• The Undertaker has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. All photos: WWE
    The Undertaker has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. All photos: WWE
  • Fans take photos as The Undertaker steps out on the Hall of Fame stage.
    Fans take photos as The Undertaker steps out on the Hall of Fame stage.
  • The Undertaker made his WWE debut at Survivor Series in 1990.
    The Undertaker made his WWE debut at Survivor Series in 1990.
  • The Undertaker stands in the ring with different variations of his wrestling outfit.
    The Undertaker stands in the ring with different variations of his wrestling outfit.
  • The Undertaker's wife and former WWE wrestler Michelle McCool and their daughter watch from the audience.
    The Undertaker's wife and former WWE wrestler Michelle McCool and their daughter watch from the audience.
  • The Undertaker officially retired from wrestling at Survivor Series 2020.
    The Undertaker officially retired from wrestling at Survivor Series 2020.
  • The retired sportsman, whose real name is Mark Calaway, has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the company thanks to his longevity in the ring.
    The retired sportsman, whose real name is Mark Calaway, has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the company thanks to his longevity in the ring.
  • Although he says he's done with in-ring wrestling, The Undertaker finished his speech with the message of 'never say never'.
    Although he says he's done with in-ring wrestling, The Undertaker finished his speech with the message of 'never say never'.
  • The Undertaker salutes the fans as he walks off stage.
    The Undertaker salutes the fans as he walks off stage.

Culture

Television

The Undertaker gets inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame — in pictures

The four-time WWE champion leads this year's Hall of Fame class

Evelyn Lau
Evelyn Lau

April 02, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

He’s arguably one of the WWE’s greatest wrestlers and now The Undertaker has been inducted into the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame following a storied professional wrestling career that has spanned three decades.

The retired sportsman, whose real name is Mark Calaway, has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the company since he made his debut at Survivor Series in 1990.

There is no one more deserving than the man we are about to induct tonight
Vince McMahon

As part of WrestleMania weekend, WWE chairman and chief executive Vince McMahon had the honour of inducting The Undertaker into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas on Friday. "There is no one more deserving than the man we are about to induct tonight,” said McMahon.

The Undertaker entered the squared circle surrounded by mannequins that donned outfits from different time periods in the wrestler’s career and to a standing ovation from fellow wrestlers and fans in attendance.

Taking to the stage, a tearful Phenom (as he’s nicknamed) gave a speech that was centred around three mental states that helped with his success: perception is reality, respect and loyalty go a long way, and never be content.

"Now that The Undertaker has entered the WWE Hall of Fame, you can rest assured that I will rest... in… peace,” he said during his speech.

Finally, as he exited the ring wearing his trademark hat and leather jacket, he had one final message for fans that teased he may not be done after all: “Never say never.”

The Undertaker has won nearly every major championship in WWE and has competed in some of the most memorable matches in history over his illustrious three-decade career.

In addition, he amassed a historic 21-year WrestleMania undefeated streak before it was broken at WrestleMania 30 by Brock Lesnar in 2014.

In 2020, Calaway was featured in the WWE Network docuseries Undertaker: The Last Ride, which was praised by fans and critics. He made his “final farewell” to fans at Survivor Series later that year, announcing his retirement.

Even though he has wrestled only a few times in recent years, The Undertaker’s appeal in the Middle East has always been at an all-time high.

Back in February 2020, fans who attended Super ShowDown in Riyadh wore his merchandise and brought signs specifically for him, as rumours swirled that he would be making an appearance at the event.

WWE Superstar Mansoor, who was born in Saudi Arabia, also shared stories of how he remembers The Undertaker's popularity in the region. "He was so popular, there were even rumours he converted to Islam," he told The National.

Scroll through the gallery below to see a history of The Undertaker's WWE career.

  • The Undertaker in his debut WWE match at Survivor Series in 1990. All photos: WWE
    The Undertaker in his debut WWE match at Survivor Series in 1990. All photos: WWE
  • The Undertaker in the mid-1990s.
    The Undertaker in the mid-1990s.
  • The Undertaker has had an in-ring wrestling career that's lasted 30 years.
    The Undertaker has had an in-ring wrestling career that's lasted 30 years.
  • The Undertaker defeating Sycho Sid for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 13 in 1997.
    The Undertaker defeating Sycho Sid for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 13 in 1997.
  • The Undertaker at The Great American Bash in 2004.
    The Undertaker at The Great American Bash in 2004.
  • The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels square off at WrestleMania 25 in 2009, in a match that the former cites as one of his favourite wrestling moments.
    The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels square off at WrestleMania 25 in 2009, in a match that the former cites as one of his favourite wrestling moments.
  • The Undertaker and Triple H at WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
    The Undertaker and Triple H at WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
  • The Undertaker in 2016.
    The Undertaker in 2016.
  • The Undertaker making his way to the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
    The Undertaker making his way to the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
  • The Undertaker facing off against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
    The Undertaker facing off against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
  • The Undertaker leaves behind his wrestling gear in the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
    The Undertaker leaves behind his wrestling gear in the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.
  • The Undertaker backstage at WrestleMania 33.
    The Undertaker backstage at WrestleMania 33.
  • The Undertaker and Triple H share a post-match hug at WrestleMania 33.
    The Undertaker and Triple H share a post-match hug at WrestleMania 33.
  • The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
    The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
  • The Undertaker at Crown Jewel in Riyadh in 2018.
    The Undertaker at Crown Jewel in Riyadh in 2018.
  • The Undertaker and John Cena at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
    The Undertaker and John Cena at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
  • The Undertaker at Crown Jewel in Riyadh in 2018.
    The Undertaker at Crown Jewel in Riyadh in 2018.
  • The Undertaker choke slams AJ Styles at Super ShowDown in Riyadh in 2020.
    The Undertaker choke slams AJ Styles at Super ShowDown in Riyadh in 2020.
  • The Undertaker says he has unfinished business with AJ Styles.
    The Undertaker says he has unfinished business with AJ Styles.
  • AJ Styles and The Undertaker in their 'Boneyard Match' at WrestleMania 36 in 2020. Courtesy WWE
    AJ Styles and The Undertaker in their 'Boneyard Match' at WrestleMania 36 in 2020. Courtesy WWE
  • The Undertaker rides away after defeating AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36.
    The Undertaker rides away after defeating AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36.
  • The Undertaker will say his final farewell to the WWE Universe at Survivor Series.
    The Undertaker will say his final farewell to the WWE Universe at Survivor Series.
  • 'I don’t think anybody, especially in this industry, can foresee 30 years down the line,' says The Undertaker.
    'I don’t think anybody, especially in this industry, can foresee 30 years down the line,' says The Undertaker.
More from Firas Maksad
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community

• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style

“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.

Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term. 

From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”

• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International

"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed.  Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."

• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."

• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com

"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.

His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.

Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."

• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher

"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen.  He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”

• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."

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4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD

The line-up as it stands for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27

50-man Royal Rumble

Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns

Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev

Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bludgeon Brothers v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy

United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

Singles match
Triple H v John Cena

To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced

Neighbourhood Watch
Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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%3Cp%3E-%20US%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20435%20members%20make%20up%20the%20House%2C%20and%20100%20in%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20party%20needs%20control%20of%20218%20seats%20to%20have%20a%20majority%20in%20the%20House%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20In%20the%20Senate%2C%20a%20party%20needs%20to%20hold%2051%20seats%20for%20control%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20In%20the%20event%20of%20a%2050-50%20split%2C%20the%20vice%20president's%20party%20retains%20power%20in%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Strait of Hormuz

Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.

Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm

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Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km

The specs: Volvo XC40

Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000

Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km

THE BIO:

Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.

Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.

Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.

Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.

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Tuesday, January 29
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Friday, February 1
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UAE%20FIXTURES
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The%20Specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELamborghini%20LM002%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205.2-litre%20V12%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20450hp%20at%206%2C800rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E500Nm%20at%204%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFive-speed%20manual%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%209%20seconds%20(approx)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20(approx)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYears%20built%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201986-93%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20vehicles%20built%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20328%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EValue%20today%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24300%2C000%2B%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: April 02, 2022, 11:04 AM
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