If you watched the first episode of The Undertaker's Last Ride WWE Network series, you'll know that Mark Calloway very nearly retired for good after his WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns, and although he did make the decision to return to the ring, he continued to be worried about becoming a "parody" of himself and being seen as a has-been by the fans and his peers.
Well, he seems to have gotten over all of that, because the now 55-year-old Phenom has reportedly signed a new 15-year contract with WWE!
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 'Taker's deal will see him stay with the company until 2035. Of course, that doesn't mean that he'll be wrestling any more than usual, but we can probably expect to see him put in his usual WrestleMania appearance for at least another few years.
Why would Calloway commit to this type of deal when he's fully aware that he should be winding down his career? Meltzer reckons financial problems may have something to do with it.
“A key reason for all this not talked about is financial issues, as even though he’s made more money (due to guys making more money than ever these days) than all but a few in history, he has had financial issues with divorces and bad investments.”
Whether this really is the case or not, a 15-year contract for a 55-year-old man seems like an odd move. The Undertaker is still well capable of putting on a great match - especially with the benefit of the more cinematic styling of his Boneyard Match with AJ Styles - but for how much longer?