As a WWE fan and a guy who loves to watch movies and TV shows, I can definitely say that "Undertaker: The Last Ride" is the best docuseries from 2020, so far.
Not only is it an excellent watch for WWE fans, but this docuseries explores how one of the biggest myths in fictional entertainment comes to terms with his reality.
It was an honour to cover all 4 previous chapters from this WWE Network Special. You can check out the 5 biggest news stories from Chapter 4 of "Undertaker: The Last Ride" right here.
Let us know your thoughts on this critically acclaimed show in the comments section below.
Without any further ado, I present to you the five biggest news stories from "Undertaker: The Last Ride" - Chapter Five.
#5: The Undertaker was content in being retired after Extreme Rules 2019
The previous chapter ended with Mark Calaway's successful comeback at Extreme Rules 2019. Backstage, Mark approached Vince McMahon and let him know that he doesn't have that same desire to get back in the ring again.
In a sense, Mark felt that he was done, and you knew that he was content at being that way for the time being.
We all know retirement is not a permanent state for WWE veterans, and yes, The Undertaker did make several appearances after Extreme Rules 2019.
However, you could sense that Mark Calaway had changed as a person after that revelation. He didn't have the same itch to get back in the ring during several instances, especially at SmackDown in Madison Square Garden, where Undertaker knew the true reality of his situation.
Basically, it was Chapter 4 where The Undertaker stopped chasing the dragon of "one more match", and he simply took whatever came along his way after Extreme Rules 2019 without having any desire to top the greatest hits of The Deadman's career.
Later, Mark Calaway's desire to come back was lit again thanks to "The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles.
#4: The Undertaker's chat with Stone Cold Steve Austin led to AJ Styles calling The Deadman for one more match
It was in November 2019 that Stone Cold Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions talk show offered WWE fans a lengthy sneak peek into The Undertaker's career. People recall that episode as an important milestone where The Undertaker pulled back the curtain and offered his thoughts to the public.
Fortunately for The Deadman, his chat with The Texas Rattlesnake also led to another turning point in his career. On the show, Undertaker assured that he would go out on his own terms.
That statement led AJ Styles to call The Undertaker for one more match.
Then again, Mark Calaway didn't really have the desire to wrestle another match at WrestleMania. The Undertaker told AJ that he would have loved to step inside the ring with him at least 10 to 15 years ago, and now, it was too late for that to happen.
AJ Styles told him to think about it and that was probably when a momentary-spark ignited The Deadman's desire to come back to the ring.
#3: Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy talked about how The Undertaker personally helped them in their careers
A part of Last Ride's final chapter revolved around how The Undertaker has been consistent at giving back to the Pro-Wrestling industry throughout his career.
On January 16, 2020, The Undertaker arrived at the Performance Center and gave a lot of advice to a taller bunch of Performance Center recruits. You could see how the younger Superstars were intimidated by The Undertaker, but the nervousness faded away when they realized he wasn't going to shred them.
Similarly, Randy Orton recalled a time when he wrestled Undertaker for the first time way back in 2002. He made Randy look good when The Viper was only 22-years old, and after the match, Vince McMahon was dumbfounded as to why Undertaker took so many bumps from a rookie, but in Mark Calaway's eyes, he knew that Randy Orton would do everyone a favour by giving back to the business down the road.
Similarly, Jeff Hardy also took The Deadman's advice in an incredible ladder match a long time ago. The Undertaker was always responsible for pushing younger guys instead of hindering their capability, and that is one of the best things a veteran can do for this business.
#2: The Undertaker's real brother passed away just before WWE filmed The Boneyard Match
One of the most emotional moments from Undertaker's Last Ride documentary revolves around the moment when Mark Calaway holds in the tears while talking about the death of his older brother, Timothy Calaway, a day before they had to shoot the Boneyard Match.
Tim died due to a heart attack, and it was Undertaker's niece that informed him of the situation. With the burden and responsibility of informing his mother and the rest of his family about what had just happened, The Boneyard Match was an incredibly intense shoot for The Undertaker.
Could you imagine burying someone in a fictional fight a day after someone close to you has passed away?
It was also a moment that made him realize just how important it is being with one's family.
Shooting the Boneyard Match was also a very physical task for The Undertaker. The Deadman cut himself open five minutes into the bout when he shoved his hand through a hearse window.
At the end of the day, The Boneyard Match ended up being an excellent achievement in terms of entertainment and production. It will go down in history as one of the best cinematic matches WWE has ever produced.
#1: The Undertaker explained how he finally came to peace with retirement
Throughout this five-part docuseries, The Undertaker talked about how he kept searching for that one perfect match to end it all.
In a way, The Deadman kept pushing for one more match despite meeting with disappointment several times in the process. He envied the fact that Shawn Michaels had made peace with letting go of this industry at the perfect moment, and The Undertaker finally found his own peace after learning life lessons throughout the last few years of his career.
From WrestleMania 30 to The Last Ride documentary, The Undertaker's final phase of his career has been a 6-year long arc. It wasn't just the excellence of the Boneyard Match that allowed him to retire, but the docuseries displayed how Mark Calaway finally eased into his role as a family man.
The desire to have "one more match" is no longer a huge part of his life. After all, Mark Calaway has found a separate calling as a faithful husband and a loving father.
Of course, he may come back in a small capacity if Vince McMahon really needs him, but the character of The Undertaker has finally completed its arc, and Mark Calaway also found peace in the multifaceted nature of life.
The Undertaker's retirement isn't a sad moment at all, as a matter of fact, it is a moment to be celebrated because both Mark Calaway and The Undertaker got a perfect ending they deserved.