Company name	WWE, Inc.
Company logo
Type	Public
Traded as
Foundation	1952
Founder	Roderick McMahonToots Mondt
Location city	Stamford, Connecticut
Location country	U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Vince McMahon(Chairman & CEO)George Barrios (CFO)John Laurinaitis(Executive Vice President, Talent Relations)Stephanie McMahon-Levesque(Executive Vice President, Creative Development & Operations)
Industry	Professional wrestling, sports entertainment
Revenue	$142.6 million (Q2/2011)
Operating income	$21.0 million (Q2/2011)
Net income	$14.3 million (Q2/2011)
Assets	$395.8 million (Q2/2011)
Equity	$312.9 million (Q2/2011)
Num employees	585 (as of February 2011, excluding wrestlers)
Homepage	Official SiteCorporate WWE Web Site
Owner	Vince McMahon (59% of shares; 88% of voting power)
Intl	yes }}

WWE, Inc. () is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales. It is currently the largest professional wrestling company in the world, reaching 13 million viewers in the U.S. and broadcasting its shows in 30 languages to more than 145 countries. It promotes under two brands, known as Raw and SmackDown.

Vince McMahon is the majority owner, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Together with his wife Linda McMahon, and their children Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque (WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Writing), the McMahons hold approximately 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of the voting power in the company. The company's headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, and Mumbai.

WWE holds an extensive library of videos, representing a significant portion of the visual history of professional wrestling. The company began as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1952, which promoted under the banner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In 1982, it was sold to the same family's Titan Sports company, which later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, and simplified to WWE in 2011.

Company history

Capitol Wrestling Corporation

Roderick James "Jess" McMahon was a boxing promoter whose achievements included co-promoting a bout in 1915 between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson. In 1926, while working with Tex Rickard (who actually despised wrestling to such a degree he prevented wrestling events from being held at the third Madison Square Garden in New York City between 1939 and 1948), he started promoting boxing at the Garden. The first match during their partnership was a light-heavyweight championship match between Jack Delaney and Paul Berlenbach.

A few years earlier, around 1920, professional wrestler Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt had created a new challenge of professional wrestling that he called Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling to make the entertainment more appealing to spectators. At the time, pro wrestling consisted primarily of mat grappling; and while the sport had flourished a decade earlier under Frank Gotch, the fans had since grown tired of the painfully deliberate pace of the bouts. However, Mondt discovered a solution that would completely transform the industry, as he convinced Lewis and Sandow to implement a new form of wrestling that combined features of boxing, Greco-Roman, freestyle, lumber-camp fighting, and theater into what he deemed “Slam Bang Western-Style Wrestling.” He then formed a promotion with wrestler Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow. They persuaded many wrestlers to sign contracts with their Gold Dust Trio. After much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt formed partnerships with several other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. When Curley was dying, Mondt moved to take over New York wrestling with the aid of several bookers, one of whom was Jess McMahon.

Together, Roderick McMahon and Raymond Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd (CWC). The CWC joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. In 1954, Ray Fabiani, one of Mondt's associates, brought in Vincent J. McMahon to replace his late father Jess in the promotion. McMahon and Mondt were a successful combination, and within a short time, they controlled approximately 70% of the NWA's booking, largely due to their dominance in the heavily populated Northeast region. Mondt taught McMahon about booking and how to work in the wrestling business. Due to the dominance in the northeast, the CWC was referred to by AWA legend Nick Bockwinkel as the "Northeast Triangle", with its territory being defined by Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Maine as points of the triangle.

World Wide Wrestling Federation

The NWA recognized an undisputed NWA World Heavyweight Champion that went to several different wrestling companies in the alliance and defended the belt around the world. The NWA generally promoted strong shooters as champions, to give their worked sport credibility and guard against double-crosses. While doing strong business in the Midwest (the Alliance's core region), these wrestlers attracted little interest in the Capitol territory. In 1961, the NWA board decided instead to put the belt on bleach blonde showman "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, a much more effective drawing card in the region. The rest of the NWA was unhappy with Mondt because he rarely allowed Rogers to wrestle outside of the Northeast. Mondt and McMahon wanted Rogers to keep the NWA World Championship, but Rogers was unwilling to sacrifice his $25,000 deposit on the belt (title holders at the time had to pay a deposit to insure they honored their commitments as champion). Rogers lost the NWA World Championship to Lou Thesz in a one-fall match in Toronto, Ontario on January 24, 1963, which led to Mondt, McMahon, and the CWC leaving the NWA in protest, creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the process.

In April, Rogers was awarded the new WWWF World Championship following an apocryphal tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He lost the title to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17, 1963, after suffering a heart attack shortly before the match. To accommodate Rogers' condition, the match was booked to last under a minute.

Two years later, NWA president Sam Muchnick and McMahon discussed a unification match between Thesz and Sammartino, with both parties agreeing to Sammartino winning the unified title. The match plans fell apart when Sammartino refused to take on the enlarged schedule and Thesz demanded a high guarantee for doing the job.

The WWWF operated in a very conservative matter compared to other pro wrestling territories; it ran its major arenas monthly rather than weekly or bi-weekly, usually featuring a babyface champion wrestling various heels in programs consisting of one to three matches, with the initial meeting often featuring a heel win in a non-decisive manner. Although business was initially rather strong, crowds in Madison Square Garden fell off due to a lack of television exposure. After gaining a television program on a Spanish language station, and turning preliminary wrestler Lou Albano as a manager for Sammartino's heel opponents, the WWWF was doing sellout business by 1970. Albano was soon joined by fellow managers Ernie Roth and Fred Blassie, forming the "Triumverate of Terror," managing heel opponents for Sammartino and later champions Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund. Heels such as Ivan Koloff and Stan Stasiak were used to transition the title from one babyface to another; Superstar Billy Graham enjoyed a nine and a half month reign as a heel champion, as McMahon felt he would need this much time to build up Bob Backlund as championship material.

Mondt left the company in the late sixties. Although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon Sr. quietly rejoined the organization in 1971, although he did not book an NWA world champion in his territory until Harley Race in the late 1970s. At the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, McMahon, Vincent Kennedy McMahon and WWF employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization.

In March 1979, for marketing purposes, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was renamed the "World Wrestling Federation" (WWF).

World Wrestling Federation

On February 21, 1980, the son of Vincent J. McMahon, Vincent K. McMahon, founded Titan Sports, Inc. and on June 6, 1982, purchased Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. from his father and other stock holders (Arnold Skaaland, Gorilla Monsoon, and Phil Zacko). The elder McMahon had long since established the northeastern territory as one of the most vibrant members of the NWA. He had long since recognized that professional wrestling was more about entertainment than actual sport. Against his father's wishes, McMahon began an expansion process that fundamentally changed the industry.

The WWF was not the only promotion to have broken ranks with the NWA; the American Wrestling Association (AWA) had long ago ceased being an official NWA member (although like the WWF, they seldom left their own territory). However, neither of the defecting members attempted to undermine the territory system that had been the foundation of the industry for more than half a century.

Other promoters were furious when McMahon began syndicating WWF television shows to television stations across the United States, in areas outside of the WWF's traditional northeastern stronghold. McMahon also began selling videotapes of WWF events outside the Northeast through his Coliseum Video distribution company. He effectively broke the unwritten law of regionalism around which the entire industry had been based. To make matters worse, McMahon used the income generated by advertising, television deals, and tape sales to poach talent from rival promoters. Wrestling promoters nationwide were now in direct competition with the WWF.

Hulk Hogan, due to his appearance in ''Rocky III'', had a national recognition that few other wrestlers could offer, which is what led McMahon to sign him. Roddy Piper was brought in, as well as Jesse Ventura (although Ventura rarely wrestled in the WWF at that point due to the lung disorder that caused his retirement, moving to the commentator booth alongside Gorilla Monsoon). André the Giant, Jimmy Snuka, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, and the Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) rounded out the roster. Hogan was clearly McMahon's biggest star, causing some people to debate whether the WWF could have achieved national success without him.

The WWF would tour nationally in a venture that required huge capital investment; one that placed the WWF on the verge of financial collapse. The future of not just McMahon's experiment, but also the WWF, the NWA, and the whole industry came down to the success or failure of McMahon's groundbreaking concept, WrestleMania. WrestleMania was a pay-per-view extravaganza (in some areas; most areas of the country saw WrestleMania available on closed-circuit television) that McMahon marketed as being the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. The concept of a wrestling supercard was nothing new in North America; the NWA had been running Starrcade a few years prior to WrestleMania, and even the elder McMahon had marketed large Shea Stadium cards viewable in closed-circuit locations. However, McMahon's vision was to make the WWF and the industry itself mainstream, targeting more of the general television audience by exploiting the entertainment side of the industry. With the inaugural WrestleMania the WWF initiated a joint-promotional campaign with MTV, which featured a great deal of WWF coverage and programming, in what was termed the ''Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection''. The mainstream media attention brought on by celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Mr. T, and Cyndi Lauper at the event helped propel WrestleMania to become a staple in popular culture.

The original WrestleMania, held in 1985, was a resounding success. This event is sometimes credited as the debut of what McMahon called "sports entertainment", in contrast to his father's preference of pure wrestling. The WWF did incredible business on the shoulders of McMahon and his all-American babyface hero, Hulk Hogan, for the next several years, creating what some observers dubbed a second golden age for professional wrestling. The introduction of ''Saturday Night's Main Event'' on NBC in mid-1985 marked the first time that professional wrestling had been broadcast on network television since the 1950s. In 1987, the WWF produced what was considered to be the pinnacle of the 1980s wrestling boom, WrestleMania III. A rematch of the Wrestlemania III feature bout, once again pitting Champion Hulk Hogan against Andre the Giant on Main Event, was seen by 33 million people, which is still the record for the most watched wrestling match in North America.

New Generation

The WWF hit a low point in the wake of allegations of steroid abuse and distribution made against it in 1994; there were also allegations of sexual harassment made by WWF employees. McMahon was eventually exonerated, but it was a public relations nightmare for the WWF. The steroid trial cost the WWF an estimated $5 million at a time when revenues were at an all-time low. To compensate, McMahon cut the pay of both wrestlers and front office personnel – close to 40% in the latter case (and about 50% for top level managers such as Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart, who both left). This helped drive many WWF wrestlers to its only major competition, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), between 1994 and 1997. During this period, the WWF promoted itself under the banner of "The New WWF Generation," featuring Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker. In an effort to promote them and other young talent as the new superstars of the ring, the WWF began to play on the age restrictions which former WWF wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage (who by now were working for WCW) now faced. This is best seen in the "Billionaire Ted" parodies of early 1996 (a reference to WCW's owner and patron, media mogul Ted Turner) which culminated in a "rasslin'" match during the warm-up to WrestleMania XII.

Monday Night Wars

In 1993, the WWF broke new ground in televised professional wrestling with the debut of its cable program ''WWF Monday Night Raw''. After becoming a runaway success, WCW countered in 1995 with its own Monday night cable program, ''WCW Monday Nitro'', in the same time slot as ''Raw''. The two programs would trade wins in the ensuing ratings competition until mid-1996, when WCW began a nearly two year domination that was largely fueled by the introduction of the New World Order, a stable led by former WWF performers Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash.

The Attitude Era

The feuds and match types developed by the end of the mid 1990s began a new era in wrestling. The fans of WWF seemed to favor what was posed to them as the bad guy instead of the good guy. The creative changes made by the WWF creative board saw wrestling take on a "street fighting", "bad attitude" approach; however, despite the revolutionary changes in sports-entertainment that the WWF founded, 1997 remains the lowest of the WWF's financial income and a heavy loss in fan interest to rival WCW. Through to present day many wrestlers acknowledge that at the time, they were not aware of how close the company came to liquidation. Throughout 1996 and 1997, the WWF lost much of its leading talent to WCW, including Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), Diesel (Kevin Nash), Psycho Sid (Sid Eudy), Alundra Blayze (Debra Miceli), and Rick Rude (Richard Rood). The WWF replaced them with former WCW talent such as Vader (Leon White), Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brian Pillman, Mankind (Mick Foley), and Farooq (Ron Simmons). Eric Bischoff's public humiliation of the WWF, criticizing them for signing WCW's sacked wrestlers and bragging that WWF wrestlers were signing for WCW due to higher pay, intensified the Monday Night Wars only for ''Nitro'' as the WWF struggled to regain its popularity.

McMahon managed to keep Bret Hart from reverting to WCW, and began a feud with Hart and Steve Austin. In Hart's absence after WrestleMania XII, Steve Austin became the new face of the company, starting with his Austin 3:16 speech, shortly after defeating Jake Roberts in the tournament finals at the 1996 King of the Ring pay-per-view. WrestleMania 13 saw Hart defeat Austin in a critically acclaimed submission match, and shortly after saw Hart reform The Hart Foundation. McMahon revolved the company around Hart, Austin and Shawn Michaels, feuding with each other for the majority of the year, leaving many to admire their impact carrying the business through a difficult time. Despite his strong long running image as a face, the Canadian Hart was turned heel in an anti-USA gimmick, while Steve Austin became cheered by fans despite efforts to design him as the ultimate heel, making him a tweener. Rocky Maivia joined the Nation of Domination stable after fans rejected his good guy image, and Shawn Michaels formed the street gang faction D-Generation X with Triple H and Chyna; similar to the Stone Cold Steve Austin character, DX was designed not to care for what the fans or other wrestlers thought of them. Michaels later stated that the concept of DX was brought about after he persuaded McMahon to take a cruder approach to the companies marketing approach following him fining Michael's $10,000 for putting large ornaments in his shorts and exploiting his crotch around the ring during an on-air interview. The Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker produced a fresh strong foundation for the WWF's creative board.

1997 ended with McMahon facing real life controversy resulting in major ratings and financial losses after becoming widely despised by his employees, wrestling critics, and wrestling fans following Bret Hart's controversial departure from the WWF, later known as the Montreal Screwjob. This proved to be a founding factor in what was to officially kick start The Attitude Era.

By January 1998, the WWF began broadcasting more violence, swearing, and more edgy angles in its attempt to compete with WCW. Following Bret Hart's departure, Vince McMahon used the resulting backlash in the creation of his "Mr. McMahon" character, a dictatorial and fierce ruler who favored heels who were "good for business" over "misfit" faces like Austin. This, in turn, led to the Austin vs. McMahon feud, which, along with D-Generation X who briefly hired Mike Tyson in the build up to WrestleMania XIV, officially began the Attitude Era. It also featured the established Monday Night Wars, where both WCW and the WWF had Monday night shows that competed against each other in the ratings, and saw the WWF finally beat WCW for the first time in 84 weeks when McMahon made his in-ring debut against Austin. The evolution of more brutal matches with different stipulations to increase viewership worked to a major extent, mainly through the furthering of Hell in a Cell (notably its second appearance featuring The Undertaker vs. Mankind) and the Inferno match (introduced by Kane against The Undertaker). Many wrestlers such as Chris Jericho and The Radicalz (Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko) were drafted from WCW, all publicly claiming on both companies' TV broadcasts that they were extremely unhappy at the storylines and backstage chaos at WCW, and were further intrigued and happier with the structural running of the WWF. The 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle, The Rock (renamed from Rocky Maivia), and Mick Foley (as Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love) were successfully re-invented to compete at the main event level. Notably, Mick Foley's WWF Championship win over The Rock on ''Monday Night Raw'' saw WCW lose millions of viewers when Eric Bischoff instructed announcer Tony Schiavone to give away the result minutes before both main events started, which led to ''Raw'' drawing eleven million viewers.

Business advances

On the back of the success of the Attitude Era, several new advances and products were launched. During this period, the WWF's parent company Titan Sports was renamed World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. and on October 19, 1999 became a publicly traded company, offering 10 million shares priced at $17 each. WWF Entertainment announced its desire to diversify, including creating a nightclub in Times Square, producing feature films, and book publishing.

SmackDown!

On April 29, 1999, the WWF made its return to terrestrial television by launching a special program known as ''SmackDown!'' on the fledgling UPN network. The Thursday night show became a weekly series on August 26, 1999. The show led to further TV ratings competition with WCW, up against WCW Thunder.

The XFL

In 2000 the WWF, in collaboration with television network NBC, announced the creation of the XFL, a new professional football league that debuted in 2001. The league had high ratings for the first few weeks, but initial interest waned and its ratings plunged to dismally low levels (one of its games was the lowest-rated prime-time show in the history of American television). NBC walked out on the venture after only one season, but McMahon intended to continue alone. However, after being unable to reach a deal with UPN, McMahon shut down the XFL.

Acquisition of WCW and ECW

By the fall of 1999, The Attitude Era had turned the tide of the Monday Night Wars into WWF's favor for good. After Time Warner merged with AOL, Ted Turner's control over WCW was considerably reduced, and the newly merged company announced a complete lack of interest in professional wrestling as a whole, and decided to sell WCW in its entirety. Although Eric Bischoff was nearing a deal to purchase the company complete, in March 2001, WWF Entertainment, Inc. acquired WCW from AOL Time Warner for a number reported to be around $7 million. Shortly after WrestleMania X-Seven, the WWF launched the Invasion storyline integrating the incoming talent roster from WCW and ECW. With this purchase, WWF now became the largest wrestling promotion in the world, and the only one in North America with mainstream exposure. The assets of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which had folded after filing for bankruptcy protection in April 2001, were purchased by WWE in mid-2003.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Brand extension

In March 2002, roughly two months before the name change, WWE decided to create two separate rosters, ''Raw'' and ''SmackDown!'' due to the overabundance of talent left over from the Invasion storyline. This is known as the WWE Brand Extension. Despite much of the originally drafted talent departing by 2004, WWE has continued to separate the shows, taking on younger talent, and holds a Draft Lottery every year. On May 26, 2006, WWE announced the relaunch of Extreme Championship Wrestling as a WWE brand. The new ECW program aired internationally and on Tuesday nights on Syfy in the United States until February 16, 2010.

Name dispute

In 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature (also trademarked WWF), an environmental organization, sued World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. The Law Lords agreed that the promotion company had violated a 1994 agreement as Titan Sports which had limited the permissible use of the WWF trademark in Europe, particularly in merchandising. The World Wide Fund and World Wrestling Federation used the initials since March 1979. The last televised event to market the WWF logo was UK based pay-per-view Insurrextion 2002. On May 5, 2002, the company launched its "Get The F Out" marketing campaign and changed all references on its website from "WWF" to "WWE", while switching the URL from ''WWF.com'' to ''WWE.com''. The next day, a press release announced the official name change from ''World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.'' to ''World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.'', or WWE, and the change was publicized later that day during a telecast of ''Monday Night Raw'', which was broadcast from the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

Following the case, the use of the "Attitude" logo became prohibited on all World Wrestling Federation properties. Additionally, past references to the ''WWF'' trademark and initials in 'specified circumstances' became censored. Despite litigation, WWE is still permitted use of the original WWF logo, which was used from 1979 through 1994, as well as the "New WWF Generation" logo, which was used from 1994 through 1998. Furthermore, the company may still make use of the full "World Wrestling Federation" and "World Wrestling Federation Entertainment" names without consequence. In 2003, WWE won a limited decision to continue marketing the WWF Video Library censoring out all WWF references, other than the permitted logos.

Network changes and high-definition

In late 2005, WWE Raw returned after a five year stint on TNN (now Spike) to its original home USA Network. In 2006, due to contracts with NBC Universal, parent company of USA Network, WWE revived its classic Saturday night show Saturday Night's Main Event (SNME) on NBC after a thirteen-year hiatus. WWE had the chance to promote the company on a major national network rather than the lower profile CW or cable channels like USA Network. SNME airs occasionally on NBC as a WWE special series. On September 26, 2007, it was announced that WWE would be expanding its international operations. Alongside the current international offices in London and Toronto, a new international office would be established in Sydney.

On January 21, 2008, WWE made the transition to high-definition (HD). All TV shows and pay-per-views after this were broadcast in HD. In addition, WWE also introduced a new HD set that is used for all three brands and a different set is used for each of the pay-per-views.

WWE Universe and change in programming

On November 19, 2008, WWE launched their online social network, WWE Universe. It initially appeared in April as ''WWE Fan Nation''. Similar to MySpace, it offered blogs, forums, and other features for WWE fans. The social network ceased operations on January 1, 2011.

It was announced on December 19, 2008 that WWE and WGN America had come to an agreement to create a new weekly, one-hour prime time series entitled ''WWE Superstars''. On April 16, 2009 the show made its debut airing. The show featured talent from all WWE brands. On February 2, 2010, it was announced that a new program called ''WWE NXT'' would premiere on Syfy on February 23, 2010, over the ''ECW'' timeslot. Later that year ''NXT'' was removed from the Syfy lineup and was replaced with ''WWE SmackDown'' which had been airing on MyNetworkTV since October 2008. ''NXT'' continues to air on WWE.com.

In 2008, WWE initiated a change in its programming content. The United States parental guidelines rating system now rates all WWE television programs "PG" indicating family-friendly content in the programming. Vince McMahon noted that the change to more family-friendly content is due to the changing demographics in WWE viewership. As of 2010, women and young children make up 40% of the company's audience.

Change of business model

On April 7, 2011, WWE Corporate announced that the company would be rebranded from "World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc." to simply "WWE, Inc." This orphan initialism occurred to reflect WWE's global entertainment expansion away from the ring with the ultimate goal of acquiring entertainment companies and putting a focus on television, live events, and film production. WWE quoted that their new company model was put into effect with the relaunch of ''WWE Tough Enough'', being a non–scripted program (contrary to the scripted nature of professional wrestling) and with the expected launch of a WWE television network within 2012 and 2013.

Wellness Program

The Talent Wellness Program is a comprehensive drug, alcohol, and cardiac screening program initiated in February 2006, shortly after the sudden death of one of their highest profile talents, thirty-eight year old Eddie Guerrero. The policy tests for recreational drug use and abuse of prescription medication, including anabolic steroids. Under the guidelines of the policy, talent is also tested annually for pre-existing or developing cardiac issues. The drug testing is handled by Aegis Sciences Corporation. The cardiac evaluations are handled by New York Cardiology Associates P.C.

After the double murder and suicide committed by one of its performers, Chris Benoit, with a possible link to steroid abuse given by WWE, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requested that WWE turn over any material regarding its talent wellness policy.

In August 2007, the program was defended by WWE and its employees in the wake of several illegal pharmacy busts that linked WWE performers to steroid purchases even after the policy was put into place. Ten professional wrestlers were suspended for violating the Wellness Policy after reports emerged they were all customers of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida. According to a statement attributed to WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, an eleventh wrestler was later added to the suspension list.

On the other hand, because of the Wellness Policy, physicians were able to diagnose one of its performers with a heart ailment that otherwise would have likely gone unnoticed until it was too late. In August 2007, then-reigning United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter (real name Hassan Assad) was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which if gone undiagnosed can be potentially fatal. The ailment was discovered while MVP was going through a routine Wellness Policy checkup.

On September 13, 2010, WWE updated their list of banned substances to include muscle relaxers.

Expansion beyond wrestling

In addition to licensing wrestling and performers' likenesses to companies such as Acclaim, THQ, and Mattel to produce video games and action figures, WWE has moved into other areas of interest in order to market their product.

World Bodybuilding Federation; A subsidiary of Titan Sports launched in 1990 which promoted professional bodybuilding through a television show, magazine, and annual pay-per-view events. Closed in 1992.

The World, formerly known as WWF New York: A restaurant, night club, and memorabilia shop in New York City launched in 1999. Closed in 2003.

XFL: A subsidiary of WWFE launched in 2000 which promoted professional football with an array of teams and television broadcasts on NBC, UPN, and TNN. Closed in 2001.

WWE Studios: A subsidiary of WWE created in 2002 to create and develop feature film properties. Formerly known as WWE Films.

WWE Niagara Falls: A retail and entertainment establishment that was located in Niagara Falls, Ontario and owned by WWE. It was open from August 2002 through March 2011.

WWE Music Group: A subsidiary that specializes in compilation albums of WWE wrestlers' entrance themes. The group also releases titles that have been performed by WWE wrestlers.

WWE Home Video: A subsidiary that specializes in distributing compilation VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc copies of WWE pay-per-view events, compilations of WWE wrestlers' performances, and biographies of WWE performers.

WWE Books: A subsidiary of WWE that serves to publish autobiographies of and fiction based on WWE personalities, behind-the-scenes guides to WWE, illustrated books, calendars, young adult books, and other general "Nonfiction" books.

WWE Kids: A website and comic set aimed at the children's end of the wrestling market, comics are produced bi-monthly. It was launched on April 15, 2008.

Corporate governance

Board of directors

Vince McMahon (Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer) Basil DeVito (Senior Advisor, Business Strategy) David Kenin (Executive Vice President of Programming, Hallmark Channel) Frank Riddick III (Consultant, TowerBrook Capital Partners) Jeffrey Speed (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Six Flags, Inc.) Joseph Perkins (President, Communications Consultants, Inc.) Kevin Dunn (Executive Vice President, Television Production) Michael Solomon (Managing Principal, Gladwyne Partners, LLC) Stuwart Goldfarb (President and Chief Executive Officer, Atrinsic, Inc.)

Executive officers

Vince McMahon (Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer) Andrew Whitaker (Executive Vice President, International) George Barrios (Chief Financial Officer) Jim Connelly (Executive Vice President, Consumer Products) John Laurinaitis (Executive Vice President, Talent Relations) Michelle Wilson (Chief Marketing Officer) Stephanie McMahon-Levesque (Creative Development & Operations)

Championships and accomplishments

Current champions

!Championship

|	Current champion(s)	Date won	Event	Previous champion(s)
colspan="5" style="background:#fbb;"	Raw
	WWE Championship	Alberto Del Rio	August 14, 2011		CM Punk
	Dolph Ziggler	June 19, 2011		Kofi Kingston
! colspan="5" style="background:#bbf;"
	Randy Orton	August 14, 2011	SummerSlam
	Cody Rhodes	August 9, 2011	''SmackDown''	Ezekiel Jackson
Dual-branded
	Air Boom	August 22, 2011	''Raw''	David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty
	Kelly Kelly	June 20, 2011	''Raw''
	Zack Ryder	July 22, 2011	''Z! True Long Island Story''	N/A

Other accomplishments

!Accomplishment

|	Latest winner	Date won
style="background:#cfc; text-align:center;"
style="background:#fbb; text-align:center;"|''Raw'' Money in the Bank
style="background:#bbf; text-align:center;"	align=center

Developmental territory champions

!Championship

|	Current champion(s)	Date won	Previous champion(s)
! colspan="6" style="background:#ffc;"
align=center	align=center
	style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"		align=center
	align=center

Defunct championships

In its 50 year history, WWE has operated over twenty different championships. The company's first title, the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship was created in 1958 and retired in 1967. Throughout its history, the WWE has formed partnerships with other international promotions which led to the creation of various titles, however, when those partnerships ended, these titles were either retired or began operation in the United States for WWE. Overall, the company has retired 19 championships with the most recent being the WWE Women's Championship. Created in 1956 and retired in September 2010, the consolidation of the WWE Unified Divas Championship into the WWE's 2008 WWE Divas Championship retired the older title and continued the lineage of the latter.

See also

List of WWE personnel

List of WWE alumni

List of WWE pay-per-view events

References

External links

WWE Corporate website

WWE Worldwide website

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Name	The Undertaker
Names	The UndertakerCain The Undertaker"Mean" Mark CallousPunisher Dice MorganThe PunisherTexas RedThe Master of Pain
Height
Weight
Birth date	March 24, 1965
Birth place	Houston, Texas
Resides	Austin, Texas
Billed	Death Valley
Trainer	Don Jardine
Debut	1984 }}

Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name The Undertaker. He is signed to WWE as a member of its SmackDown brand roster. He is considered one of WWE's senior competitors, having been with the company for over twenty years. Mark Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1984. He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as "Mean" Mark Callous in 1989. When WCW did not renew Calaway's contract in 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation as The Undertaker in November of that year and has remained with the company ever since.

The Undertaker has two contrasting gimmicks: "The Deadman", an undead, occult-like figure, which has consisted of many different versions, beginning with the Western mortician character in November 1990 and ending with the Satanic Ministry of Darkness leader in September 1999 before returning to "The Deadman" in March 2004 as a hybrid of all his previous incarnations; and "The American Bad Ass", a biker which ran from May 2000 to November 2003. The specialty matches connected to The Undertaker are the Casket match, the Buried Alive match, the notorious Hell in a Cell, and the Last Ride match. The character's half-brother is Kane, with whom he has teamed as the Brothers of Destruction. The Undertaker is undefeated at WrestleMania with a 19–0 record. Among other accolades, Calaway is an eight-time World Champion: a four-time WWF/E Champion and three-time World Heavyweight Champion as The Undertaker, and a one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion as Master of Pain. The Undertaker is also a one-time WWF Hardcore champion, and a seven-time world tag team champion: a six-time WWF Tag Team Champion, and one-time WCW Tag Team Champion. The Undertaker was the winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble and became the first man to enter the annual event at number thirty and win. He has been named by WWE as the greatest big man of all time, the scariest Superstar of all time and also the best pure striker in the history of the game. Calaway is also the only current WWE wrestler to have appeared on the first episode of its ''Raw'' program.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1984–1990)

Calaway made his debut in 1984 in World Class Championship Wrestling under the ring name "Texas Red". He wrestled and lost his first match against Bruiser Brody. In 1988, after four years in the promotion, he left and joined the Continental Wrestling Association (which became the United States Wrestling Association after Jerry Jarrett merged CWA with WCCW), wrestling under several gimmick. On April 1, 1989, he was booked to win his first professional wrestling title, the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Jerry "The King" Lawler, under the stage name "The Master of Pain". While performing as "The Punisher", Calaway won the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship on October 5, 1989 when Eric Embry forfeited the title.

In 1989, Calaway joined World Championship Wrestling where he was promptly drafted into the Skyscrapers tag team to replace an injured Sid Vicious. Calaway adopted the ring name Mean Mark Callous, the surname being an apparent pun on both Vicious and Calaway. The new team gained some notoriety at Clash Of The Champions X when they beat down The Road Warriors after their match. However Callous' partner Dan Spivey left WCW days before their Chicago Street Fight against the Warriors at WrestleWar 1990. Callous and a replacement masked Skyscraper went down to defeat in the Street Fight and the team broke up soon afterwards. As he went into singles competition, Callous took on the guidance of Paul E. Dangerously and defeated Johnny Ace at Capital Combat and defeated Brian Pillman at the Clash of the Champions. In July 1990, he wrestled against Lex Luger for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship at The Great American Bash, but lost when Luger pinned him after a clothesline. WCW declined to renew Calaway's contract.

Calaway then briefly wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling as Punisher Dice Morgan. After leaving, he briefly returned to the USWA to participate in a tournament to determine the new USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion; he defeated Bill Dundee in the first round, but lost to Jerry Lawler in the quarterfinals. In October 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

World Wrestling Federation/Entertaiment (1990–present)

Debut and various feuds (1990–1994)

Calaway made his WWF debut as "Cain The Undertaker" at a taping of ''WWF Superstars'' on November 19, 1990. It should be noted, however, that the concept of The Undertaker character was not presented to Calaway until after he signed with Vince McMahon. He stated in a 2003 interview with WWE Magazine that he was terrified that he would be hatched from an oversized egg at the 1990 Survivor Series, which had been on display at WWF events for months and heavily hyped on television, and appear as an "egg man" character. The appearance of The Undertaker's first Deadman persona was modeled after a mortician from old Western movies, wearing a trench coat and black hat with grey gloves and boot covers. Under this Deadman persona, he was impervious to pain, something accomplished by Calaway no-selling his opponents' attacks. Calaway made his official on-camera debut on November 22 at Survivor Series as a heel when he was the mystery partner of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar team, where he was simply called The Undertaker. Approximately one minute into the match, The Undertaker eliminated Koko B. Ware with his finisher, the Tombstone Piledriver. He also eliminated Dusty Rhodes before being counted out. Shortly after Survivor Series, "Cain" was dropped from his name, and he was called simply The Undertaker. It was at this time that The Undertaker switched managers from Brother Love to Paul Bearer — a histrionic, ghostly character, almost always seen bearing an urn from which The Undertaker was said to draw mystical power, reviving his strength during his matches. During his heel run, Undertaker would place his defeated opponents (almost always jobbers) in a bodybag and carry them to the back.

He made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania VII, quickly defeating "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. The win was the first in his undefeated streak at the event. He began his first major feud with The Ultimate Warrior, when he attacked the Warrior and locked him in an airtight casket on the set of his manager, Paul Bearer's ''Funeral Parlor'' interview segment. After a year of battles with the Warrior, Randy Savage, Sid Justice, Sgt. Slaughter, and Hulk Hogan, he defeated Hogan to win his first WWF Championship at Survivor Series with the help of Ric Flair, and thus became the youngest WWF Champion in history until having this record broken by Yokozuna in 1993. WWF President Jack Tunney ordered a rematch for This Tuesday in Texas six days later, where The Undertaker lost the title back to Hogan.

In February 1992, The Undertaker's ally Jake "The Snake" Roberts tried to attack Randy Savage's manager/wife Miss Elizabeth with a steel chair when The Undertaker stopped him, becoming a fan favorite for the first time. Then, The Undertaker defeated Roberts at WrestleMania VIII. The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzales at Wrestlemania IX. He then feuded extensively with wrestlers managed by Harvey Wippleman throughout 1992 and 1993, culminating in a WWF Championship casket match against champion Yokozuna at the 1994 Royal Rumble. At the Royal Rumble, Yokozuna sealed The Undertaker in the casket with the assistance of several other villainous wrestlers, winning the match. The Undertaker's "spirit" appeared from inside the casket on the video screen, warning that he would return.

Return; various storylines and feud with Mankind (1994–1997)

After WrestleMania X, Ted DiBiase introduced an Undertaker back to the WWF. This Undertaker, however, played by Brian Lee, was an impostor Undertaker (dubbed the "Under''faker''" by fans) and led to the return of the real Undertaker at SummerSlam, appearing as a new version of his original Deadman persona, replacing grey with purple. The Undertaker defeated the impostor after three Tombstone Piledrivers. At Survivor Series, The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a rematch, another casket match. Throughout most of 1995, The Undertaker feuded with members of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation. At WrestleMania XI, while Undertaker was facing King Kong Bundy, Kama stole The Undertaker's urn, and antagonized him by melting it into a large gold necklace and attacking the Undertaker. Later, The Undertaker defeated Kama in a casket match at SummerSlam. Several weeks later, The Undertaker injured his orbital bone near his eye, forcing a period of absence for surgery, until his return at Survivor Series.

The Undertaker returned at the 1995 Survivor Series, wearing a Phantom of the Opera-like, grey upper mask. In the main event of the 1996 Royal Rumble, The Undertaker was unmasked in a WWF Championship match against Bret Hart, when Diesel interfered in the match to cost the Undertaker the championship. One month later, at In Your House: Rage in the Cage, while Diesel was facing Hart in a steel cage match, The Undertaker came bursting from under the ring, dragging Diesel underneath, allowing Hart to get the victory. This feud culminated in a match between Diesel and the Undertaker at WrestleMania XII, in which The Undertaker was victorious.

His next feud commenced the very next night, when Mankind made his debut, interfering in The Undertaker's match with Justin Hawk Bradshaw. For the next few months, Mankind ambushed and cost The Undertaker several matches. The feud intensified, and they began taking their battles into crowds, backstage areas, and in the boiler rooms of different arenas. Mankind cost the Undertaker the WWF Intercontinental Championship at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, assisting champion Goldust to victory. As a result, the first ever Boiler Room Brawl was booked between the two at SummerSlam. During the match, when Undertaker reached for Paul Bearer's urn, Bearer hit him with it, betraying The Undertaker and allowing Mankind to "incapacitate" The Undertaker with the Mandible claw, giving him the win. After Bearer's betrayal, The Undertaker took his rivalry with Mankind to a new level, resulting in a Buried Alive match in the main event of In Your House: Buried Alive. The Undertaker won the match after a chokeslam into the open grave, but after interference from The Executioner, as well as the help of several other superstars, The Undertaker was ultimately "Buried Alive". After being buried alive, The Undertaker returned at the Survivor Series again pitting him against Mankind, but with a unique stipulation; hanging above the ring was Paul Bearer, enclosed in a steel cage. If Undertaker won the match, he would be able to get his hands on Bearer. Even though The Undertaker won the match, interference from The Executioner enabled Bearer to escape The Undertaker's clutches. The Undertaker then briefly turned his attention to The Executioner, who had become a thorn in his side since his arrival. At In Your House: It's Time, The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon rules match. By the end of 1996, The Undertaker began a feud with Vader, culminating in a loss to Vader at the Royal Rumble after Bearer interfered on behalf of his new protégé. After this loss, The Undertaker began to focus his attention on the WWF Championship.

Hell in a Cell; Brothers of Destruction (1997–1998)

At WrestleMania 13, The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid for the WWF Championship, marking his second time as WWF Champion. After the event, Paul Bearer attempted to rejoin with The Undertaker, using the threat of revealing The Undertaker's "biggest secret". In the storyline, Bearer announced that The Undertaker was a murderer, who as a child had burned down the family funeral home business (where Bearer worked), killing his parents and his younger half-brother. The Undertaker claimed there was no way for Bearer to have that information, but Bearer announced that he was told this by Undertaker's half-brother Kane, who was still alive but horribly burned and scarred. Bearer raised Kane after the fire, having him institutionalized. Now, Kane was waiting for revenge after all these years. In defense, The Undertaker responded that Kane, a pyromaniac, had been the one to set the fire and could not have possibly survived. His next major storyline began at SummerSlam in 1997 when referee Shawn Michaels accidentally hit The Undertaker with a steel chair shot meant for Bret Hart, costing the Undertaker his WWF Championship. The feud culminated at Badd Blood: In Your House, where The Undertaker challenged Michaels to the first ever Hell in a Cell match. During this match, The Undertaker's storyline half-brother Kane made his debut, ripping off the door to the cell and giving The Undertaker a Tombstone Piledriver, Undertaker's trademark finisher, allowing Michaels to pin him. The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer. As the storyline progressed, Kane, with Paul Bearer, challenged The Undertaker to fights, but The Undertaker consistently refused to fight his brother. The Undertaker and Kane then formed a brief partnership when Kane saved Undertaker from an attack by D-Generation X. The Undertaker's final encounter with Michaels was in the return of the casket match at the Royal Rumble, where Kane betrayed The Undertaker and cost him the win by trapping him in the coffin, padlocking the casket lid, and setting it ablaze. The Undertaker, however, had disappeared when the casket lid was reopened. After a two month hiatus, The Undertaker returned and defeated Kane at WrestleMania XIV. The two had a rematch, the first ever Inferno match, one month later at Unforgiven: In Your House, which The Undertaker won by setting Kane's right arm on fire.

The Undertaker's feud with Mankind was renewed afterward, and they faced each other in a Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring. During the match, The Undertaker threw Mankind off the roof of the cell onto the Spanish announce table below, in what was a preplanned move. He later chokeslammed Mankind through the roof of the cell into the ring which legitimately knocked Mankind unconscious. Mankind also used thumbtacks in the match and was backdropped and chokeslammed onto them before undertaker finished the match by Tombstone Piledriving Mankind.

At Fully Loaded, The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane and Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. The Undertaker and Austin's reign as tag champions lasted for only two months, as Kane and Mankind regained the titles on an episode of ''Raw is War''. The Undertaker then became the number one contender for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam, now held by Austin. Shortly before SummerSlam, however, The Undertaker revealed that he and Kane were working together as brothers. Despite this revelation, The Undertaker told Kane that he did not want him to interfere in the match with Austin, and even though The Undertaker lost the match, he handed Austin his belt back after the match in a show of respect. In September, the storyline continued, and The Undertaker began to show some villainous characteristics when he and Kane revealed the fact that they were in cahoots to rid Austin of his title for Vince McMahon. At Breakdown: In Your House, The Undertaker and Kane were booked in a Triple Threat match with Austin for his WWF Championship; McMahon stated that the brothers were not allowed to pin each other. The Undertaker and Kane pinned Austin simultaneously after a double chokeslam, so the title was vacated by McMahon. This event led to a match at Judgment Day: In Your House between the two brothers for the title, with Austin as the special guest referee. Near the end of the match, Paul Bearer seemed about to assist Kane by handing him a steel chair to hit The Undertaker with, but as Kane had his back turned, both Bearer and The Undertaker hit Kane with the chair. The Undertaker went for the pin, but Austin refused to count the fall, attacked the Undertaker, and counted out both brothers. Finally, The Undertaker became a villain the next night on ''Raw is War'' for the first time in over six years, reconciling with Bearer and claiming that he and Bearer would unleash their Ministry of Darkness on the World Wrestling Federation. As part of this new storyline, he admitted that he had indeed set the fire that killed his parents, for which he had previously blamed Kane.

After Survivor Series, The Undertaker returned his attention back to his previous feud with Austin for costing him the title at Judgment Day, hitting Austin in the head with a shovel during a title match with The Rock, returning the favor for what happened a month earlier. With this twist in the storyline, McMahon scheduled a Buried Alive match between The Undertaker and Austin at Rock Bottom: In Your House. In the weeks leading up to Rock Bottom, The Undertaker attempted to embalm Austin alive, tried to have Kane committed to a mental asylum, and had his druids chain Austin to his symbol, raising it high into the arena. The Undertaker, however, lost the match after Kane interfered.

Ministry of Darkness (1999)

In January 1999, The Undertaker returned, turned heel and formed the Ministry of Darkness, developing a more evil, Satanic and a more frightening persona than ever before. Undertaker stated that he was taking orders from a "Higher Power". He often appeared in a black robe and sat on a throne. With the help of his minions, he often performed sacrifices on various WWE superstars, which were meant to bring out the more evil side of superstars so as to recruit them into his Ministry. The Ministry eventually merged with The Corporation alliance to form the Corporate Ministry. During this time, The Undertaker defeated Austin for his third WWF Championship at Over the Edge with help from Shane McMahon, the special referee. Two weeks later, ''Raw is War'' revealed that Vince McMahon had been The Undertaker's "Higher Power" all along. After The Undertaker dropped the WWF Championship back to Austin one night after King of the Ring, and lost a First Blood match at Fully Loaded, his relationship with the McMahons dissolved and the Corporate Ministry disbanded.

The Undertaker then began a storyline where he teamed with The Big Show in a tag team known as The UnHoly Alliance, which held the WWF Tag Team Championship twice.

In September 1999, The Undertaker has took hiatus from WWF for 8 months due to a groin injury. He then tore a pectoral muscle in January 2000, just before a scheduled return at the Royal Rumble.

American Bad Ass/Big Evil (2000–2003)

The Undertaker took on a second persona during this portion of his WWF career. He abandoned the Gothic mortician-themed attire, his funeral dirge ring music, allusions to the supernatural, and the accompanying theatrics of his ring entrance. The Undertaker now took on the personality of a biker, riding to the ring on a motorcycle, and wearing sunglasses and bandanas to the ring. His ring music was now replaced with popular rock songs of the time, like Limp Bizkit's "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" and Kid Rock's "American Bad Ass" (from which the name of The Undertaker's new gimmick originated), though it was accompanied by the characteristic opening bell gong of The Undertaker's original theme.

Upon his return in May 2000, he took out all the members of the McMahon-Helmsley Faction, which caused him to once again be a fan favorite. He also targeted their leader, WWF Champion Triple H. At King of the Ring, The Undertaker teamed with The Rock and Kane to defeat the team of Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Vince McMahon. Afterward, he was booked to team with Kane to contend for the WWF Tag Team Championship. They defeated Edge and Christian, earning the right to face them the following week for the tag title, which Edge and Christian retained. Kane betrayed The Undertaker by chokeslamming him twice on the August 14 episode of ''Raw is War''. This incident led to another match between the two at SummerSlam, which ended in a no contest as Kane ran from the ring area after The Undertaker removed Kane's mask.

The Undertaker then challenged Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series. Angle, however, defeated The Undertaker after Kurt switched places with his real life brother, Eric Angle. The Undertaker demanded and was awarded a spot in the Six Man Hell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship at Armageddon. The Undertaker promised to make someone "famous" and did so when he chokeslamed Rikishi off the roof of the cell.

In 2001, The Undertaker reunited with Kane as the Brothers of Destruction, challenging for the WWF Tag Team Championship once again. They received a shot at the title at No Way Out, facing Edge and Christian and then champions the Dudley Boyz in a Tables Match. The Brothers of Destruction dominated almost the entire match but were not the winners. The Undertaker was then booked to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania X-Seven, where he improved his WrestleMania winning streak to 9–0. He and Kane continued a storyline that focused on Triple H, who formed a "surprise alliance" with WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Brothers of Destruction were granted an opportunity to face Triple H and Austin for their titles. After The Undertaker and Kane acquired the WWF Tag Title from Edge and Christian, Triple H pinned Kane after attacking him with a sledgehammer at Backlash, where the Brothers of Destruction dropped the title. With Kane injured, The Undertaker feuded briefly with Steve Austin for his WWF Championship, but at Judgment Day, Austin retained his title.

As part of "The Invasion" storyline, The Undertaker's next nemesis was Diamond Dallas Page, who was obsessively following The Undertaker's wife Sara. (While they were presented as being married from the start of the storyline, in reality, Mark and Sara got married during the height of this feud. At SummerSlam, WCW Tag Team Champions The Undertaker and Kane defeated Page and his partner Chris Kanyon in a steel cage match to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. At Survivor Series, The Undertaker teamed with Kane, The Rock, Chris Jericho, and The Big Show to take on The Alliance's Steve Austin, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon, and Kurt Angle (this would be the last time that The Undertaker and Kane would team up until 2006). Angle pinned The Undertaker due to interference by Austin. After the Alliance was defeated, The Undertaker became a villain once again by forcing commentator Jim Ross to kiss Vince McMahon's ass. This was the beginning of a new persona for The Undertaker, as he cut his long hair short and called himself "Big Evil". At Vengeance, The Undertaker defeated Van Dam to capture the WWF Hardcore Championship.

The Undertaker's next storyline began at the Royal Rumble in 2002 when Maven eliminated him by dropkicking him from behind. Subsequently, The Undertaker eliminated Maven in return and brutally assaulted him backstage. On an episode of ''SmackDown!'', The Rock mentioned The Undertaker's elimination at the Royal Rumble, angering The Undertaker. The Undertaker responded by costing The Rock the number one contendership for the WWF Undisputed Championship. The storyline continued when The Rock cost The Undertaker his match with Maven for the Hardcore Championship. The two faced off at No Way Out, where The Undertaker lost due to interference from Ric Flair. This interference began a storyline with Flair, who declined a challenge to wrestle Undertaker at WrestleMania X8, and, as a result, Undertaker assaulted his son David Flair. Flair eventually accepted the match after The Undertaker threatened to inflict the same punishment on Flair's daughter. A no disqualification stipulation was added to the match, and The Undertaker defeated Flair.

After the storyline with Flair, The Undertaker defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at Backlash to win the number one contendership for the WWF Undisputed Championship. Later that night, he helped Hulk Hogan win his title match against the Undisputed Champion Triple H. The Undertaker then defeated Hogan for his fourth world championship at Judgment Day. The following night The Undertaker was defeated by Rob Van Dam for The WWE Undisputed Championship, however Ric Flair restarted the match and The Undertaker recapture his championship. On the July 1 episode of ''Raw'', The Undertaker turned into a fan favorite again after defeating Jeff Hardy in a ladder match and raising Hardy's hand as a show of respect. The Undertaker, however, dropped the title at Vengeance to The Rock in a triple threat match that also involved Kurt Angle. The Undertaker was then switched from Raw to SmackDown! (Smackdown! would remain as The Undertakers home since 2002 till present), alongside former Raw talent Brock Lesnar, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero. The Undertaker challenged Lesnar in a title match at Unforgiven that ended in a double-disqualification. Their feud carried over to No Mercy in a Hell in a Cell match. The Undertaker performed in the match with a legitimate broken hand and eventually lost to the champion.

The Undertaker took a leave from wrestling after the Big Show threw him off the stage, sparking a feud. The Undertaker returned at the Royal Rumble in 2003. He immediately continued his feud with Big Show and defeated him by submission at No Way Out with a triangle choke. A-Train entered the storyline by attempting to attack The Undertaker after the match, but Nathan Jones came to his aid. The storyline resumed as The Undertaker began to train Jones to wrestle, and the two were scheduled to fight Big Show and A-Train in a tag team match at WrestleMania XIX. Jones, however, was removed prior to the match, making it a handicap match, which The Undertaker won with the help of Jones.

Over the remainder of the year, The Undertaker entered a brief feud with John Cena and was booked to have two WWE Championship opportunities. The first, on the September 4 ''SmackDown!'', against Kurt Angle, ended in a no contest, due to interference from Brock Lesnar. The second, at No Mercy, was a Biker Chain match between The Undertaker and Lesnar, which Lesnar won with the help of Vince McMahon. This match resulted in a feud with McMahon, culminating at Survivor Series where The Undertaker lost a Buried Alive match against McMahon when Kane interfered. The Undertaker disappeared for some time following the match, with Kane claiming that he was "dead and buried forever."

Return of the Deadman (2004–2007)

In the storyline leading up to WrestleMania XX, Kane was haunted by vignettes proclaiming The Undertaker's return. The first was during the Royal Rumble when The Undertaker's bells tolled, distracting Kane and allowing Booker T to eliminate him. At WrestleMania XX, The Undertaker, accompanied by Paul Bearer and in his "Deadman" persona, returned and defeated Kane. At the following Smackdown! Pay-Per-View Judgment Day, The Undertaker would go on to defeat Booker T. Three months later, Bearer was kidnapped by the Dudley Boyz at the direction of Paul Heyman, who then took "control" of Undertaker. On Smackdown Undertaker attacked both Rob Van Dam and John Cena. The following week Cena confronted The Undertaker and was booked into a match by back then General Manager Kurt Angle to face The Undertaker which The Undertaker went on to win after hitting cena with his chain and delivered a Tombstone. At The Great American Bash The Undertaker fought a handicap match against the Dudleys, with the stipulation that if he didn't lay down and purposely lose, Heyman would bury Bearer in cement. The Undertaker won and stopped Heyman from burying Bearer, then buried him anyway, explaining that Bearer was merely a liability now and that he had no use for him anymore. After defeating the Dudley Boyz, The Undertaker began a feud by challenging then WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) to a title match at SummerSlam, which The Undertaker lost by disqualification. At No Mercy, The Undertaker and JBL competed in the first ever "Last Ride" match, although The Undertaker lost after Heidenreich interfered. After a brief program with Heidenreich, The Undertaker turned his focus to the WWE Championship once again. Along with Eddie Guerrero and Booker T, he challenged JBL to a championship rematch at Armageddon in a Fatal Four-Way match, in which The Undertaker was unsuccessful, again due to Heidenreich's interference. The feud culminated in a Casket match between The Undertaker and Heidenreich at the Royal Rumble, where The Undertaker sealed Heidenreich in a casket for the victory.

Soon afterward, Randy Orton challenged The Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania 21, in a storyline where Orton claimed that he would end The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak (this would be the first Wrestlemania in which the undefeated streak would become a major selling point for the Undertaker's matches at the marquee event and for Wrestlemania itself; it was only mentioned in passing before this). Even with help from his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Randy failed, and The Undertaker improved his WrestleMania record to 13–0. He returned for the June 16 episode of ''SmackDown!'' but lost to JBL, thanks to interference from Randy Orton. After The Great American Bash, The Undertaker became the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, a position that JBL felt he should have. As part of the feud, on the following ''SmackDown!'', The Undertaker lost a number one contender match against JBL, once again due to interference from Orton. With this, The Undertaker resumed his feud with Orton. At SummerSlam, Orton defeated The Undertaker in a WrestleMania rematch. The storyline intensified as the two taunted each other with caskets, leading to a casket match at No Mercy, in which The Undertaker lost to Randy and his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton. After the match, the Ortons poured gasoline on the casket and set it on fire. When the charred casket was opened, however, The Undertaker had once again vanished. He returned at the Survivor Series, emerging from a burning casket. The Undertaker returned to ''SmackDown!'' in early December to haunt Orton and set up a Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon. After winning the match, Calaway took a short hiatus from wrestling.

In early 2006 at the Royal Rumble, The Undertaker returned during Kurt Angle's celebration of his world title defense against Mark Henry on a horse drawn cart, signaling for a title shot. As part of their storyline feud, The Undertaker lost his match with Angle at No Way Out after a thirty minute bout. Undertaker cornered Angle after the match, and after a stare down, told Angle that he had his number and that he was not finished with him yet. The Undertaker had his No Way Out rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship against Angle on ''SmackDown!'' when Henry attacked The Undertaker from behind, costing him the title. This began an angle between the duo, as The Undertaker then challenged Henry to a Casket match at WrestleMania 22, and Henry, like Orton a year before him, vowed to end Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak. The Undertaker defeated Henry to become 14-0 at WrestleMania, keeping his storyline undefeated streak alive. During a rematch on the next edition of SmackDown!, The Great Khali made his debut and assaulted The Undertaker, signaling the end of one storyline and the beginning of a new one.

The Undertaker was not heard from until the May 5 episode of ''SmackDown!'', as Theodore Long delivered a challenge from The Undertaker to Khali for a match at Judgment Day. The Undertaker lost to Khali, and he did not appear again until the July 4 edition of ''SmackDown!'', when he accepted Khali's challenge to a Punjabi Prison match at The Great American Bash. Khali, however, was removed from the match and was replaced by ECW Champion The Big Show, over whom The Undertaker gained the victory. In the storyline, Teddy Long replaced Khali with Big Show as punishment for an attack on The Undertaker shortly before the match. Khali was then challenged to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam after interfering in The Undertaker's match with World Heavyweight Champion King Booker. Khali refused the challenge for SummerSlam, though Long made the match official for the August 18 episode of ''SmackDown!'' instead. The Undertaker won the match by striking Khali with the steel stairs, delivering several chair shots, and finishing him with a chokeslam.

The Undertaker's next match was with WWE United States Champion Mr. Kennedy at No Mercy but was disqualified in the match after he hit Kennedy with the championship belt. On the November 3 edition of ''SmackDown!'', The Undertaker reunited with Kane to form the Brothers of Destruction for the first time in five years, defeating the reluctant opposition team of Mr. Kennedy and MVP, with whom Kane was feuding with at the time. As part of the storyline, Kennedy defeated The Undertaker in a First Blood match at Survivor Series after interference from MVP, but finally defeated Kennedy in a Last Ride match at Armageddon. The two continued to feud into 2007 as Kennedy cost The Undertaker two World Heavyweight Championship opportunities for a championship match at the Royal Rumble.

World Heavyweight Champion (2007–2010)

The Undertaker won his first Royal Rumble match at the 2007 event, becoming the first man to enter the Rumble at number 30 and win the match. He then began a storyline with Batista, whom he defeated at WrestleMania 23 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. At Backlash in a Last Man Standing match, they had a rematch that ended in a draw when neither man was able to answer the ten-count, resulting in The Undertaker retaining the Championship. On the May 11 episode of ''SmackDown!'', The Undertaker and Batista participated in a steel cage match that ended in a draw when both men's feet touched the floor at the same time. After the match, Mark Henry returned and assaulted The Undertaker. Immediately after the assault, Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank title shot, and The Undertaker dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Edge. As The Undertaker laid in the ring, druids appeared and carried him to the backstage area.

During Calaway's rehabilitation, Henry quickly defeated local jobbers and bragged about his assault on Undertaker, until vignettes began playing promoting The Undertaker's return. The Undertaker returned at Unforgiven, successfully defeating Henry and again on ''SmackDown!'' two weeks later. Batista and The Undertaker reignited their feud at Cyber Sunday with the fans choosing the special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin, but Batista retained the world title. They battled again inside a Hell in a Cell at Survivor Series where Edge returned and interfered to help Batista retain the World Heavyweight Championship. In response to this, The Undertaker delivered a Tombstone piledriver to General Manager Vickie Guerrero, on the next ''SmackDown!'', sending her to the hospital. Returning Assistant-General Manager Theodore Long declared a Triple Threat match for the title at Armageddon, which Edge won.

At No Way Out, The Undertaker defeated Batista, Finlay, The Great Khali, Montel Vontavious Porter, and Big Daddy V in an Elimination Chamber, to become the number one contender for Edge's World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXIV. He defeated Edge at WrestleMania with his "Hell's Gate" submission hold, to win his second World Heavyweight Championship and elevate his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to 16–0. In a WrestleMania rematch, The Undertaker defeated Edge once again at Backlash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Vickie Guerrero announced that The Undertaker's "Hell's Gate" was an illegal hold and stripped him of the title. The Undertaker battled Edge for the vacant title at Judgment Day, which he won by countout. Vickie ordered that the title remain vacant, because titles cannot change hands in this way. Edge and The Undertaker faced each other again for the vacant championship at One Night Stand in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, which The Undertaker lost after interference from La Familia. As a result of the stipulation, Undertaker was forced to leave WWE.

On the July 25, 2008 episode of ''SmackDown'', Vickie Guerrero announced that she had reinstated The Undertaker, and that Edge would face him at SummerSlam in a Hell in a Cell match, which The Undertaker won. After the match, The Undertaker chokeslammed Edge from the top of a ladder and through the ring canvas. Following this match, Guerrero tried to make a peace offering with The Undertaker on ''SmackDown'' by apologizing, but The Undertaker told her that he is not the forgiving kind. At Unforgiven, as The Undertaker approached the ring to "take Guerrero's soul" and take her in a casket, the Big Show, who appeared at first to aid the Undertaker, betrayed and assaulted him. As a result of this altercation, The Undertaker and Big Show faced each other in a match at No Mercy, where the Big Show knocked The Undertaker out with a punch to the back of The Undertaker's head. At Cyber Sunday, The Undertaker defeated the Big Show in a Last Man Standing match after applying Hell's Gate. The Undertaker then went on to defeat the Big Show at Survivor Series in a casket match, to end the feud. At No Way Out The Undertaker was part of the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match, However he was unsuccessful at winning the match. He then became embroiled in a long time feud with Shawn Michaels over his WrestleMania undefeated streak and the fact that The Undertaker had never defeated Michaels in a singles match previously. The feud culminated in a match at WrestleMania XXV which The Undertaker won to extend his WrestleMania streak to a perfect record of 17–0. On the April 24 episode of ''SmackDown'', Big Show defeated him in a singles match by knockout after the match, Undertaker attacked Big Show. After SmackDown, Undertaker took hiatus from WWE on April 25, 2009.

After four month hiatus, The Undertaker returned at SummerSlam in August by attacking CM Punk, who had just won the World Heavyweight Championship from Jeff Hardy in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. At Breaking Point, The Undertaker faced Punk in a submission match. The Undertaker had originally won the match with his Hell's Gate submission hold, but the match was restarted by SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long, who ruled that the ban placed on the move by Vickie Guerrero was still in effect. Punk went on to win the match with his Anaconda Vise when referee Scott Armstrong called for the bell, despite Undertaker never submitting in a recreation of the Montreal Screwjob, which took place in the same venue in 1997. On the September 25 episode of SmackDown, Theodore Long announced that the ban had now been officially lifted, after being released from a casket that The Undertaker had apparently placed him in. The feud between the two continued and at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, The Undertaker won the World Heavyweight Championship from Punk in a Hell in a Cell match. The Undertaker successfully defended the title against CM Punk on ''SmackDown'', in a Fatal Four Way match at Bragging Rights, and in a Triple Threat match at Survivor Series. He faced Batista at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs for the championship, and won when the match was restarted by Long, after Batista had originally won after utilising a low blow.

At the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, a pyrotechnics malfunction momentarily engulfed The Undertaker in flames during his ring entrance. He was able to continue with his scheduled match, with a burn on his chest that "looked like a bad sunburn" according to a WWE spokesman. He lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Chris Jericho after interference from Shawn Michaels. Undertaker had been rebuffing Michaels' requests for a WrestleMania rematch, but the night after Elimination Chamber he agreed to the match on the condition that Michaels' career was on the line.At WrestleMania, The Undertaker defeated Michaels to end his career in a match with no countouts or disqualifications. After a hiatus (which included wrestling two matches on Raw), he returned to ''SmackDown'' on May 28, defeating Rey Mysterio to qualify for a spot in the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view to compete for the World Heavyweight Championship. During the match, The Undertaker suffered a concussion, broken orbital bone, and broken nose; he was visibly bleeding profusely on camera by the end of the match. To cover for the injury, Kane revealed The Undertaker had been found in a vegetative state; Mysterio took his place in the match and won the World Heavyweight Championship. While attempting to learn which superstar had attacked The Undertaker, Kane defeated Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Kane and Mysterio continued to clash as they accused one another of being the assailant behind the attack.

At SummerSlam, the Undertaker returned to confront Kane and Rey Mysterio, only to be overpowered and Tombstoned by Kane. With Kane revealed as his attacker, the two feuded for the next few months over the World Heavyweight Championship. After losing to Kane at Night of Champions, Paul Bearer returned as Undertaker's manager on an episode of ''SmackDown''. However, Bearer attacked him at Hell in a Cell to help Kane win once again. The feud ended at Bragging Rights when The Nexus helped Kane defeat Undertaker in a Buried Alive match. This gave him an excuse to leave for surgery on a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Feud with Triple H (2011)

After the Royal Rumble 2011, promos showing The Undertaker entering and standing within an old house began airing. Each promo would end with the date 2-21-11 being burned into the screen. On the February 21 episode of ''Raw'' following the Elimination Chamber 2011, The Undertaker returned to ''Raw'', but was interrupted by Triple H, who also returned moments later and confronted The Undertaker. The two of them stared at the WrestleMania XXVII marquee, which turned out to be a challenge that The Undertaker accepted. The match was then made official on WWE's official website and then turned into a No Holds Barred match. At WrestleMania XXVII, after surviving three Pedigrees and a ''Tombstone Piledriver'', Undertaker forced Triple H to tap out to Hell's Gate, extending his streak to 19–0. Following the match, The Undertaker was taken out on a stretcher.

Personal life

Calaway graduated from Waltrip High School in 1983 where he was a member of the basketball team. Calaway married his first wife, Jodi Lynn, in 1989, and they had a son, Gunner, born in 1993, before the marriage ended in 1999.Calaway married his second wife, Sara, in St Petersburg, Florida on July 21, 2000. The couple had two daughters together: Chasey (born on November 21, 2002) and Gracie (born on May 15, 2005). As of 2007, he and Sara were divorced, and he was romantically linked to former wrestler Michelle McCool, whom he married on June 26, 2010, in Houston, Texas.

Calaway was an avid boxing fan and carried the Flag of the United States while leading Team Pacquiao to the ring during the Pacquiao vs. Velázquez fight in 2005. This was also confirmed by fellow wrestler Batista in a televised interview for the Philippine news program ''TV Patrol World''. Calaway is also an avid mixed martial arts fan and has attended several Ultimate Fighting Championship shows, in which during a recent show, Calaway had a confrontation with former WWE star Brock Lesnar. During an interview that an internet show conducted with Calaway, Lesnar walked past him, with Calaway answering Lesnar's stare with "you wanna do it?".

Calaway invests in real estate with business partner Scott Everhart. Calaway and Everhart finished construction on a $2.7m building in Loveland, Colorado called "The Calahart," a portmanteau of their last names. Calaway and his ex-wife Sara established The Zeus Compton Calaway Save the Animals fund at the Texas A&M; College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to help pay for lifesaving treatments for large-breed dogs.

Other media

Calaway had a supporting role in the 1991 movie Suburban Commando opposite Hulk Hogan and Christopher Lloyd. In 2001, Calaway appeared out of character on the Canadian sports show Off the Record with Michael Landsberg.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

*As The Undertaker

*Chokeslam

**''Hell's Gate'' (Modified gogoplata) – 2008–present

**''Last Ride'' (Elevated powerbomb) – 2000–present

**''Tombstone Piledriver''

**Triangle choke – 2003–2008

*As "Mean" Mark Callous

*''Callous Clutch'' (Jaw clutch)

*Heart punch

Signature moves

Ballistic punching combination

Big boot

Corner clothesline

Fujiwara armbar

Guillotine leg drop onto the chest of an apron-hung opponent

''Heatseeking Missile'' (Missile dropkick) - 1984-1990

Iron Claw - 1990-1994

Kneebar

No-handed over the top rope suicide dive

''Old School'' (Arm twist ropewalk chop)

Reverse STO

Running DDT

Running flying clothesline

Running jumping leg drop

Sidewalk slam

Snake Eyes

*'' TCB — Takin' Care Of Business'' (Standing dragon sleeper) - 2002-2007

Wrist-lock hold followed by multiple shoulder blocks

Managers

General Skandor Akbar

Paul Bearer

Paul E. Dangerously

Theodore Long

Brother Love

Dutch Mantell

Downtown Bruno

Nicknames

"The Phenom"

"The Deadman"

"The Lord of Darkness"

"The Last Outlaw"

"The American Bad Ass"

*"Booger Red"

*"The Conscience of the WWE"

"The Red Devil"

"Big Evil"

*"The Demon of Death Valley"

*"The Man From The Dark Side"

Entrance themes

*New Japan Pro Wrestling

**As Punisher Dice Morgan

***"Miracle Man" by Ozzy Osbourne

*National Wrestling Alliance

**"China White" by Scorpions

*World Championship Wrestling

**'''As "Mean" Mark Callous

***"China White" by Scorpions

*World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE

**As The Undertaker

***"Funeral Dirge" by Jim Johnston (November 19 1990–August 19 1991)

***"Funeral March" by Jim Johnston (August 26 1991–January 22 1994)

***"The Grim Reaper" by Jim Johnston (August 29 1994–November 13 1995)

***"Graveyard Symphony" by Jim Johnston (November 19 1995–July 20 1998; January 11 1999–March 22 1999)

***"Dark Side" by Jim Johnston (July 26 1998–December 13 1998)

***"Ministry" by Jim Johnston (March 28 1999–September 23 1999)

***"American Bad Ass" by Kid Rock (May 21 2000–December 4 2000)

***"Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by Limp Bizkit (December 10 2000–May 6 2002) (March 30 2003)

***"Dead Man" by Jim Johnston (May 19 2002–September 19 2002)

***"You're Gonna Pay" by Jim Johnston (September 22 2002–November 16 2003)

***"Rest in Peace" by Jim Johnston (March 14 2004–February 21 2011)

**"Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold This Body Down)" by Johnny Cash (March 7 2011–April 3 2011)

Filmography

''Poltergeist: The Legacy'' ''Poltergeist: The Legacy'' ''Beyond the Mat'' ''Celebrity Deathmatch'' ''Downtown (TV series) ''Suburban Commando''

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Film	Role	Notes
2002	''America's Most Wanted''	The Undertaker/Mark Calaway
1999	|	The Soul Chaser	Brother's Keeper episode
1999	|	The Soul Chaser	The Mephisto Strain episode{Brother's Keeper - flashbacks' sequence opener}
1999	|	The Undertaker/Mark Calaway
1999	|	The Undertaker	(voice) Halloween Episode
1999	Downtown'' ||	The Undertaker	(voice) The Con episode
1991	|	Hutch

Championships and accomplishments

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI Feud of the Year (1991) vs. The Ultimate Warrior

PWI Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring

PWI Match of the Year (2009)vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV

*PWI Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI

PWI ranked him #2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002

PWI ranked him #21 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

United States Wrestling Association

USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Class Wrestling Association

WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment

World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

WWF/E Championship (4 times)

WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)

WWF Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Steve Austin (1), The Big Show (2), The Rock (1) and Kane (2)

WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kane

*Royal Rumble (2007)

*Slammy Award for WWF's Greatest Hit (1996) Sucking Diesel

*Slammy Award for Best Tattoo (1997)

*Slammy Award for Best Entrance Music (1997)

*Slammy Award for Star of the Highest Magnitude (1997)

*Slammy Award for Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV

*Slammy Award for Moment of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI

Match of the Year (2007) vs. Batista at WrestleMania 23

Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV

Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI

*One-on-one Pay-Per-View Wins (73)

*Undefeated streak at WrestleMania (19–0)

The WWE ranked him at # 2 in their list of "Top 50 Superstars of all Time", behind Shawn Michaels who was ranked # 1. However, the list has been disputed and criticized by several WWE Hall of Famers including Jim Ross and Stone Cold Steve Austin on their Twitter accounts.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*5 Star Match (1997) vs. Shawn Michaels in a Hell in a Cell at Badd Blood.

Best Gimmick (1990–1994)

Best Heel (1991)

Feud of the Year (2007) vs. Batista

Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV

Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI

Most Overrated (2001)

Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2001)

Worst Feud of the Year (1993) vs. Giant González

Worst Worked Match of the Year (2001) with Kane vs. KroniK at Unforgiven

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)

The Mirror

The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania has been ranked by The Mirror as the 7th greatest winning streak in sports history (it was the only streak from professional wrestling to be ranked in the list).

Won during The Invasion.}} The Undertaker's fourth reign was as WWE Undisputed Champion.}}

WrestleMania record

Year

WrestleMania	|	Record	Wrestler	Notes
	1991	1-0	Jimmy Snuka
	1992	2-0	Jake Roberts
	1993	3-0
	1995	4-0	King Kong Bundy
	1996	5-0
	1997	6-0
	1998	7-0
	1999	8-0
	2001	9-0	Triple H
	2002	10-0	Ric Flair
	2003	11-0	Big Show (wrestler)
	2004	12-0	Kane
	2005	13-0	[[Randy Orton
	2006	14-0	Mark Henry
	2007	15-0
	2008	16-0
	2009	17-0	Shawn Michaels
	2010	18-0	Shawn Michaels
	2011	19-0	Triple H

References

External links

WWE profile

The Undertaker at Online World of Wrestling

Personas of the Undertaker article at Wrestling Wikia

The Undertaker Vs Triple H Article at The Wrestling Cafe

Undertaker's Complete Biography at Wrestling Gimmicks

Category:1965 births Category:American professional wrestlers Category:California State University, Long Beach alumni Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Houston, Texas Category:University of St. Thomas (Texas) alumni

ar:أندرتيكر ast:Mark Calaway bar:Mark Calaway bg:Гробаря ca:Mark Calaway cs:The Undertaker da:The Undertaker de:The Undertaker et:The Undertaker el:The Undertaker es:Mark Calaway eo:Mark Calaway fa:آندرتیکر fr:The Undertaker gl:Mark Calaway gu:ધ અંડરટેકર ko:언더테이커 hy:Անդերթեյքեր hi:द अंडरटेकर id:Undertaker it:Mark Calaway he:מארק קאלאווי kn:ದಿ ಅಂಡರ್‌ಟೇಕರ್ lt:The Undertaker ml:ദി അണ്ടർറ്റേക്കർ nl:Mark Calaway ja:ジ・アンダーテイカー no:Mark Calaway pl:Mark William Calaway pt:The Undertaker ro:The Undertaker ru:Гробовщик (рестлер) scn:Mark William Calaway - The Undertaker simple:The Undertaker fi:The Undertaker sv:Mark Calaway ta:தி அண்டர்டேக்கர் th:ดิอันเดอร์เทเกอร์ tr:The Undertaker uk:Андертейкер vi:The Undertaker zh:送葬者 (摔角手)

Name	Triple H
Names	Triple HHunter Hearst HelmsleyJean-Paul LévesqueTerra Ryzing
Height
Weight
Birth date	July 27, 1969
Birth place	Nashua, New Hampshire
Resides	Greenwich, Connecticut
Work	Wrestler and actor
Years active	1994–present (wrestler)2004–present (actor)
Billed	Greenwich, Connecticut
Trainer	Killer Kowalski
Debut	March 24, 1992
Retired	}}

Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969) is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of his former ring name, ''Hunter Hearst Helmsley''. He currently appears as the Chief Operating Officer of WWE.

Levesque began his wrestling career in the International Wrestling Federation as Terra Ryzing before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. After briefly using the Ryzing name, he changed his character to Jean-Paul Lévesque, a French-Canadian aristocrat which would be similar to his character Hunter Hearst Helmsley, that he used in his early years with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1995 onward. He later abbreviated his name to Triple H and adopted an alternative image in the stable D-Generation X (DX). After the dissolution of DX, Triple H was pushed as a main event wrestler, winning several singles championships. As part of a storyline, Triple H married Stephanie McMahon, who later became his real-life spouse. In 2003, Triple H formed another stable known as Evolution, and in 2006 and 2009, reformed DX with Shawn Michaels.

Overall, Levesque has won 23 championships in WWE, including 13 World Championships, having won the WWF/E Championship eight times, and the World Heavyweight Championship five times. He has the highest total number of world title reigns sanctioned in WWE, and is recognized as having the second highest total in history, after Ric Flair, with 16. In addition, Levesque won the 1997 King of the Ring, the 2002 Royal Rumble, and was the second Grand Slam Championship winner. Outside of wrestling, Levesque has made numerous guest appearances in film and on television.

Professional wrestling career

Early life

Paul Levesque was born in Nashua, New Hampshire. In his youth, he was a fan of professional wrestling and his favorite wrestler was Ric Flair. Levesque became aware of bodybuilding at the age of fourteen; after graduating from high school in 1987, Levesque entered several bodybuilding competitions. He was crowned Teenage Mr. Ola Ex 10 in 1988.

World Championship Wrestling (1994–95)

In early 1994, Levesque signed a one year contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In his first televised match, Levesque debuted as a villain named Terror Risin' and defeated Keith Cole. His ring name was soon modified to Terra Ryzing, which he used until mid-1994, when he was renamed Jean-Paul Lévesque. This gimmick referred to his surname's French origins and he was asked to speak with a French accent, as he could not speak French. During this time, he began using his finishing maneuver, the ''Pedigree''.

Levesque had a brief storyline feud with Alex Wright that ended at Starrcade 1994 with Wright pinning him. Between late 1994 and early 1995, Levesque briefly teamed with Lord Steven Regal, whose snobby British persona was similar to Levesque's character. The team was short-lived, however, as Levesque left for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in January 1995 after WCW turned down his request to be pushed as a singles competitor.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

The Connecticut Blueblood (1995–97)

As a continuation of his gimmick in WCW, Levesque started his WWF career as the "Connecticut Blueblood" Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Levesque appeared in taped vignettes, in which he talked about how to use proper etiquette, up until his wrestling debut on the April 30, 1995 episode of ''WWF Wrestling Challenge''.

Although he was heavily pushed in the first few months after his debut, Levesque's career stalled during 1996, starting off with being mired in a feud with Duke "The Dumpster" Droese following a loss during the ''Free for All'' at the 1996 Royal Rumble. Up until that event, his angle included appearing on television each week with a different female valet (which included Playboy Playmates Shae Marks and Tylyn John). Sable was his valet at WrestleMania XII, and after his loss to Ultimate Warrior, as part of the storyline, he took his aggressions out on her. The debuting Marc Mero—her real-life husband—came to her rescue, starting a feud between the two wrestlers.

During 1996, Helmsley appeared on an episode of ''WWF Superstars'' in a match against Marty Garner. When Levesque attempted to perform the ''Pedigree'', Garner mistook the maneuver for a double underhook suplex and tried to jump up with the move, causing him to land squarely on top of his head and suffer neck damage. Garner sued the WWF, eventually settling out of court and later discussed the incident in an appearance on ''The Montel Williams Show''.

Levesque was known backstage as one of the members of The Kliq, a group of wrestlers including Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman and Scott Hall, who were known for influencing Vince McMahon and the WWF creative team. It has been claimed that he was scheduled to win the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, but the victory was instead awarded to Stone Cold Steve Austin after the Madison Square Garden Incident, in which the Kliq broke character after a match to say goodbye to the departing Nash and Hall. Despite the punishment, Helmsley did have several successes following the MSG Incident. Mr. Perfect became his manager and he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship for the first time on October 21, 1996, defeating Marc Mero. When Mr. Perfect left the WWF, his departure was explained to be a result of Helmsley turning his back on his manager as soon as he won the Intercontinental Championship. Levesque held the belt for nearly four months before dropping it to Rocky Maivia on the February 13, 1997 special edition of ''Monday Night Raw'', called ''Thursday Raw Thursday''. For a very brief time, Helmsley was accompanied by Mr. Hughes, who was his storyline bodyguard. After losing the Intercontinental title, he feuded with Goldust, defeating him at WrestleMania 13. During their feud, Chyna debuted as his new bodyguard.

D-Generation X (1997–99)

Helmsley's push resumed in 1997, when he won the 1997 King of the Ring tournament by defeating Mankind in the finals. Later that year, Shawn Michaels, Helmsley, Chyna and Rick Rude formed D-Generation X (DX). This stable later became known for pushing the envelope, as Michaels and Helmsley made risqué promos—spawning the catchphrase "Suck It", using a "crotch chop" hand motion, and sarcastically deriding Bret Hart and Canada. By that point, Helmsley had fully dropped the "blueblood snob" gimmick, appearing in T-shirts and leather. During this period, his ring name was shortened to simply Triple H. Even after the DX versus Hart Foundation storyline ended, Helmsley continued to feud with the sole remaining member Owen Hart over the WWF European Championship. This ended in a match between the two at WrestleMania XIV, with the stipulation that Chyna had to be handcuffed to then-Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter. Helmsley won after Chyna threw powder into Slaughter's eyes, momentarily "blinding" him and allowing her to interfere in the match.

After WrestleMania, Michaels was forced into temporary retirement due to a legitimate back injury sustained at the Royal Rumble, with Triple H taking over the leadership position in DX, claiming that his now-former associate had "dropped the ball". He introduced the returning X-Pac the night after WrestleMania and joined forces with the New Age Outlaws. As 1998 went along, D-Generation X became more popular, turning the group from villains to fan-favorites. It was also during this time that Triple H began a feud with the leader of the Nation of Domination and rising WWF villain, The Rock. This storyline rivalry eventually led to a feud over the Intercontinental Championship, which Triple H won in a ladder match at SummerSlam. He did not hold the title long, however, as he was sidelined with a legitimate knee injury. When The Rock won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series, the rivalry between the two continued, as DX fought The Corporation stable, of which The Rock was the main star. Triple H received a shot at the WWF Championship on the January 25, 1999 edition of ''Raw'' in an "I Quit" match against The Rock, but the match ended when Triple H was forced to quit or see his aide Chyna chokeslammed by Kane. This began a new angle for Triple H, as Chyna betrayed him by attacking him after the match and joining The Corporation.

At WrestleMania XV, Triple H beat Kane with the aid of Chyna, who was thought to have rejoined DX. Later on in the night, he betrayed his long-time friend and fellow DX member X-Pac by helping Shane McMahon retain the European Championship and joined The Corporation. turning heel in the process. After Triple H's heel turn in early 1999, he moved away from his DX look, taping his fists for matches, sporting new and shorter wrestling trunks, and adopting a shorter hairstyle. Levesque's gimmick changed as he fought to earn a WWF title shot. After numerous failed attempts at winning the championship, Triple H and Mankind challenged WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin to a Triple Threat match at SummerSlam, which featured Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee. Mankind won the match by pinning Austin. The following night on ''Raw'', Triple H defeated Mankind to win his first WWF Championship.

Triple H dropped the WWF Championship to Vince McMahon on the September 16, 1999 edition of ''SmackDown!'' before regaining it at Unforgiven in a Six-Pack Challenge that included Davey Boy Smith, Big Show, Kane, The Rock, and Mankind. He defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Mercy before dropping the title to Big Show at Survivor Series. Triple H then continued his feud with Vince McMahon by marrying his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. He then defeated McMahon at Armageddon. As a result of the feud, an angle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon began which carried the WWF throughout the next seventeen months; together they were known as the "McMahon-Helmsley Faction".

McMahon–Helmsley Era (2000–01)

By January 2000, Triple H dubbed himself "The Game," implying that he was on top of the wrestling world and was nicknamed "The Cerebral Assassin" by Jim Ross. On the January 3 edition of Raw is War, Triple H defeated The Big Show to win his third WWF championship.

Triple H feuded with Mick Foley in early 2000. They both fought at the Royal Rumble in a Street Fight Match for the WWF Championship, which Triple won after doing two pedigrees on Foley. The storyline would come to an end at No Way Out in a Hell in a Cell where if Mick Foley lost he would have to retire. Triple H retained his title at the PPV and thus ending Mick Foley's fifteen year career. Triple H pinned The Rock at WrestleMania 2000 to retain the title, but lost it at Backlash to The Rock. He regained it three weeks later, in an Iron Man match at Judgment Day, only to lose it back to The Rock at King of the Ring. Triple H then entered a storyline feud with Chris Jericho, which culminated in a Last Man Standing match at Fully Loaded.

A later storyline feud between Triple H and Steve Austin started when it emerged that Triple H had paid off Rikishi to run down Austin at Survivor Series, causing him to take a year off. In reality, Austin's previous neck injuries started bothering him again, forcing him to have surgery. In 2000, Triple H and Austin had a match at Survivor Series that ended when Triple H tried to trick Austin into coming into the parking lot to run him over again, only to have Austin lift his car up with a forklift and flip the car onto its roof 10 feet high. Triple H returned a few weeks later and attacked Austin. The feud continued into 2001 and ended in a Three Stages of Hell match in which Helmsley defeated Austin. In 2001, Triple H also feuded with The Undertaker, who defeated him at WrestleMania X-Seven. The night after WrestleMania, Triple H interfered in a steel cage match between Austin (who had just won the WWF Championship) and The Rock where he joined forces with Austin and double teamed on The Rock, forming a tag team called The Two-Man Power Trip. Triple H then defeated Chris Jericho for his third Intercontinental Championship on the April 5 edition of ''SmackDown!'', and won it for a fourth time two weeks later by defeating Jeff Hardy. Triple H then became a tag team champion for the first time at Backlash when he and Austin defeated Kane and The Undertaker in a winner-take-all tag match. As Triple H was still Intercontinental Champion, the win made him a double champion.

During the May 21, 2001 episode of ''Raw'', he suffered a legitimate and career-threatening injury. In the night's main event, he and Austin were defending the Tag Team Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. At one point, Jericho had Austin trapped in the Walls of Jericho. Triple H ran in to break it up, but just as he did, he suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle, causing it to come completely off the bone. Despite his inability to place any weight on his leg, Triple H was able to complete the match. He even allowed Jericho to put him in the ''Walls of Jericho'', a move that places considerable stress on the quadriceps. The tear required an operation, which was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. This injury brought an abrupt end to the McMahon-Helmsley Era, as the rigorous rehabilitation process kept Triple H out of action for over eight months, completely missing The Invasion storyline.

Return from injury and Shawn Michaels feud (2002)

Triple H returned to ''Raw'' as a face on January 7, 2002 at Madison Square Garden. He won the Royal Rumble and received an Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8. At WrestleMania X8, Triple H beat Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship. After holding the title for a month, Helmsley dropped it to Hulk Hogan at Backlash. Triple H then became exclusive to the ''SmackDown!'' roster due to the WWF Draft Lottery and continued to feud with Jericho, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match at Judgment Day. On June 6, Triple H defeated Hogan in a Number One Contenders match for the Undisputed Championship at the King of the Ring against The Undertaker but was unsuccessful at the event.

In the interim, between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, the McMahon-Helmsley Faction was brought to an official on-screen conclusion. By the time he returned, Triple H's on-screen marriage to Stephanie McMahon was on the rocks, so Stephanie faked a pregnancy in order to get him back on her side. When he learned that it was fake, he dumped her publicly on Raw when they were supposed to renew their wedding vows. Stephanie aligned with Jericho afterward, but she was forced to leave after losing a Triple Threat match on ''Raw'' the night after WrestleMania when she was pinned by Triple H. The divorce, and thus the storyline, was finalized at Vengeance.

Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels had made his return to WWE and joined the New World Order (NWO). Michaels and Kevin Nash planned to bring Triple H over to Raw in order to put him into the group. Vince McMahon, however, disbanded the nWo following several backstage complications and brought in Eric Bischoff as the Raw brand's new general manager. One of Bischoff's first intentions was to follow up on the nWo's plan and bring Triple H over to the Raw roster. Triple H did indeed go to the Raw brand, reuniting with Shawn Michaels, but on July 22 he turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him during what was supposed to be a DX reunion, turning heel once again. The following week, Triple H smashed Michaels' face into a car window to prove that Michaels was weak. These events led to the beginning of a long storyline rivalry between the former partners and an eventual "Unsanctioned Street Fight" at SummerSlam, in which Michaels came out of retirement to win. Afterwards, however, Triple H attacked him with a sledgehammer, and Michaels was carried out of the ring.

Before September 2, 2002, WWE recognized only one champion for both the Raw and SmackDown! brands. After SummerSlam, champion Brock Lesnar became exclusive to SmackDown!, leaving Raw without a champion. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then awarded Triple H the Big Gold Belt (which had been used for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and WCW World Heavyweight Championship) making him the first World Heavyweight Champion of the WWE brand. Triple H retained his title against Rob Van Dam at Unforgiven when Ric Flair hit RVD with a sledgehammer, and against Kane at No Mercy in a title unification match in which Triple H won the Intercontinental Championship and unified it with his World Heavyweight Championship, but he eventually dropped the belt to Shawn Michaels in the first ever Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series. He defeated RVD for the title shot at Armageddon with Michaels as special referee. He regained the title from Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon.

Evolution (2003–05)

In January 2003, Triple H formed a stable known as Evolution with Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista. Triple H and Ric Flair challenged RVD and Kane for the World Tag Team Titles, but they lost the match. The group was pushed on Raw from 2003 to 2004. The height of their dominance occurred after Armageddon when every member of Evolution left the pay-per-view holding a title. Triple H held the World Heavyweight Championship for most of 2003 until Unforgiven, losing the title to Bill Goldberg. After a failed attempt to win back the title from Goldberg in a rematch at the Survivor Series, he finally regained the championship against Goldberg in a triple threat match at Armageddon which also involved Kane. At the 2004 Royal Rumble, Triple H and Shawn Michaels fought in a Last Man Standing match to a double countout, so Triple H retained the title as a result. Triple H dropped the title to Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX, and he was unable to reclaim the belt from Benoit in subsequent rematches, including a rematch from WrestleMania between Triple H, Benoit, and Shawn Michaels at Backlash.

He then ended his feud with Michaels, defeating him in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. After another failed attempt, losing to Benoit at Vengeance, he focused on Eugene, beating him at SummerSlam. Triple H then regained the title from former associate Randy Orton at Unforgiven. Following a Triple Threat World Heavyweight title defense against Benoit and Edge on the November 29, 2004 episode of ''Raw'', the World Heavyweight Championship became vacant for the first time. At New Year's Revolution, Triple H won the Elimination Chamber to begin his tenth world title reign. At WrestleMania 21, Triple H lost the championship to Batista, and subsequently lost two rematches at Backlash and Vengeance. After Vengeance, Triple H took hiatus from WWE due to suffering from his minor neck problems.

After four month hiatus, Triple H returned to Raw on October 3, 2005 as part of ''WWE Homecoming''. He teamed with fellow Evolution member Flair to defeat Chris Masters and Carlito. After the match, Triple H turned on Flair hitting Flair with a sledgehammer, sparking a feud between the duo. Flair defeated Triple H in a Steel cage match at Taboo Tuesday for Flair's Intercontinental Championship. Subsequently, Triple H defeated Flair in a non-title Last Man Standing match at Survivor Series to end their feud.

D-Generation X reunion (2006–07)

Although Triple H failed to win the Royal Rumble match at Royal Rumble, another championship opportunity arose for Triple H in the ''Road to WrestleMania Tournament''. He won the tournament, granting him a match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22. At WrestleMania, Triple H and John Cena fought in the main event for the title, which Triple H lost via submission. Later that month at Backlash, Triple H was involved in another WWE Championship match, fighting Edge and Cena in a Triple Threat match, where he lost again. In an act of frustration, a bloodied Triple H used his sledgehammer to attack both Edge and Cena and then performed a number of DX crotch chops. Triple H unsuccessfully attempted to win the WWE title from Cena on numerous occasions, blaming his shortcomings on Vince McMahon, which eventually led to a feud between the McMahons and Triple H. Shawn Michaels returned on the June 12 edition of ''Raw'' and soon reunited with Triple H to reform D-Generation X, turning Triple H into a fan-favorite once again for the first time since 2002. DX defeated the Spirit Squad at Vengeance in a 5-on-2 handicap match. They continued their feud with Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and the Spirit Squad for several weeks. They then defeated the Spirit Squad again on the July 18, 2006 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event in a 5-on-2 Elimination match. They then again defeated the McMahons at SummerSlam, withstanding the attack of several handpicked WWE superstars by Vince McMahon. At Unforgiven, D-Generation X overcame the odds once again, defeating The McMahons and ECW World Champion Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, DX embarrassed Vince by shoving his face in between Big Show's buttocks, and DX won when Triple H broke a sledgehammer over the shoulders of Vince McMahon after Michaels performed ''Sweet Chin Music'' on him.

At Cyber Sunday during DX's feud with Rated-RKO, special guest referee Eric Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a weapon to give Rated-RKO the win. At Survivor Series, DX got their revenge when their team defeated Edge and Orton's team in an Elimination Match. In January 2007, at New Year's Revolution, DX and Rated-RKO fought to a no-contest after Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps (similar to the one he suffered in 2001 but in the other leg) fifteen minutes into the match. Surgery was successfully performed on January 9, 2007 by Dr. James Andrews.

WWE Champion (2007–09)

Triple H made his return at SummerSlam, where he defeated King Booker. After his return, he won the WWE Championship at No Mercy after beating the newly named Champion, Randy Orton, making Triple H an eleven-time world champion. In the same event, Triple H also defeated Umaga in his first title defense after Mr. McMahon declared his already-scheduled bout with Umaga, a title match. McMahon then announced, Orton would receive a title rematch in a Last Man Standing match in the final match of the event, which Orton won after an ''RKO'' onto the announcer's table, thus ending Triple H's sixth reign. Triple H's title reign at No Mercy is the fifth shortest reign in WWE history, only lasting through the duration of the event. After winning the Raw Elimination Chamber at No Way Out, Triple H gained a WWE Championship match, by outlasting five other men, last eliminating Jeff Hardy after a Pedigree on a steel chair. However, at WrestleMania XXIV, Randy Orton retained after punting Triple H and pinning John Cena following Triple H's ''Pedigree'' on Cena. A month later, at Backlash, Triple H won the title in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match against Orton, Cena, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield, tying the record for most WWE Championship reigns with The Rock. Triple H then retained the title against Orton at Judgment Day in a Steel Cage match and again at One Night Stand in a Last Man Standing match. Orton suffered a legitimate collarbone injury during the match, thus ending the feud prematurely.

On June 23, 2008 edition of ''Raw'', Triple H was drafted to the SmackDown brand as a part of the 2008 WWE Draft, in the process making the WWE Championship exclusive to SmackDown. At The Great American Bash, he defeated Edge in main event. At SummerSlam, The Great Khali was the number one contender for Triple H's WWE Championship, but was Triple H retained his title after hitting a Pedigree. At Unforgiven, Triple H narrowly retained the title in a Championship Scramble match. Jeff Hardy was then named Triple H's opponent for No Mercy, but the champion retained the title. At Cyber Sunday the fans voted for Hardy for becoming the number one contender, but Hunter narrowly defeated him again, and retained his WWE Championship.

During a match at Survivor Series between WWE Champion Triple H and Vladimir Kozlov, The Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced that Edge had returned and the making the match a triple threat match. During the match Jeff Hardy interfered and nailed Triple H with a steel chair meant for Edge, thus costing him the title, and resulting in Edge winning his sixth World Title. T Armageddon, Triple H faced Hardy and Edge in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship, but failed to regain the title after Jeff Hardy pinned then champion Edge to win the match and the title. Triple H entered at number 7 in the 2009 Royal Rumble, but was last eliminated by Randy Orton. In February at Elimination Chamber Smackdown match Triple H won his 13th times World Champion making him the second most WWE reign a total of 8.

The Legacy feud and DX farewell (2009–11)

On the February 16, 2009 episode of ''Raw'', Triple H made an appearance aiding Stephanie and Shane McMahon, after they were attacked by Randy Orton. On the February 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', Triple H was interviewed by Jim Ross, in the interview, footage was shown highlighting the events that occurred on the February 16 episode of ''Raw''. Ross asked Triple H how he felt seeing that footage, in response, he broke character (after 5 years of marriage) by admitting that Vince McMahon is his father-in-law, that Shane is his brother-in-law, and that Stephanie is his wife, thus creating a rivalry between Triple H and Orton. On the February 23 episode of ''Raw'', Triple H confronted Orton, before attacking him, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes (a group known as The Legacy) with a sledgehammer and chasing them from the arena. Weeks later, it was announced that Triple H would defend the WWE championship against Orton at WrestleMania XXV. At the event, Triple H defeated Orton to retain the title.Triple H would later face Orton and Legacy in a six man tag team match with Shane McMahon and Batista for the WWE championship at Backlash (2009). Triple H lost the title after trying to stop Batista from hitting Cody Rhodes with a chair then being hit with a RKO by Orton followed by the running punt to the head, allowing Orton to win the WWE championship and putting Hunter out of action for six weeks. At The Bash, Triple H would lose to Orton in a Three Stages of Hell match for the WWE Title. At Night of Champions, Triple H would again lose to Orton in a match for the WWE Championship, this time in a Triple Threat match, also involving John Cena. On the August 10, 2009 episode of ''Raw'', video segments aired in which Triple H met with Michaels at an office cafeteria in Texas where he was working as a chef; throughout the segments, Triple H would try to convince Michaels return to WWE from hiatus. After several incidents during the segments (including a grease grill burgers on fire and Shawn shouting at a little girl), Michaels agreed to team with Triple H to face The Legacy at SummerSlam, superkicking the girl, and quitting from his chef job in the process. On the August 17 episode of ''Raw'', in St. Louis, MO, Michaels and Triple H officially reunited as DX, but as they were in the process of their in-ring promo, Legacy attacked them both. Their first match after reuniting was against Legacy at SummerSlam, which they won. At Breaking Point, however, they lost to Legacy in the first ever Submissions Count Anywhere match in WWE history.

At the October pay-per-view Hell in a Cell, DX defeated Legacy in a Hell in a Cell match. DX would challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship in a triple threat match at Survivor Series with both men failing to win the title, although they were able to retain their friendship and tag team partnership. On December 13 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, DX defeated Chris Jericho and The Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match; the first tag team championship reign for Michaels and Triple H as a tag team.

On December 21, Triple H announced that Hornswoggle was the new DX mascot. This came about after Hornswoggle sued DX for emotional and physical distress due to them not allowing him to join DX. After being taken to court where they were ruled guilty by a jury and judge consisting of dwarves, Michaels told Triple H that Hornswoggle could be the mascot. Triple H agreed to it only if the charges were dropped, which Hornswoggle agreed to. On January 11 Mike Tyson, who was the ''Raw'' guest host for the night, teamed with Jericho to face DX; however, at the end of the bout, Tyson turned on Jericho and aligned himself with Michaels and Triple H. On the February 8, 2010 episode of ''Raw'', DX lost their Unified Tag Team Titles to ShoMiz (The Miz and The Big Show) in a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team match also featuring The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows.) On the March 1 episode of ''Raw'' they lost their rematch for the titles which would be their last televised match before Michaels retired. Michaels and Triple H had a non-wrestling reunion at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops. On February 21, Triple H eliminated WWE Champion Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match, though he would not win the title himself. Sheamus attacked him weeks later, setting up a match between the two at WrestleMania XXVI, where Triple H was victorious. Also at WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels lost to The Undertaker and was forced to retire, but while giving a farewell speech the next night, Sheamus attacked him. This would set up a rematch at Extreme Rules where Sheamus attacked Triple H at the start of the show ahead of a win in their scheduled contest to allow Triple H time off to recover from injuries. Triple H made an untelevised appearance on October 30 at the WWE Fan Appreciation Event and also at the 2010 ''Tribute to the Troops''.

On the February 21, 2011 episode of ''Raw'', Triple H made his return to the WWE by interrupting the return of The Undertaker. He challenged him to a match at WrestleMania XXVII, which later became a No Holds Barred match. A week later he put Sheamus through the announce table with a Pedigree, in retaliation for Sheamus giving him a 10 month injury. At WrestleMania XXVII, Triple H lost to The Undertaker, extending The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak to 19–0.

Chief Operating Officer (2011)

At the end of the July 18, 2011 episode of ''Raw'', Triple H returned on behalf of WWE's board of directors to relieve his father-in-law Mr. McMahon of his duties. This was followed by the announcement that he had been assigned to take over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WWE. This was during a storyline where CM Punk had won the WWE Championship and left the company. Though a new champion was crowned, Triple H helped resign CM Punk and upheld both championship reigns. He announced he would referee a match to unify both WWE Championships at SummerSlam. Although he counted a pinfall for CM Punk to win, John Cena's leg was on the ropes which would break the pin. Immediately after the match, Triple H's longtime friend Kevin Nash attacked Punk to allow Alberto Del Rio to become champion. This led to Punk accusing Triple H of conspiring against him. Although Triple H originally acquiesced to Punk's wish to meet Nash in a match at Night of Champions, the Board of Directors quickly put Triple H in the match against Punk. In reality, Nash cannot compete that night due to medical reasons.

Backstage roles

In 2010, Levesque's role as an executive senior advisor was officially formalized as he was given an office at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. As a senior advisor, Levesque was placed in charge of a new talent development department in 2011, focusing on worldwide recruitment, training and character development of future WWE employees.

Personal life

In 2000, Levesque began dating Stephanie McMahon and they married on October 25, 2003. He had previously been in a long-term relationship with former WWE wrestler Chyna. He and McMahon have three daughters. On January 8, 2006, WWE announced that McMahon and Levesque were expecting their first child, due on July 27, 2006. Stephanie McMahon continued to work and travel with WWE throughout her pregnancy, giving birth to an 8 lb, 7 oz (3.8 kg) baby girl, Aurora Rose Levesque, on July 24, 2006. The couple had their second daughter on July 28, 2008, a daughter named Murphy Claire Levesque. The couple welcomed their third daughter, Vaughn Evelyn Levesque, on August 24, 2010.

He has a sister named Lynn.

In late 2004, Levesque released a book titled ''Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body.'' Mostly devoted to bodybuilding advice, the book also includes some autobiographical information, memoirs, and opinions.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

Inverted Indian deathlock – WCW; used rarely as a regular move thereafter in WWE

''Pedigree'' (Double underhook facebuster)

Signature moves

Abdominal stretch

Blatant choke

Chop block

Facebreaker knee smash, often as a back body drop counter

Figure four leglock

Flowing DDT

High knee

Jumping knee drop

Mounted punches

Running clothesline

Running neckbreaker

Sleeper hold

Spinning spinebuster

Signature foreign object

*Sledgehammer

Managers

*Chyna

*Ric Flair

*Mr. Hughes

*Mr. Perfect

*Stephanie McMahon–Helmsley

*Vince McMahon

*Shawn Michaels

*Lord Steven Regal

*Sable

Nicknames

The Connecticut Blueblood

The Cerebral Assassin

The Game

The King of Kings

Entrance themes

*World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

**"Blue Blood" by Jim Johnston (April 28, 1995 – December 15, 1996)

**"Symphony No. 9 (Fourth movement)" by Ludwig van Beethoven (December 15, 1996 – November 10, 1997)

**"Break It Down" by The DX Band (November 17, 1997 – March 29, 1999)

**"Corporate Player" by Jim Johnston (1999)

**"Higher Brain Pattern" by Jim Johnston (1999)

**"My Time" by The DX Band (June 27, 1999 – December 10, 2000)

**"The Game" by Motörhead (January 8, 2001–present)

**"The Game" by Drowning Pool (used for advertising promos; March 2002 – March 2011)

**"King of Kings" by Motörhead (used for promos and as prelude to "The Game"; April 2, 2006–Present)

**"For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica (WrestleMania XXVII prelude)

Championships and accomplishments

Independent Wrestling Federation

IWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Kurt Angle

PWI Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Chris Benoit

*PWI Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Randy Orton

PWI Match of the Year (2004) vs. Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX

PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2003–2005)

*PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)

*PWI Wrestler of the Year (2008)

*PWI Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)

PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000 and 2009

PWI ranked him #139 in the PWI Years in 2003

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment

WWF/E Championship (8 times)

World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)

WWF European Championship (2 times)

WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (5 times)

WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Steve Austin (1) and Shawn Michaels (1)

WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Michaels (1)

King of the Ring (1997)

Royal Rumble (2002)

*Second Grand Slam Championship

*Seventh Triple Crown Champion

*Slammy Award for Best Hair (1997)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Feud of the Year (2000)

Feud of the Year (2004)

Feud of the Year (2005)

*Most Overrated (2002–2004, 2009)

*Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2002, 2003)

Worst Feud of the Year (2002)

Worst Feud of the Year (2006)

Worst Worked Match of the Year (2003)

Worst Worked Match of the Year (2008)

*Wrestler of the Year (2000)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)

Triple H's fifth reign was as Undisputed WWF Champion.}}

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1998		Triple H
	''The Drew Carey Show''	Triple H
''MADtv''	Himself
2004	''Blade: Trinity''	Jarko Grimwood
2005	''The Bernie Mac Show''	Triple H
2006	''Relative Strangers''	Wrestler	Uncredited
		Raymond "Ray Ray" Bradstone
	Arlo "A.J." Jayne

Notes

References

External links

WWE.com Profile

Online World of Wrestling profile

Category:1969 births Category:Actors from New Hampshire Category:American film actors Category:American people of French-Canadian descent Category:American professional wrestlers Category:American television actors Category:Living people Category:People from Greenwich, Connecticut Category:People from Nashua, New Hampshire Category:Professional wrestling executives

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Name	Dolph Ziggler
Height
Weight
Birth date	July 27, 1980
Birth place	Cleveland, Ohio
Resides	Phoenix, Arizona
Billed	Hollywood, Florida
Trainer	FCW TrainingOVW TrainingSteve KeirnTom PrichardLance Storm
Debut	November 2004
Retired	}}

Nicholas Theodore "Nick" Nemeth (born July 27, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE performing on its Raw brand under the ring name Dolph Ziggler. He is the reigning WWE United States Champion. He is also known for his performances with WWE as Spirit Squad member Nicky in 2006, and earlier as the caddie for Kerwin White under his real name.

Nemeth signed a development contract with WWE in 2004, and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He was brought up to the Raw brand in 2005 as Kerwin White's sidekick. He was, however, sent back to OVW shortly afterwards, where he joined the Spirit Squad. They debuted on ''Raw'' in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship once before returning to OVW that November.

In September 2007, Nemeth was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he formed a tag team with Brad Allen. The pair won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once, and Nemeth later won the championship for the second time with Gavin Spears as his partner. He returned to ''Raw'' as Ziggler in September 2008, and was drafted to the SmackDown brand in April 2009. He has since gone on to hold the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship and WWE United States Championship once each.

Amateur wrestling career

Nemeth attended St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio where he was an amateur wrestler, and holds the school record for most pins in a career with 82. Nemeth was teammates with Gray Maynard and Andy Hrovat, who would go on to compete in the UFC and at the Olympics respectively. He wrestled collegiately at Kent State University, eventually setting what was then the record for most career wins in the team's history. Nemeth's record was passed in 2006, and as of 2010 he stands second all-time in career victories at Kent State. He had 121 career wins between 2000 and 2003. He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference champion, winning the tournament in 2000, 2002, and 2003, and as of 2010 is the last wrestler from Kent State University to have won three amateur wrestling championships. During his time at St Edwards, the wrestling team won the National Championships on two occasions.

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2004–present)

Ohio Valley Wrestling and Raw (2004–2006)

Nemeth signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2004. He was assigned to their developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), debuting as "Nick Nemeth". He feuded with Paul Burchill and challenged unsuccessfully for the OVW Television Championship, losing a championship match against then-champion Ken Doane on August 12, 2005.

Nemeth was called up to the Raw roster shortly afterwards, making his television debut on the September 19, 2005 episode of ''Sunday Night Heat''. He was made the enforcer and sidekick for Chavo Guerrero, Jr., who was using a golfer in-ring persona and going by the ring name of "Kerwin White". As such, Nemeth became White's caddy. His wrestling debut came on an episode of ''Sunday Night Heat'', teaming up with White in a tag team match against Shelton Benjamin and Matt Striker. After the death of Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero dropped the "Kerwin White" character, and Nemeth no longer played the role of his caddy and tag partner. After a few months of wrestling in dark matches and at house shows, he was sent back to OVW.

The Spirit Squad (2006)

Nemeth became a part of the Spirit Squad faction, a group of five wrestlers who used the in-ring personas of male cheerleaders, and adopted the name Nicky in OVW during late 2005. The Spirit Squad members trained with real cheerleaders and gymnasts to ensure their characters were believable. On January 23, 2006, they had their WWE television debut as a group, appearing on ''Raw'' and helping Jonathan Coachman win a Royal Rumble qualifying match against Jerry "The King" Lawler by performing cheers for Coachman and distracting Lawler. They later became a part of the on-going scripted feud between WWE chairman Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels. The heel (villainous) McMahon brought in the Squad to attack Michaels on numerous occasions, including placing them in multiple handicap matches.

They also wrestled in the tag team division, and on April 3, on ''Raw'', won the World Tag Team Championship when Kenny and Mikey, with outside help from the other three Squad members, defeated Kane and The Big Show. After winning the championship, all five members of the Spirit Squad were recognized as the champions, allowing any combination of them to defend the championship.

In May, McMahon signed another Handicap match, with the Spirit Squad facing Michaels. The match never started, however; instead the Spirit Squad attacked Michaels, and, as part of the storyline, shattered his knee with a steel chair. McMahon brought Triple H to the ring to attack Michaels with a sledgehammer; however, after Triple H felt that the Squad had disrespected him, he attacked the group. This led to Triple H and Michaels reforming D-Generation X (DX) and they began a feud with the Spirit Squad. DX played various sophomoric jokes on the Squad and the McMahons, as well as defeating the Spirit Squad in handicap tag team matches at Vengeance and a clean sweep in an elimination handicap match at ''Saturday Night's Main Event''.

At the same time as their feud with DX and their alignment with McMahon, the Squad also wrestled other teams in ''Raw'''s tag division over their World Tag Team Championship, successfully defending the championship against the teams of Jim Duggan and Eugene, Charlie Haas and Viscera, and Snitsky and Val Venis. They then entered a lengthy feud with The Highlanders, whom they eventually defeated to retain the championship at the Unforgiven pay-per-view in September. The Squad as a whole later began a losing streak with separate members losing singles matches to Ric Flair on consecutive episodes of ''Raw'', until Kenny managed to defeat him on the October 23 episode. It was then announced that Flair and a WWE legend, selected by interactive voting, would wrestle the team for the World Tag Team Championship at the Cyber Sunday pay-per-view in early November. The fans chose Roddy Piper, and he and Flair defeated Kenny and Mikey to win the championship.

The group disbanded on the November 27 episode of ''Raw'', when they were defeated in a five-on-three handicap match by DX and Flair. In a backstage segment later that night, DX placed all members into a crate stamped "OVW, Louisville, Kentucky", a reference to the developmental territory from which the Squad had come.

Return to developmentals (2007–2008)

Nemeth returned to OVW on January 17, 2007, at the television tapings, again using his Nick Nemeth ring name, along with Mike Mondo, formerly Mikey in the Spirit Squad, as the "Frat Pack". The pair teamed with Mike Kruel in a match against Seth Skyfire, Shawn Spears, and Cody Runnels. The team disbanded in the early parts of 2007. Nemeth then competed in several dark matches before the OVW television tapings, competing against wrestler including Chris Cage, Bradley Jay and Jake Hager, before he began teaming with Mondo again in August.

At the end of August, Nemeth and Mike Mondo were moved to the Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) developmental territory and in his debut there, Nemeth gained the nickname "The Natural" and defeated Hade Vansen. In November 2007, Nemeth gained Big Rob as his manager, but their alliance was short-lived. At the start of 2008, he tweaked his name to "Nic Nemeth" and began teaming with Brad Allen, with the pair gaining Taryn Terrell as their valet. Nemeth and Allen started a frat boy type ring character with Terrell as a "sorority chick". On March 22, Nemeth and Allen won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship by defeating defending champions Eddie Colón and Eric Pérez, but lost the championship back to Colón and Pérez on April 15. Throughout April and May 2008, Nemeth wrestled in several dark matches prior to ''Raw'', losing to Kofi Kingston and Ron Killings on several occasions. Soon after, he returned to the name "Nic Nemeth", and began teaming with Gavin Spears. The pair defeated Colón and Pérez to win the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on August 16, but lost it to Heath Miller and Joe Hennig less than a month later.

Dolph Ziggler; Brand switches (2008–2010)

On September 15, 2008, Nemeth re-debuted on ''Raw'' with a new image, introducing himself in a backstage segment under the name "Dolph Ziggler". On October 10, 2008, Nemeth was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of WWE's Wellness Program policy. He returned to ''Raw'' on November 17 in a backstage segment with Rey Mysterio and Shawn Michaels. In his first match on ''Raw'' under the Ziggler name, he lost to Batista on the December 1 episode. The following week he got his first victory as Ziggler, by countout, against R-Truth. The next week on ''Raw'', he picked up his first televised pinfall victory, when he defeated Charlie Haas.

On April 15, 2009, Ziggler was drafted to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2009 Supplemental Draft. He made his debut on the April 17 episode of ''SmackDown'', defeating the United States Champion, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) in a non-title match; as a result, he demanded a match for the championship the following week. On the May 1 episode of ''SmackDown'', however, he failed to win the championship, after he was pinned by MVP. Ziggler then started a rivalry with The Great Khali, losing to him by disqualification after attacking Khali with a steel chair. As a result, Khali began coming out to the ring during and after Ziggler's matches, in attempt to gain revenge and to stop Ziggler from cheating. Over the next few weeks, Ziggler defeated Khali by countout and disqualification after making it look like Khali had struck him with a steel chair. On June 28 at The Bash, Ziggler defeated Khali by pinfall, after Kane interfered and attacked Khali.

Ziggler then entered an on-screen relationship with WWE Diva Maria and she became his valet. He simultaneously started a scripted rivalry with Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio, who defeated Ziggler at both Night of Champions and SummerSlam to retain the title. In September, Mysterio lost the Intercontinental Championship to John Morrison, and Ziggler entered a feud with Morrison, losing to him at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. On the episode of ''SmackDown'', following Hell in a Cell, Ziggler ended his on-screen relationship with Maria after she cost him a match against Morrison. On the February 26, 2010 episode of ''SmackDown'', Ziggler defeated John Morrison and R-Truth in a triple threat qualifying match to compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXVI, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Relationship with Vickie Guerrero; Intercontinental Champion (2010-2011)

In June 2010, he began a romantic storyline with Vickie Guerrero, who began accompanying him to the ring. On the July 9 episode of ''SmackDown'', Ziggler defeated Chavo Guerrero and Montel Vontavious Porter in a triple threat match to qualify for the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, where he once again failed to win the match. On July 28 at the tapings of the August 6 edition of ''SmackDown'' Ziggler defeated Kofi Kingston to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time. In his first title defense on August 15 at SummerSlam, he retained the championship against Kingston when the match ended in a no contest due to interference from The Nexus. Ziggler was able to make a successful title defense against Kingston on September 19 at the Night of Champions pay-per-view.

After his feud with Kingston, Ziggler was challenged for his title by Montel Vontavious Porter on the October 1 episode of Smackdown, but it ended due to interference by Nexus. After MVP worked his way up to another shot against Ziggler by defeating "The Dashing Ones" (Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre), Ziggler set an example by defeating JTG, another black superstar with bling and an initialism moniker. He would defend it successfully without interference against MVP on the November 12 episode of SmackDown, though the referee missed MVP's foot on the rope.

The following week on November 19, NXT Season 2 Winner Kaval announced his intention to challenge Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship (as winning NXT Season 2 allowed him to do this) on November 21 at Survivor Series, a match which Ziggler won and retained his title.

Further celebrations were in order when Vickie's NXT rookie, Kaitlyn, whom Dolph had been flirting with relentlessly, won the third season of NXT on November 30. That same night, Ziggler was announced as a Pro for the fourth season of ''NXT'', with Jacob Novak as his Rookie.

On December 19 at Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Ziggler successfully retained the Intercontinental Championship in a three-way ladder match against Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger. On the January 4, 2011 episode of ''NXT'', Ziggler won a battle royal to earn the right to choose a new rookie, and chose Byron Saxton. His original rookie, Novak, was the first rookie eliminated later that night. At the ''SmackDown'' tapings on January 4, Ziggler lost the Intercontinental Championship to Kingston after a five month reign.

Ziggler won a four-way match against Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and The Big Show to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship at the ''SmackDown'' tapings on January 4, 2011, the same night he lost the Intercontinental Championship. Ziggler received his match for the championship at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view against Edge, but was unsuccessful. On February 4, Ziggler's girlfriend Vickie Guerrero, who was the Acting General Manager of SmackDown, announced that she had banned the spear – Edge's finishing move – and if Edge used it during the rematch between the two, Ziggler would be automatically awarded the championship. In the interim, Ziggler's second rookie, Byron Saxton, was also voted off of ''NXT''. On the February 11 episode of ''SmackDown'', Ziggler received a rematch for the championship, only to lose after being speared. On the February 14 episode of ''Raw'', Guerrero announced that Edge had lost the championship due to using the spear and that Ziggler would be crowned the new champion. On ''SmackDown'' on February 18, Guerrero fired Edge, claiming that he had attacked SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long several weeks prior, and awarded Ziggler the championship during a coronation ceremony later that night. Long returned during the ceremony however, and Guerrero revealed Ziggler as the attacker after being accused of orchestrating the attack by Long. Long rehired Edge and gave him his rematch, in which Edge regained the championship. Ziggler's first World Championship reign lasted 11 minutes and 23 seconds, the second shortest in history behind Jeff Hardy. After the match, Long fired Ziggler in storyline.

Return to Raw; United States Champion (2011-present)

On the March 7 episode of ''Raw'', Ziggler was introduced as the newest member of the Raw roster, and defeated John Morrison in a singles match. Ziggler was accompanied by Guerrero, who had also been fired from ''SmackDown'', but she was forced to earn her spot on the Raw roster. Ziggler, along with Guerrero, and LayCool then feuded with Morrison, Trish Stratus and ''Jersey Shore'' guest star Snooki. This cumulated in a mixed tag team match at WrestleMania XXVII where Ziggler, McCool and Layla lost to Morrison, Stratus and Snooki. On the April 18 episode of ''Raw'', Vickie introduced the "new and improved" Dolph Ziggler, who came out with his hair cut short and dyed brown; he went on to defeat Evan Bourne in a singles match. He had re-bleached his hair by the May 23 episode of ''Raw''. Ziggler beat United States Champion Kofi Kingston in a non-title match on the May 30 edition of ''Raw''. Ziggler then went on to beat Kofi at Capitol Punishment, this time for the United States Championship..

Personal life

Nemeth has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was five years old, when he attended a wrestling event at the Richfield Coliseum, and decided to become a professional wrestler at age twelve. He is currently dating fellow wrestler Nikki Bella Nemeth has a younger brother named Ryan, who is also a professional wrestler. Nemeth attended Kent State University, where he majored in political science with a pre-law minor. Prior to his WWE tryout, Nemeth was living in Phoenix, Arizona, and had applied to Arizona State University law school, where he was due to start his first semester. Nemeth is good friends with his former Spirit Squad teammates, particularly Michael Brendli (otherwise known as Mikey of the Squad), with whom he lived in Florida until 2008. Nemeth has since returned to residing in Phoenix. Nemeth is also fluent in American Sign Language.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

Sleeper hold, sometimes with bodyscissors – 2010–present

''Zig Zag'' (Jumping reverse bulldog) – 2008–present

Signature moves

Bridging German suplex

Crucifix pin

Diving splash

Fireman's carry gutbuster, sometimes from the second rope

Fireman's carry takeover

Headlock, sometimes with a head stand for leverage

Inverted powerslam

Jumping elbow drop

Leg drop bulldog

*Multiple kick variations

*Drop, sometimes while sliding to the outside

*Jumping front

*Super

Neck snap

Scoop powerslam

Shoulder jawbreaker

Sitout facebuster

Stinger splash

Swinging neckbreaker

Managers

Taryn Terrell

Big Rob

Maria

Vickie Guerrero

Wrestlers managed

Kerwin White

Entrance themes

"Counting the Days" by Collective Soul (OVW)

"I Am Perfection" by Jim Johnston and performed by Downstait (WWE)

Championships and accomplishments

Florida Championship Wrestling

FCW Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brad Allen (1) and Gavin Spears (1)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him #17 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with the Spirit Squad

WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)

WWE United States Championship (1 time, current)

*Twenty Second Triple Crown Champion

See also

Spirit Squad

References

External links

WWE profile

Category:1980 births Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:American sport wrestlers Category:Kent State University alumni Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Cleveland, Ohio Category:St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) alumni

ar:نك نميث ca:Dolph Ziggler da:Dolph Ziggler de:Dolph Ziggler es:Nick Nemeth fa:دولف زیگلر fr:Nick Nemeth ko:닉 네메스 it:Nick Nemeth nl:Nicholas Nemeth ja:ニック・ネメス pl:Nick Nemeth pt:Nick Nemeth ro:Nick Nemeth ru:Немет, Ник simple:Nick Nemeth fi:Dolph Ziggler th:ดอล์ฟ ซิกก์เลอร์

WWE is a professional wrestling promotion based in Stamford, Connecticut. Employees in WWE consist of professional wrestlers, managers, play-by-play and color commentators, ring announcers, interviewers, referees, trainers, road agents, script writers and various other positions. Executives and board of directors are also listed.

WWE employees' contracts range from developmental contracts to multi-year deals and they appear as independent contractors. Employees on the main roster appear on specific brands (Raw and SmackDown) for WWE television programming, pay-per-view and at live events while developmental employees appear at Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).

Employees and management are organized by role within the promotion. The ring name of the employee is written on the left, while the employee's real name is on the right. If a wrestler is inactive for any reason, due to injury, suspension, not wrestling in 30 days or otherwise, that information is noted.

Employees are generally assigned to a specific brand—either Raw or SmackDown—though there is occasionally some crossover. The WWE Tag Team Champions and the WWE Divas Champion can regularly appear on both Raw and SmackDown as those titles (due to being unified) can be defended on either show.

WWE Legends are employees/performers not assigned to any particular brand, but make periodic appearances and perform on major shows or are currently involved in a storyline.

WWE refers to its male performers as "Superstars" and its female performers as "Divas". The term "Superstars" is also occasionally used to refer to all WWE performers, regardless of gender. The male wrestlers of the show ''WWE NXT'' are called "Rookies".

Main roster

Raw brand

Male superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Also appears as a Pro on ''NXT''
		Also competes in FCW
		Inactive; injured knee
		Inactive; injured ankle
		Self-professed Internet ChampionAlso Theodore Long's assistant on ''SmackDown''

Female superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Inactive due to real life pregnancy.
		Inactive, abdominal hernia injuryAlso host of ''NXT''

Other on-air employees

Ring name	Real name	Role	Notes
		Ring announcer
		Alberto Del Rio's personal ring announcerOccasional wrestler	Also competes in FCW
		Senior Creative Advisor Chief Operating OfficerOccasional wrestler

SmackDown brand

Male superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Also competes in FCW
		Also appears as a Pro on ''NXT''
		Also competes in FCW
		Inactive due to injury
		Took over from Luis UriveAlso competes in FCW as Hunico
		Also appears as a Pro on ''NXT''
		Inactive, hasn't appeared in 30 days.
		Also appears as a Pro on ''NXT''

Female superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
			Also competes in FCW
		Also competes in FCW
Ring name	Real name	Role	Notes
		Cody Rhodes' Bagger	Also Creative Staff member, commentator and ring announcer in FCW
		[[Ring announcer">Florida Championship Wrestling#FCW Divas Championship
		Also competes in FCW
		Inactive; torn ACL and MCL

Other on-air employees

Ring name	Real name	Role	Notes
		Cody Rhodes' Bagger	Also Creative Staff member, commentator and ring announcer in FCW
		[[Ring announcer	Also ring announcer of ''NXT''

''NXT Redemption''

Returning rookies

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Brought in as twist in competitionAlso competes in FCW
		Also competes in FCW

Broadcast team

Ring name	Real name	Roles	Notes
		Backstage interviewer on ''SmackDown''Play by play commentator on ''WWE Superstars''Host of ''WWE Bottom Line
		[[Color commentator on ''Raw'' and PPVOccasional Wrestler
		Play by play commentator on ''Raw'' and PPV
		Backstage interviewer on ''Raw''Play by play commentator on ''SmackDown''Color commentator for ''WWE Superstars''
			Color commentator on ''WWE Superstars''Host of ''NXT''Backstage Interviewer on ''SmackDown''Occasional Wrestler
		Play by play Commentator on ''Raw'' & PPV'sColor commentator on ''SmackDown''
		Backstage interviewer on ''Raw''Play by Play commentator on ''WWE Superstars''Host of ''Bottom Line'' and ''Free for All''
		Color commentator on ''NXT''Occasional Wrestler

Developmental roster

Florida Championship Wrestling

Male superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Eliminated from competition by NXT poll
		Eliminated from competition by NXT Poll
	''Unknown''
	''Unknown''
		Appears in dark matches with main roster
		Also competes as Epico

Female superstars

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Also ring announcer on ''Superstars''
		Competing on FCW house shows
		General ManagerAlso valet of Derrick Bateman on ''NXT''

Staff

Ring name	Real name	Role
		Training Staff
		Training Staff
		President
		Training Staff

Other personnel

Referees

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		FCW referee
		Suspended due to breaking company policy
		Also referees FCW
		FCW referee

''Tough Enough''

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Trainer
		TrainerOccasional wrestler on ''Raw''

WWE En Español Broadcast Team

Ring name	Real name	Role
		Spanish commentator
		Spanish commentator
		Spanish commentator

WWE Legends

Ring Name	Real Name	Notes
		Makes special appearancesWill be main eventing Wrestlemania XXVIII
		Recently retiredStill under contract to WWEMakes occasional appearances

Unassigned employees

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Has signed contract, yet to debut
		Has signed contract, yet to debut
	''Unknown''	Has signed contract, yet to debut
		Removed from main roster
		Has signed contract, yet to debut
		Has signed contract, yet to debut

Off-screen employees

Creative writers

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Senior Vice President of Creative Writing
		Head writer for ''SmackDown''
		Creative Writer
		Head writer for ''Raw''
		Assistant writer

Producers and trainers

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Also Occasional Wrestler
		Head of agents/producers

Other employees

Ring name	Real name	Notes
		Physician
		Host of WWE Vintage CollectionOccasional ''
Name	Notes
	Senior Advisory, Business Strategy
	Executive Vice President of Programming, Hallmark Channel
	Consultant, TowerBrook Capital Partners
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Six Flags, Inc.
	President, Communications Consultants, Inc.
	Executive Vice President, Television Production
	Managing Principal, Gladwyne Partners, LLC
	Social Media, Crimson Hexagon
	President and Chief Executive Officer, Atrinsic, Inc.
	Chairman / CEO Makes occasional appearances on Raw & Smackdown

Executive officers

Name	Notes
	Executive Vice President, International
	Chief Financial Officer
	Senior Vice President, Consumer Products
	Executive Vice President, Talent Relations
	Executive Vice President, Business Development
	Chief Marketing Officer
	Executive Vice President, Creative Development and Operations

See also

[[List of current champions in WWE">WWE Classics on Demand

Music director Director of Digital Media Content Director of On-Air Promotions Timekeeper

Corporate governance

Board of directors

Name	Notes
	Senior Advisory, Business Strategy
	Executive Vice President of Programming, Hallmark Channel
	Consultant, TowerBrook Capital Partners
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Six Flags, Inc.
	President, Communications Consultants, Inc.
	Executive Vice President, Television Production
	Managing Principal, Gladwyne Partners, LLC
	Social Media, Crimson Hexagon
	President and Chief Executive Officer, Atrinsic, Inc.
	Chairman / CEO Makes occasional appearances on Raw & Smackdown

Executive officers

Name	Notes
	Executive Vice President, International
	Chief Financial Officer
	Senior Vice President, Consumer Products
	Executive Vice President, Talent Relations
	Executive Vice President, Business Development
	Chief Marketing Officer
	Executive Vice President, Creative Development and Operations

See also

[[List of current champions in WWE

List of professional wrestlers

List of WWE alumni

References

External links

Raw roster at WWE.com

SmackDown roster at WWE.com

NXT roster at WWE.com

FCW roster at FCWwrestling.com

Referees at WWE.com

WWE Roster and FCW Roster at Online world of wrestling

Category:Lists of sportspeople Category:Professional wrestling rosters Employees

ar:ملحق:قائمة مصارعي وورلد ريسلنغ إنترتاينمت bar:Liste WWE Roster de:Liste der WWE-Roster es:Anexo:Empleados actuales de la WWE fr:Personnel de la WWE id:Daftar Pegawai WWE it:Roster della WWE ja:WWEに所属する人物一覧 pl:Pracownicy World Wrestling Entertainment pt:Anexo:Plantel da WWE simple:World Wrestling Entertainment roster vi:Danh sách nhân viên của World Wrestling Entertainment