Add as a preferred source on Google The Godfather revealed that he had a direct influence on one of the most memorable phases of The Undertaker’s WWE career: the American Badass era.
In a recent interview with Sportshadow Wrestling, the WWE Hall of Famer spoke about his friendship with Mark Calaway, which began in the late 1980s, when the two formed a tag team called the Death Express in Memphis.
According to The Godfather, several elements that later became associated with Undertaker outside of his darker character came from spending time with him, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, country music and tattoos.
“When I met Taker, he didn’t ride Harleys. That came from me. He didn’t listen to country music. That came from me. He didn’t have tattoos. You’ll see pictures of him getting his first tattoo, and I’m standing behind him.”
The Godfather Says He Introduced Undertaker To The American Badass Lifestyle https://t.co/8qi6ZBwfqy
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 24, 2026
The Godfather also said Undertaker himself has acknowledged that influence in the creation of the American Badass persona.
“He says it himself: ‘Man, this whole American Badass thing is this guy right here talking about me.’ I just say I introduced him to a new lifestyle, and he adapted to it very well.”
The American Badass era officially began in WWE in 2000, when Undertaker returned with his motorcycle and started using Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” as his entrance theme.
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The Godfather was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016, while Undertaker was inducted in 2022 after a three-decade run with the company.