NXT ended with a surreal sight as The Undertaker made a shock return for the first time since .
The legendary Hall of Famer appeared on NXT for the very first time to an incredible reaction from the fans as WWE’s developmental show stacked the decks in its one-off ratings battle with AEW Dynamite.
In a stacked main event pitting Carmelo Hayes against Bron Breakker with and Paul Heyman in their respective corners, Cena was taken out with the arrival of The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa.
Melo got the win, but Breakker took him out with a huge Spear after the bell and insisted that, win or lose, there’s ‘only one badass around here’, which led to Undertaker’s gong ringing out.
Once again returning in his American Badass guise, on a motorcycle and actually hyped up the former NXT Champion before issuing a beatdown.
‘Bron. I’ve been watching you for a long time, and one day you’re gonna be a very special talent. There’s just one thing. It ain’t today,’ he said as he rocked Breakker with a right hand and a huge chokeslam.
‘A little advice – there’s always an older, bigger, badder badass waiting around the corner. You just met the baddest of ’em all,’ he said, before raising Hayes’ hand as NXT went off the air.
The appearance marked the first time WWE fans have seen Undertaker on screen since he joined forces with Bray Wyatt in January this year and passed the torch to the late legend, who died seven months later aged 36.
After the powerful moment – which has become even more poignant after Wyatt’s death – the former world champion took to X (formerly Twitter) .
‘This moment justified a lifetime of sacrifices for me. A lifetime of people treating my uniqueness like it was a disease,’ he wrote at the time. ‘‘Through all the bad times I never changed myself to fit anyone’s narrative. I’m proud of that. Thank you Taker. #SuckItLAKnight’.
Meanwhile, Undertaker himself suggested the exchange is one that will live on long in the memory of fans and the performers as he wrote: ‘Moments define this industry. This one was special!’
WWE NXT airs Tuesday nights at 1am on TNT Sports 1.
