WWE legend Undertaker may NEVER have been if Vince McMahon got his way and made Mark Calaway perform a VIKING persona

A FORMER WWE creative writer has revealed how the legendary Undertaker nearly ended up being The Berzerker.

JJ Dillion is a legend in the wrestling business and worked for Vince McMahon’s company from 1989 to 1997.

Taker, who retired from the ring at Survivor Series 2020 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last month, joined WWE in the same year.

He went on to become one of the biggest icons in the industry in his horror-themed and supernatural gimmick.

But it could have been all different if WWE owner McMahon had gone with first instincts when deciding upon Mark Calaway’s character.

Speaking in 2017 to Fightful.com, Dillion explained: “Vince’s first reaction was ‘maybe he could be a Viking with the helmet and the horns’.

“[Undertaker] is an impressive guy, he had the size.

“In the business, they call the ‘it factor,’ and if you’re on the business on the executive side, it’s hard to find the words to describe ‘it,’ I can’t explain it, but he has ‘it’ and I guess another word for it is natural charisma and [Undertaker] had it.”

McMahon did eventually get his Viking character when John Nord joined the company in 1991.

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Managed by Mr. Fuji, he soon became known as The Berzerker and actually feuded with Undertaker for a time – attempting to stab him with his sword.

Nord challenged Bret Hart for the WWE Championship in 1992 but left the company the following year for a stint in Japan before a short-lived spell with WCW.

In more recent times, he hit the headlines in 2019 after being caught driving under the influence for the seventh time.

We will never know whether Calaway would have enjoyed as much success cast as a Viking.

But luckily for wrestling fans everywhere, McMahon’s change of heart ensured that the Phenom will never be forgotten.