The Undertaker has once again voiced his concerns regarding the current generation of professional wrestlers. On the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, “The Deadman” doubled down on his belief that modern talent lacks the “grit” and “struggle” that defined previous eras, arguing that the amenities provided today may actually be hindering character development.
“They Need A Little Something That Gives Them An Edge”
While acknowledging the benefits of the WWE Performance Center and active recruitment, The Undertaker argued that the ease of entry into the business today prevents wrestlers from developing the mental toughness required to become true icons. “I think with Bill DeMott and Al Snow, that was how it was done for generations. Whether it was right or wrong, they were trying to weed out the weak,” he explained. “Because you can’t come up here and be weak. The grind is too hard physically and mentally.”
He continued, “They need a little something that gives them an edge. That’s the fine line. Does it need to be the extreme that I went through? No. But there is that sense of true struggle.”
Sleeping In Cars vs. The Performance Center
The Hall of Famer contrasted the current environment with his own journey, recounting the hardships he faced breaking into the industry. “There were times I was sleeping in my car, bouncing through clubs just to scrape up enough money to go to wrestling school, going to shows where you lose money,” he recalled. He noted that he refused help because he had a “huge chip on his shoulder” after people told him he was making a mistake leaving school.
This isn’t the first time The Undertaker has been critical of the modern locker room. In mid-2025, he expressed disheartening feelings about backstage mannerisms, pointing out that wrestlers would rather film TikToks than watch their peers match in the ring—a sentiment that fellow Hall of Famer Booker T agreed with. According to Taker, this lack of struggle is visible in the final product. “Obviously, we don’t see that kind of struggle now, but there is something missing at times—the edge, the grit… The little bit of struggle you go through translates into what you do.”
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