Before The Undertaker teamed up with Paul Bearer, he was managed by Bruce Prichard when he performed as “Brother Love.” Prichard played a significant role in shaping Mark Calaway’s WWE journey, something Calaway acknowledged during an episode of his podcast, Six Feet Under With The Undertaker. Calaway expressed, “Without this gentleman—used lightly—there probably wouldn’t be an Undertaker in professional wrestling.” He also recounted his time in WCW, highlighting how Prichard and Bearer acted as his support system during a challenging period. Calaway added that Bearer encouraged him to get to know Prichard beforehand, believing they would make a strong team.
Initially, The Undertaker was almost called “Kane, Undertaker,” a name that fans now associate with Glenn Jacobs’ character, Kane, who was introduced as the Dead Man’s storyline half-brother. On the podcast, Bruce Prichard explained his early idea to connect The Undertaker to the biblical figure Cain. “I wanted to call you ‘Cain’ because Cain was the first man to commit murder. Cain killed his brother,” Prichard shared. Calaway said this was the first time he had heard the reasoning, sparking a brief debate between them. Prichard clarified, “Cain was the first man to commit murder. Cain kills his brother Abel. It’s from the Bible. In many ways, Cain was the most evil person in Biblical lore. I loved that name—a cool, powerful name. ‘Cain!’ I loved it so much I named your ‘brother’ and my son Cain!”
Prichard revealed that although this name was planned initially, it was dropped within three weeks. He admitted that even though he started as Undertaker’s manager, Paul Bearer was ultimately a much better fit. They both agreed that the “Brother Love” era wasn’t a bad match either.
If quoting from this article, please credit “Six Feet Under with The Undertaker” and provide ah/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This insight into The Undertaker’s early career emphasizes how critical backstage figures like Bruce Prichard are to shaping wrestling icons. It highlights the creative evolution behind WWE characters and shows how storytelling and management decisions can have a lasting impact on the industry’s legacy.
