To my regret I've actually lost the first disc to this three disc set, meaning that I lose some of the Bret Hart/ Undertaker matches, but on the whole the best parts of Undertaker's career came later and I have both Hart matches on other DVDs so no huge loss.
First thing to note, this DVD was released before the Undertaker's back to back title victories at Wrestlemania, so neither one is on this disc. This isn't a look at the life of Mark Calloway, it's a look at the career of the Undertaker so all we have are a few interviews with some of the Undertaker's opponents and a deep voiced narrator introducing matches, but it does the job of explaining where each and every math fits in with the Undertaker's career. It is very well done.
Now to the matches. It starts off with The Undertaker winning the WWE Title from Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series 1991. While not a great match, and despite the fact that he lost the title 9 days later, this had to be included. Next is the memorable casket match against Yokozuna from the 1994 Royal Rumble where it would eventually take more than a dozen men to subdue the Undertaker and get him in the casket. This is followed by an entertaining match with Kevin Nash (Deisel) from Wrestlemania 12. For all the IWC purists out there, no it's not a technical masterpiece, but tells a fun little story well. Two matches from the Undertaker's epic rivalry with Mankind are included, one from 1996 and one form 1997. Both are good matches. The disc ends on the highest note possible with two excellent matches with Bret Hart, including his title loss to Hart at Summerslam 1997 and then a failed attempt to regain the title in England a month later.
The second disc starts with two exceptional matches involving Shawn Micheals. A well done first time ever match at Ground Zero and then a Hell in a Cell match at Badd Blood a month later which is one of the best matches ever to take place in the WWE. Undertaker loses this match thanks to Kane which led to the next match on the disc the Kane/ Undertaker from Wrestlemania 14, a slightly sloppy match, and then their memorable Inferno match from Unforgiven a month later. Next on the disc The Undertaker returns to the Hell in a Cell match for his classic spotfest with Mankind at King of the Ring 1998.
Next comes the Undertaker forming the Ministry, then the Corporate ministry, then winning the WWE Title. He successfully defends the title in a typical attitude era main event against the Rock at King of the Ring 1999. Next match is his First Blood loss to Steve Austin at Fully Loaded 1999, another great example of an attitude era main event. The DVD explains Undertaker's transition to a biker in 2000 and then goes to another classic match, the ill-tempered and creative brawl with Triple H from Wrestlemania X-7. We get one match from his heel turn in 2002, and that of course is his winning the WWE Title from Hulk Hogan at Judgment Day in a disappointing match. Next up is another great match as Undertaker loses a classic Hell in a Cell WWE Title match to Brock Lesnar. Arguably Brock's finest hour, though he did have several. Next is a fair match with John Cena from Vengeance 2003 which Taker wins after quite a fight. Next is the Buried Alive match with Vince McMahon from Survivor Series 2003, won by McMahon after interference from Kane, which leads into another match with Kane at Wrestlemania 20. Nowhere near as good as their first match, and seemed more comedy driven then anything. The series ends on a high note with The Undertaker's WWE Title match against Kurt Angle from SmackDown in 2003. A great contest interrupted by Brock Lesnar at the finish.
All in all this is a terrific production that delivers exactly as it promises "The History of the Undertaker" while delivering some great matches. If you are a fan of the Undertaker or pro wrestling you will love this.
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