Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions: Undertaker FULL RECAP

The debut of the Broken Skull Sessions (hosted by Stone Cold Steve Austin) featured the legendary Undertaker (Mark Calaway) and here are some notes from their riveting conversation that is available on-demand on the WWE Network.

• Growing up in Texas, the Undertaker was first attracted to Houston Wrestling along with World Class Championship Wrestling. He would attend shows with his friends and they would routinely promise to mouth off to the original Sheik but found themselves too scared to go through with it.

• It was amazing to hear Undertaker discussing shaking Andre the Giant's hand at 8 or 9 years old and how it was absolutely mesmerizing. Fast forward many years later and the Undertaker replaced Andre as the general of the locker room.

• In WCW, it was Ole Anderson who once told Mark Calaway (Undertaker) that "no one would ever pay to see you wrestle." And who was it that saw something in the Mark early on? None other than Paul Heyman. Perhaps the greatest spotter of talent in pro-wrestling history.

• Witnessing Steve Austin and the Undertaker cheers and pound back a shot of Jack Daniels warmed my soul.

• The Undertaker noted that his early movements and mannerisms were inspired by Michaels Myers and Jason Voorhees. He was the boogeyman stalking his prey and baiting opponents into a false sense of security.

• The Undertaker also noted that he lived the gimmick so much that even all of his clothes at home were black and he never put himself into situations where his character would be compromised.

• Undertaker stated that Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race and Ricky Steamboat are the guys he puts on a pedestal.

• The one guy that the Undertaker approached for advice was Jake the Snake Roberts. Specifically, his insight into characters and how to put the gimmick together.

• Undertaker noted that in the early years, he had to put ego and pride aside since he wanted to put forth great matches such as Bret Hart was executing, but the less is more approach took priority. It was all about the character and being an attraction.

• Undertaker discussed the importance of timing related to American Badass gimmick since he felt the Dead Man gimmick would have never survived the Attitude Era.

• There was a fantastic story told about the Undertaker closing down the bar with X-Pac and then partying with Cypress Hill. Taker made a point to ensure he was the last one standing. Austin noted it's a legendary story.

• Steve asked the Undertaker about the Monday Night Wars and where his head was at. Undertaker noted they needed to appeal to the 18-34 demographic with a more reality-based presentation. Undertaker never left because Vince gave him that opportunity.

• The Undertaker noted that Vince trusted him with his character. While not always seeing eye to eye, they shared a similar position of the business and where they needed to be. Undertaker noted he always would have gone down with the ship.

• The Undertaker considered the Wrestlemania 25 and 26 matches with Shawn Michaels along with the Wrestlemania 27 and 28 matches with Triple H as a four-year program. These were story-based matches that Undertaker is very proud of.

• The Undertaker admitted that during the end of an era moment with Shawn, Triple H and himself on stage at the conclusion of the Wrestlemania 28 match, he wasn't sure if he would return again. Taker was completely satisfied with the conclusion of this match.

• The Undertaker noted that his biggest fear is becoming a parody of himself. He doesn't want to stick around for too long. He felt it was all over following the Roman Reigns match. Sure enough, he got talked into coming back and was caught up in it.

• The Undertaker noted that within the first few minutes of Wrestlemania 30, he was concussed and doesn't even remember anything from the evening other than a conversation with his wife. He didn't even remember his name in the hospital until 4am.

• Steve Austin noted it haunts him that he was knocked out during their SummerSlam 98 match and couldn't provide the Undertaker with a quality match.

• The Undertaker noted that the only person he has come across who has been at perfect peace with pulling the plug on his career is Shawn Michaels.

• When discussing the match in Saudi Arabia against Goldberg, the Undertaker was bothered by that performance and didn't want that match to be the last thing fans remembered. Pride brought him back.

• The Undertaker noted he was very blessed to have the career he's enjoyed. For 30 plus years, he has gotten to do what he loves. He hopes 10 years from now people still remember what he did. Brought up the documentary When We Were Kings.

• Steve Austin discusses a photo in Kuwait with the Undertaker and noted those were very special times. You could tell Steve was emotional about it.

• Steve Austin and the Undertaker discussed the plane ride from hell. Undertaker put Kurt Angle to sleep with a chokehold thinking Angle was legitimately fighting with Vince McMahon. They were just playing around.

• The Undertaker discussed one of the few times he broke character in Kuwait. A 40,000 seat arena with only 800 fans. It was a battle royal where there was a 7-man headlock chain. Undertaker was on the apron and Austin laughed hysterically. Taker laughed too.

Having Steve Austin and the Undertaker venture down memory lane together was incredibly entertaining. These are two pro-wrestling icons who accomplished more than virtually anyone else. God, that was fun. I look forward to future episodes.

I highly recommend you watch this episode in its entirety since there are so many more details I never expanded upon.