The Undertaker Recalls Contract Negotiations With Vince McMahon
The Undertaker signed multiple contracts with WWE throughout his tenure with the company, which began in 1990.
Taker’s time negotiating with Vince McMahon came before wrestlers were represented by agents, meaning the two handled things themselves.
“I remember me and Vince were sitting at Smith & Wollensky’s in New York City, and we’re negotiating a contract as we’re eating dinner. I don’t remember what the numbers were, but this was at the beginning of the downside guarantee. Because I limited myself on outside projects because of the character, for personal reasons, I wanted the highest downside guarantee. You have this battle with yourself when you’re trying to come up with that number. ‘ I don’t want to scare him off. I don’t want to undersell myself.’ He hit me with a number and it wasn’t where I was at. I just went, ‘Hmmm,’ and I came right back with my number. He was like, ‘Done.’ I was like, ‘Gah. Damnit.’ I knew I was too low. I wanted a little bit of push back. It worked out,” Undertaker recalled on Six Feet Under.
Taker now makes plenty of outside appearances, though he doesn’t go full gimmick anymore.
You can find his comments on why he no longer wears the coat and hat here.
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