• The Undertaker Was Originally Scheduled To Face A Former MMA Fighter At WrestleMania 23
During an interview on the Behind the Curtain podcast, former WWE wrestler Elijah Burke (aka Da Pope) revealed that the original plan for WrestleMania 23 was for The Undertaker to face former MMA fighter Sylvester Terkay (6-foot-6, 320 lbs).
Here’s what Burke said:
“It’s crazy because [at] that WrestleMania [23], the whole plan was for Sylvester Terkay and The Undertaker…and Da Pope was supposed to ride the coattails of Sylvester Terkay. I obviously had no problem with it [laughs].”
They brought Terkay in [from OVW to WWE] specifically because Undertaker was, and still is, a huge MMA guy.
And so, Undertaker loved the physicalness and the legitness of MMA. He wanted to create that type of magic inside the wrestling ring.
Had it been Terkay vs. Undertaker, I wouldn’t have mind taking a Big Boot off the apron or a Chokeslam. What I remember the most about the event is 80,000 fans. Legit.
I had the privilege, within two years on the roster, to be in front of a sea of human beings. Looking back, I just took it all in and enjoyed. People who’ve worked 20 years in the business have never experienced that.”
You can check out some photos of Sylvester Terkay below:
Plans obviously changed and The Undertaker went on to defeat Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship in the co-main event of WrestleMania 23 and take his WrestleMania record to 15-0.
Also Read: Brother Love On Why He Gave Up The Role Of The Undertaker’s Manager
WATCH: Sara (Undertaker’s Ex-Wife) In A Bikini – Part 1:
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• Old School Wrestling Veteran Celebrates His Birthday
Old School Wrestling Veteran Samoa Joe (Real name: Nuufolau Joel Seanoa) celebrates his 42nd birthday today.
Samoa Joe joined the World Wrestling Federation’s developmental promotion Ultimate Pro Wrestling in 2000 and made his WWF debut towards the end of the famous Attitude Era during the March 3, 2001 episode of WWF Jakked/WWF Metal.
Joe originally made a name for himself in the early years of Ring of Honor, before joining Total Nonstop Action in 2005, where he became a well known star and also won multiple Championships, including a win over WWF/E Legend Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at the ‘TNA LockDown 2008’ PPV.
After almost 10 full years with the company, he left iMPACT Wrestling (TNA’s new name) in early 2015 and joined WWE’s developmental department “NXT”, just a few weeks later. He later joined the WWE main roster and won the United States Championship twice.
He currently works as a Commentator on WWE Monday Night RAW, as he has been out of in-ring action for over a year due to a concussion.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMOA JOE!
