Dutch Mantell: The Undertaker Was Vince McMahon’s Version of Himself

Dutch Mantell has an interesting take on The Undertaker, along with Vince McMahon's creation of the character. In a new episode of Story Time With Dutch Mantell, the legendary manager claims that The Undertaker was based on McMahon's own idea of himself.

As Mr. McMahon, Vince always liked to play a larger-than-life version of himself -- the egomaniacal, over-indulgent and borderline sociopathic boss of the WWE. But according to Mantell, The Undertaker was based in part on McMahon's self-perceived invincibility.

"I heard this years ago and I've said this before," Mantell began. "The Undertaker was Vince's version of himself. He was immortal and he could keep coming... looks like he's dead, he comes back from the dead, when he would do the sit-up."

"I have heard through the years that it was Vince's vision of his actual self. It makes sense... Vince is a very complicated man anyway, so if he wanted to have an immortal version of himself, he could have that. That's what he did, and he made a lot of money along the way with it."

Mantell and co-host James Romero also discussed The Undertaker potentially using his pull behind the scenes to get his wife Michelle McCool work in WWE. The duo even called the Deadman nearly as powerful as Triple H.

"As far as The Undertaker not having any influence... Mark, come on," Mantell quipped. "You were like Vince's son, though I think he treated you better than his son."