The year 2000 marked a significant transition in The Undertaker’s storied career. At Judgment Day, after a lengthy hiatus, he returned with a brand-new persona, bidding farewell to The Deadman and introducing the fans to The American Badass.
However, The Undertaker has admitted that his return was not without its challenges.
One of the most memorable, albeit controversial, moments of this era came at Survivor Series. The Undertaker faced Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship but was ultimately defeated when Angle’s twin brother interfered, causing a distraction. Yet, what fans remember most vividly about this match is not the in-ring action but The Undertaker’s choice of ring attire — snakeskin pants.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, The Undertaker addressed the longstanding rumor that the infamous pants belonged to fellow wrestler The Godfather. He clarified that they were, in fact, his own and recounted how WWF seamstress Terry Anderson had advised against wearing them.
“There was a pair of snakeskin pants I wore in a match with Kurt Angle. That I really regret. It’s one of my biggest regrets. They were horrible. So the rumor for a long, long time was that I forgot my tights, or I forgot my pants and I had to borrow those from The Godfather. They were mine,” he said.
Anderson, who crafted most of The Undertaker’s gear throughout his career, was hesitant about the idea. “Terry Anderson, bless her heart, she did all my gear pretty much my whole career. I told her what I wanted to do. Throughout my extended career, my gear was very minimalistic. When I told her I wanted a pair of python pants, she went, ‘No you don’t.’ I went, ‘Yes I do.’”
When asked about his motivation behind the notorious trousers, The Undertaker confessed that he thought they would look cool. Reflecting on the match, he expressed his frustration that the focus on his attire overshadowed what he believed was a strong performance against Angle.
“I just thought it would be cool looking. They were snakeskin pants. I’m a biker, it didn’t translate well. I really regret those pants; those are awful, man. I see them every once in a while. They’ll pop up on a feed or something. (Do you still own them?) No, no, no, no, they’re long gone. I think I burned those,” he shared.
The Undertaker lamented that the quality of the match has been overshadowed by his questionable fashion choice. “And the horrible thing was, it was a really good match. That’s what really sucks is I had a really good match with Kurt. That’s when we used his twin and they screwed me out of the title there. But I can’t watch it and enjoy the match for its quality. All I see are those damn (pants). I’m touching 330 (lbs) at that time, too. I’m a big dude. And big dudes don’t wear snakeskin pants.”
Despite the misstep, The Undertaker’s legacy remains untarnished. The American Badass era contributed to the evolution of his character, showcasing his versatility and resilience in the ever-changing landscape of professional wrestling.
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