legend The Undertaker could have one more match left in him.
The newest member of the was inducted on Friday night and treated fans to an unprecedented and emotional peek behind the curtain as he spoke at length as Mark Calaway in front of a live audience for the first time.
After a career spanning speech – which was delayed by a near-10 minute ovation from a packed home state crowd – Undertaker looked set to leave before donning his classic hat and coat.
With a look to the camera, he simply said: ‘Never say never.’
It was enough to draw huge cheers from fans in attendance – who had been chanting for ‘one more match’ just seconds earlier – before he made one more walk up the ramp to stand on stage with his peers and threw one fist in the air.
His last match came at WrestleMania 36 in the cinematic Boneyard Match against AJ Styles, while he confirmed his retirement in the summer of 2020 and later had a final farewell at Survivor Series.
Several times during the night, the Phenom fought back tears as he took everyone on a journey through his life in a speech focused on what he described as his three trademark mental moves.
Each of the three was connected to different phases of his life and career, with ‘Taker revealing his lessons as: ‘Perception is reality’, ‘respect and loyalty go a long way’, and to ‘never be content’.
His powerful and lengthy speech came after , who used part of his speech to go through a long list of many of Undertaker’s greatest opponents.
In an interesting and unexpected move, Bray Wyatt was among those, which shows the night truly was about honouring the Dead Man above all else.
The ceremony started with NXT superstar Bron Breakker inducting his dad and uncle Rick and Scott Steiner into the Hall of Fame, and the brothers left fans cracking up.
Vader’s wife and son led fans in a ‘Vader time’ call after another moving speech, with his boy Jesse White paying tribute to his late dad as a performer and a father.
Booker T and Queen Sharmell delighted fans with their clear love for each other during an entertaining and heartwarming moment.
There was also barely a dry eye in the house as the late, great Shad Gaspard was posthumously honoured with the Warrior Award, which was accepted by his widow Siliana and their son Aryeh.
Gaspard’s former Cryme Tyme tag team partner came down with the pair and recreated his and Shad’s handshake with his late friend’s son in a powerful moment.
WWE Hall of Fame 2022 is available to re-watch on demand via the WWE Network.
