The Undertaker's American Badass gimmick spanned three years, and it showed a different side to Undertaker, but fans were excited to witness the return of The Deadman, and intrigued to see how his new persona would play out.
In the fall of 1999, Undertaker took a hiatus from WWE as he sustained a groin injury, and he sustained another injury that hampered his return to action until May 2000. Fans were accustomed to seeing Undertaker in his Deadman gimmick, but he traded his trench coat and hat to become the American Badass. While the majority of wrestling fans enjoyed Undertaker's time as The Deadman, there's no denying that Undertaker knew that he needed to reinvent his gimmick to stay relevant.
Undertaker was one of the top babyfaces on SmackDown, and some of his matches between 2000-03 saw the very best and worst of Undertaker. Nevertheless, after Survivor Series 2003, Undertaker returned as The Deadman at WrestleMania 20, but "Biker Taker" had to overcome a series of challenges in his final set of matches as the American Badass.
10 The Undertaker Vs. Chuck Palumbo - SmackDown (10/9/03)
On the October 9, 2003, edition of SmackDown, The Undertaker found himself going toe-to-toe with Chuck Palumbo. Palumbo didn't come to ringside alone as he had his FBI stablemates Nunzio and Johnny Stamboli in his corner. Undertaker dominated the match right from the word go.
Palumbo barely had any offense, and Undertaker made short work of Palumbo. He sealed the deal with a devastating Chokeslam, and he could shift his focus towards his WWE Championship match with Brock Lesnar at No Mercy 2003.
9 The Undertaker & Orlando Jordan Vs. A-Train & John Cena - SmackDown (8/21/03)
The Undertaker found himself teaming up with Orlando Jordan to take on A-Train and John Cena in a tag team match. Jordan was still learning his craft, but he held his own here. Undertaker pummeled Cena in the ribs to get the match underway. He followed it up with Old School, and A-Train broke up the fall.
A-Train attempted to hit Undertaker with a steel chair, but Jordan stopped him in his tracks. Moreover, A-Train connected with the Derailer on Jordan, and Undertaker attempted the Last Ride on Cena. However, A-Train clocked Undertaker in the ribs with Cena's chain, and Cena covered Undertaker for the win.
8 The Undertaker Vs. Big Show - SmackDown (8/14/03)
Big Show and The Undertaker have battled many times, and they once again locked horns on the August 14, 2003 episode of SmackDown. Show was looking to put Undertaker away with a Chokeslam, but Undertaker reversed it superbly with an armbar.
Show took control of the match, and Undertaker's ribs were taped and he was selling the effects of his injury. The battle spilled onto the outside, and A-Train nailed Undertaker in the ribs with a 2x4. Undertaker was writhing in pain, and Show prevailed albeit by count-out.
7 The Undertaker Vs. Mr. McMahon - Survivor Series 2003
The Undertaker and Mr. McMahon squared off in a Buried Alive match at Survivor Series 2003. Undertaker was celebrating his 13th anniversary with WWE, and he was looking to bury the chairman of the board alive. McMahon isn't an in-ring specialist by any stretch of the imagination, and Undertaker battered McMahon with ease.
McMahon wore the proverbial crimson mask, and it was one-way traffic. McMahon was carried to the grave site, and he blinded Undertaker with some dirt. However, as Undertaker was closing in on victory, his brother Kane emerged. The Big Red Machine removed his brother's bandana which signaled the end of the American Badass gimmick with McMahon triumphing as Undertaker was buried alive.
6 The Undertaker Vs. A-Train - SummerSlam 2003
The Undertaker has a good record at SummerSlam, and he was seeking another victory at the Biggest Party of the Summer. Undertaker was up against A-Train at the 2003 iteration of the event. Undertaker attempted a Tombstone Piledriver but A-Train countered it.
The referee was knocked down, and A-Train attempted to hit Undertaker with a steel chair, but it was to no avail. Nevertheless, it wasn't the greatest of spectacles, but Undertaker picked up the win with a Chokeslam.
5 The Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar & Big Show - SmackDown (10/23/03)
The deck was stacked against Undertaker as the reigning WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and the new United States Champion Big Show were Undertaker's opponents in a handicap match. There was a caveat as Undertaker could choose his opponent and stipulation if he prevailed. Undertaker chokeslammed Show off the top rope thinking that he had won.
However, the new SmackDown General Manager Paul Heyman announced several changes to the match. He said that it was a two-out-of-three falls match, and he finally changed it to a no DQ and no count-out match. Nevertheless, despite the shenanigans, Undertaker hit Lesnar and Show in the head with a chain, and he covered Lesnar for the win.
4 The Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar Vs. Big Show - SmackDown (8/28/03)
The winner of the triple threat match between The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Big Show earned a WWE Championship match against Big Show. As predicted, Lesnar and Show worked as a cohesive unit in the early exchanges. Inevitably, their alliance broke down. Undertaker got back in the match and he assaulted both men.
The action moved outside the ring, and Undertaker was a victim of a steel chair shot to the head by Show. Ultimately, Undertaker regrouped, and while Lesnar attempted to suplex Show off the top rope, Undertaker saw an opening, and he planted Lesnar with the Last Ride.
3 The Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar - No Mercy 2003
The Undertaker challenged Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2003 in a Biker Chain match. This was the second year in succession that Undertaker and Lesnar were adversaries in a WWE Championship match at No Mercy. This was a decent match between the pair with the biker chain erected at the top of the pole.
Undertaker had to watch the FBI who couldn't keep their nose out of this match. However, with Undertaker closing in on his fifth WWE Championship reign, Mr. McMahon pulled Undertaker from the top rope. Lesnar nailed Undertaker in the head with the chain, and he went on to retain the WWE Championship.
2 The Undertaker & Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar & John Cena - SmackDown (10/2/03)
On the October 2, 2003, edition of SmackDown, The Undertaker and his former rival Kurt Angle teamed up to face the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and John Cena. This was unquestionably one of the best tag team matches in the history of SmackDown. Undertaker and Angle worked together like a well-oiled machine, and Cena was in a tough spot as they wore him down.
As expected, the pendulum swung with Lesnar and Cena back in control. Moreover, Undertaker and Angle would have felt hard done by as Cena clocked Angle in the head with a chain, and Cena stole the victory for himself and Lesnar.
1 The Undertaker Vs. Kurt Angle - SmackDown (9/4/03)
The Undertaker and Kurt Angle had a barn burner of a WWE Championship match on the September 4, 2003 episode of SmackDown. Angle had to destroy Undertaker's vertical base, and he grounded him with some mat-based wrestling.
This was an instant classic, and both men would top these encounters with World Heavyweight Championship matches in 2006. Undertaker applied the Triangle Choke, but Angle managed to fight out of it. Unfortunately, there was no clear-cut winner as Brock Lesnar intervened and attacked both competitors. Fans booed and rightfully so.