For me, Paul Bearer was one of the most recognizable, and best, wrestling managers that there has ever been. My reasoning for this is because he did the job so well - he was the mouthpiece for The Undertaker when he started out in the WWE. In them days, The Undertaker wouldn't have a hell of a lot to say in promos - talking from underneath his hat, usually concluding with 'Rest in Peace'.
It would be Bearer that would paint the picture going into matches. That ghostly, maniacal voice of his along with the legendary catchphrase 'oh yes!'. This would all add to Undertaker's mystique - all action (slow and methodical) and very few words - relying on the talents of Bearer when it came to the talking.
Watch the above video and keep your focus on Paul Bearer all the way through - especially when Undertaker is talking - the facial expressions are priceless!
My earliest memories of Paul Bearer were him leading Undertaker to the ring in the early nineties. It was such a perfect fit to have an Undertaker and his manager with a name like Paul Bearer - a great play on pallbearer as well as sounding like an actual name!
During the mid-nineties I fell out of wrestling and didn't start watching again until early 1999. This would be when Undertaker (still flanked by Bearer) would be at his most demonic - and who better to aid him than Bearer; both looking as evil and devilish as they ever have.
My favourite memory is probably unusual to most as it doesn't involve The Undertaker. Instead, I always remember when Kane returned in February 2000 to confront X-Pac and Tori (who had betrayed Kane over the Christmas period). It was towards the end of Monday Night Raw; Degeneration X and The Radicals were putting a beating on Too Cool, The Rock and Cactus Jack. Suddenly, the lights went out. The titantron display came on again and out walked Paul Bearer (with red jacket) to a huge ovation. Kane's music then started up, he entered, and Bearer would demand that Kane go and gain revenge. In the video below, look at how deliberate Bearer's hand gestures are as he guides Kane.
The Smackdown that week would continue Kane - and Bearer's - return as he would get revenge on Tori by delivering a Tombstone to her. As this was about to happen - and during the destruction Kane was administering to anyone that got in his way - Bearer was the calmest man in the ring. He was the one that would detain Tori until Kane was ready to deal with her. When Kane hoisted her up, Bearer could be seen giving Kane the order to drop the jezebel on her head.
During his time in the WWE, everyone that had an association with Paul Bearer have done well for themselves. His most successful client is obviously The Undertaker. This man has a 20-0 streak at Wrestlemania dating back to beating Jimmy Snuka at Wrestlemania VII to last years third bout against Triple H at Wrestlemania XXVIII. He is undoubtedly a legend and future Hall of Famer and this is in part thanks to Paul Bearer.
Kane and Mankind (Mick Foley) are two others that have greatly benefited from having Paul Bearer in their corners. Both became legitimate threats to The Undertaker; something that previous foes - such as Giant Gonzales - could never match. Kane could have been just another obstacle for The Undertaker to overcome, but over the years he has come back to haunt him time and time again. He has become a phenom in his own right and that has got to be credited back to Bearer for his part in the 'history' of Kane and The Undertaker, as well as accompanying him to the ring and legitimising him as a serious threat.
One of my fondest memories of Paul Bearer is when he paid tribute to Owen Hart on the Monday Night Raw after Owen had passed away (at Over the Edge 1999). Everyone offered their kind words but Paul Bearer's stuck with me. I was grateful for that.
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| William Moody; April 10, 1954 – March 5, 2013; RIP... |
I hope we get a tribute show/show of respect on Raw next week...
Rest in peace William Moody... #RIPPaulBearer
@jimmosangle
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