WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker recently revealed that when he chose wrestling over a basketball scholarship, nearly everyone in his life told him he was making a mistake.
Speaking on Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, Mark Calaway (The Undertaker) reflected on the resistance he faced when he left school to chase his passion.
Calaway had a basketball scholarship and a free education in front of him. Instead, he decided to pursue professional wrestling. “Everyone tells me like, this is the stupidest thing,” he said. The doubt began at home.
The Undertaker Says Criticism Fueled His Wrestling Pursuit
He recalled his father telling him, “Son, all you have to do is put a silly ball through a hoop and you are getting an education for free.” Calaway responded, “I know Dad, but this is what I want to do.” The safe path was clear — but so was his calling.
The criticism didn’t stop there. “Everyone told me, ‘You’re stupid, you’re making a mistake,’” he said. Rather than fold under pressure, he refused help from those who questioned his dream. That decision made the road even harder.
Calaway admitted there were times he was sleeping in his car while trying to break into the business. The struggle, however, gave him an edge. “Yeah, put a huge chip on my shoulder,” he said, explaining how the doubt fueled his drive.
The Miz summed it up simply: “Put a chip on your shoulder.” For Calaway, that chip became the foundation of a mindset that carried him through decades in WWE.
The irony isn’t lost. The man who once thought his dream was foolish became one of wrestling’s most enduring icons. Sometimes the safest play isn’t the right play — and sometimes betting on yourself is the ultimate WrestleMania moment.
