

Stone Cold Steve Austin Class of 90

I joke and call this group the University of Dutch Famous Alumni class. If the University of Dutch were a real college, Dean Dutch met them all as incoming freshmen eager to learn the wrestling business. All of them were green and without a clue of what to do but all three of them had one thing in common, a burning desire to be a star in the wrestling business. The University of Dutch didn't hand out academic scholarships or Pell Grants but it would be the closest these guys would get to a formal education in wrestling.

Back when these guys came along in the late 80's and early 90's, there was no such thing as a developmental league like WWE has now. The only way and, I mean the only way, these guys could learn the wrestling business was by actually working in an active wrestling promotion and learning with hands on experience. That was where I fit in. My role with them was as a teacher although none of us acknowledged it at the time. These guys all got a PhD in wrestling traveling up and down the highways listening to me lecture as the miles rolled by. I taught them all I knew, which wasn't much, but at least they got a start.

Unknown to me at the time was that all three of them, later, would turn into superstars with the help of one Vince McMahon and a vehicle known as the WWF/WWE. But that was much, much later. You've heard a lot about these guys after they became stars. This is their story BEFORE THEY WERE STARS.

Enjoy.

Undertaker

I first became acquainted with Mark Calaway when he came to Memphis from Texas in the late 80's under the name, the Master of Pain. Prior to that, he had been working under a mask in Texas going by the name of The Punisher. I jokingly asked him once who was he punishing? His opponent or the fans? Mark, at first, did not understood nor did he appreciate my dry sense of humor but later on, he warmed up to it.

By the time Mark arrived in Memphis, in 1989, the glory years of the territory were over. The reason wasn't due to mismanagement, bad booking or lack of talent. Memphis wasn't the only territory that was suffering. All of them were due to one man, Vince McMahon. Vince had already been hard at work for several years expanding his WWF into a national brand. It was hard for the territorial system to compete due to Vince having signed all the top stars to lucrative contracts. That left huge holes in territories that now had to rely on secondary talent and talent that quite frankly, was just not ready. It was hard to replace a top draw like Junkyard Dog in Louisiana, Dusty Rhodes in Florida, Kerry Von Erich in Texas, Jimmy Hart in Memphis or Ted DiBiase in the Mid-South. Vince lured them away and nobody could blame them, not even the promoters they jilted at the altar. Everybody knew that wrestling was a business with a very narrow window of time in which to make money.

But the main reason the system was dying was because Vince had taken over the local TV time slots that territories had based their business on for years. Now, thanks to Vince, the territories had no local presence and in many instances, the promotion died 10 minutes after they lost TV. Also Vince had started paying local TV stations to run his WWF show much like an infomercial. Long story made short...Vince McMahon spent money to make money.

When I first became acquainted with Mark, he was the complete opposite of what he is today. His hair was cropped short and he had no tattoos. When I first laid eyes on him, he actually looked too clean cut to be a wrestler. Today, he is a walking tat advert. He turned out to be a great guy and for a man his size, he moved like silk.

At first glance, Mark had all the physical tools to succeed in the pro wrestling business. He had the size, the look and the raw talent to be a HUGE star. His next hurdle he would face would be to decide if he possessed the temperament to succeed. Over the next several months, I got to know Mark Calaway's temperament very well and he passed the test.

Mark's story was that he was trained somewhat haphazardly, by Buzz Sawyer in the Dallas area around 87/88 but according to Mark, Buzz was never around long enough to do much training. When Mark got to Memphis, he and I traveled together every day and he probably got more training from just talking to me on the ride back home every night, than he could have ever gotten from Buzz. Mark had paid Buzz to train him and I was doing most of it without pay. On Mark's request, I would watch his match every night and on the way home after the matches, I would dissect his match move by move and and tell him what was good and what was bad. Mark's matches were, from the beginning fundamentally sound. All Mark needed at this point was seasoning.

Critiquing Mark, on the way back home one night, was when I first realized I had come full circle in this business. This was exactly the very same way I had learned the wrestling business back when I first broke in. Making long road trips back home after the show with the veterans was, by far, the best teaching tool in the world for a wrestling newbie. The night would fly by as the veteran discussed my performance earlier that night. I can't tell you how those discussions helped me. It was instant feedback and instant correction. To Mark's credit, he listened, he learned and he advanced his wrestling knowledge which still benefits him to this day.

The key to learning wrestling is that a wrestler needs to learn the CORRECT way early in his career. If mistakes aren't caught early, bad habits are hard to break. Before Vince killed all the territories that had served as unpaid training centers for him, the WWF had a steady supply of candidates for their roster. After the territories were gone, Vince suddenly realized that he had killed his golden goose therefore ushering in the era of developmental leagues.

Mark and I didn't know it but every trip we made, it was akin to a developmental class, only more fun. Plus on the way home, we could drink. If I had known what was really going on in the wrestling business, I would have personally pitched the idea for a developmental league to Vince. That was what I was doing with Mark but without any money exchanging hands.

Business was slow in Memphis, as it was all over the country at the time in 1989. Fans weren't talking Memphis, they were all talking WWF/WCW. There were still just a few territories left, like Texas and Continental, but they were struggling to even pay their bills and it was only a matter of time before they folded. Even Stevie Wonder could see that it was a futile battle.

In essence, Mark barely made it into the wrestling business with enough time to learn the business before every one of the territories folded up like a revival tent. If Mark hadn't come to Memphis when he did, there is a possibility that the Undertaker that we know today, might not have existed. In wrestling, it's all timing and being in the right place at the right time. With the smaller territorial promotions dying the death of rabid dog, WWF and WCW became the only viable options for a wrestler to make money. For them to take a chance on a complete newcomer, without experience, wasn't happening.

As we were talking one day during a trip, Mark asked me what I thought his chances were of landing a spot in either one of the two companies. I told him that he had a good chance with both but I thought he might have the better odds of landing a spot with WCW. I know Mark wanted me to say WWF but Mark wasn't ready for WWF. Why? I knew there were too many egos at the time in WWF and if thrown into that environment, he ran the risk of being lost in the shuffle. Also Mark would have an easier time navigating the politics in WCW than WWF. When I told him my reasons for choosing WCW, he didn't say anything but I could see that he was dwelling on the advice that I had given him.

A couple of days later, as we were riding back from where we had just wrestled, he asked me a question. He wanted to know if I could help him get into WCW? At least, he had listened to my advice I had given him a few days earlier. I responded by saying that I would make a couple of calls for him the next day but all I could do was pitch the idea. He thanked me for helping him and said that he didn't want to appear ungrateful. He also thanked me for all I'd done for him and I appreciated that. I told him that the desire to improve one's career could not be considered ungrateful.

As I was thinking back, I remembered the things the veterans I traveled with used to tell me. They used to tell me that when I thought I was ready to move up, as Mark had just done, all I had to do was let them know, and they would make a phone call and I could be booked in Texas or California or Florida in two weeks.

When they first told me that, I thought they were kidding me. No business works like that I thought. Being able to move and get a job like that I thought was impossible. But the wrestling business made it possible. All it took was one veteran putting in a good word for you, and if there was an opening, you were in. That to me was the greatest thing I had ever heard. That was what made wrestling so appealing to me. Freedom. That meant I wouldn't be tied to a job that I most likely would hate or punching a clock. That was when I first realized that wrestlers were glorified nomads. We lived a life of nomadic existence and, in ways, we were all migrant workers that migrated south in the winter and north in the summer only that we made more money and had to only work 15 minutes a night. We were all wanderers driving up and down the highways and loving every minute of it. It was a feeling of complete freedom and I loved it. Sadly to say, that freedom doesn't exist today. For a young man who wasn't saddled with a wife or family, the lifestyle was perfect.

Back when I started, there was no lack of work or places to work. In reality, when I broke in, there were something like 30 different companies to work for and you could spend a year in each territory and still, you couldn't make them all. You'd be too old. When I started, you had a career. Unfortunately, when Mark and his generation came along, forget the career part and give a guy a deck of cards and some dice to roll. The odds of hitting a 7/11 on the first roll were better than making it in the wrestling business. It was a gamble.

The number of places that a wrestler could work and make a living had plummeted from 30 in the early 70's to two or three in the early 90's. The business model was shot. It was either WWF or WCW, pick your poison. Sad but true. I could go on and on about how the freedom I felt when I started, now resembled more like a heavy choke chain around the neck of every wrestler.

As we got back that night from the show, Mark reminded me about the call that I had promised to make for him. I told Mark not to worry. I always do what I say I'll do.

Around 2PM the next day, I phoned my friend, Jimmy Cornette, who was in a creative position in Atlanta for WCW and spoke with him about Mark. That was the way the old territorial system worked. Bookers in one territory stayed in touch with the bookers of the adjoining territories. Bookers used to work together to keep the talent working and fresh. Jimmy and I had a relationship going back to when Jimmy first started managing. I was the first guy he ever managed. I've always loved Jimmy Cornette as I held him in high regard for not only being the funniest guy in wrestling but also one who understood exactly what it took to succeed in this crazy ass business. Plus he's one crazy MF'er.

As Jimmy went on about the goings on in Atlanta and Jim Herd, one of his favorite subjects, Mark's immediate future lay in my hands. I knew that I had to sell Mark to Jimmy fast and it was all in the presentation. I told Jimmy, I had this kid who was 6'10" that I thought could help WCW. I endorsed Mark like the second coming and told Jimmy that there was nothing the kid couldn't do.

On the other end, I sensed that Jimmy's interest was piqued and couldn't quite figure out why because he had never seen or even heard of Mark before. He accepted my endorsement that the kid was going to be great, sight unseen and asked me could the kid start next week? That surprised me. I thought I had just presented the greatest pitch in the history of wrestling and Jimmy bit on it. I felt glad that Jimmy trusted my judgement. Wow, that damn sure was easy. Or so I thought.

Little did I know but Lady Luck was smiling on Mark that day and my timing in calling Jimmy couldn't have been more perfect!! Unknown to me at the time was that Sid Vicious, who was one half of the SkyScrapers tag team with Dan Spivey in WCW, had just gone down with an injury and WCW needed a big man to fill the spot vacated by Sid. QUICK.

Timing is everything in this business, as well as in life, and it was perfect timing for Mark. I called on Thursday. Mark started in WCW on Monday with Jimmy and the rest of creative never having seen Mark or even a photo of him.
I'll never forget when Mark walked through my door right after I had talked to Jimmy and I proudly said, "well kid, you wanted to go to WCW, well be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." I then told Mark that he was booked and he was booked next Monday. Mark was never an overly excitable person but that day, he showed emotion.

I got Mark on the phone with Jimmy so that they could coordinate their plans and that was it. Quick, concise and to the point. I liked doing business that way.

As history would have it, Mark Calaway morphed in Mean Mark Callous in WCW and then when Vince McMahon laid eyes on him and signed him for WWF, he morphed for the final time into the Undertaker. The rest is history.

When I first laid eyes on Mark Calaway at the Nashville Fairgrounds Arena, his dream was to someday be in the WWF and booked on WrestleMania. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be on 17 WrestleManias without a loss. Undertaker, is a shoo in for the WWF Hall of Fame and it's an honor to have known him in his early days. Great guy but he cheats at basketball. Bastard.

I got a ton of UnderTaker stories that I will save for my book including one where we were pulled over in Kentucky by the Ky. Highway Patrol at GUNPOINT!!! Needless to say, it was a night that I'll never forget nor will the Undertaker.

Next time, Part 2 of the University of Dutch's Alumni series continues as I relate the story of University of Dutch Famous Alumni number 2, Kane and how I first met him and how he broke into the business including a time in Puerto Rico where he actually saved my ass in the midst of a riot. Big guys like Kane come in handy when you're getting the dog s**t beat out of you by 3 or 4 guys at a time. Plus you'll see some never before seen photos of the Man We Know as Kane.
Then in Part Three of the University of Dutch Alumni series, I'll talk about the WWE Hall of Famer, the Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin on our very first meeting ever, backstage at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis. Steve talks about this in his book as the time I gave him his name. There's been a lot of speculation over the years over why the name Austin and I set the record straight for the first time. Don't miss it.

Guys, seriously, I got so much to talk about that I could write till the cows come home and still not get it all in. I'm thinking about doing a video blog so I can just talk and not have to type all this crap out.

Coming soon, in The World According to Dutch, I'm going to answer some reader emails when Dutch's Mailbag debuts. Ask whatever question you were always afraid to ask. If you have a question, send it to the my email below and maybe I'll answer it too. And if I don't know the answer, hell I'll just make something up that sounds good.
Also for those that asked for personalized autographs, they will soon be made available on this blog. If you're interested, let me know.

You can leave public comments below or you can contact me privately at:

dirtydutchmantell@gmail.com

Follow me on FaceBook dutchmantell@facebook.com

Follow me on twitter dirtydutchman1@twitter.com

Man, I never thought anybody would be following me around except the police. Now I'm giving it out.

For those that are interested, Dirty Dutch is opening a new wrestling school early next year in the Middle Tennessee area. Interested parties should email me at the above address.

Tags: Dutch Mantell, WWE, WWF, Junkyard Dog, Dusty Rhodes, Kerry Von Erich, Ted DiBiase, Buzz Sawyer, WCW, Jim Cornette