WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry was renowned for his incredible strength inside the ring, but backstage, it was his volatile temper that often posed a greater threat to his colleagues. In a recent episode of his podcast “Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway,” The Undertaker, another WWE legend, reflected on how he and Owen Hart might have saved numerous WWE superstars from experiencing the wrath of Henry’s infamous “Hall of Pain.”
Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, recounted multiple instances where he had to step in to defuse situations that could have escalated dangerously. “I’d be at home and my phone would ring, and it would be at night and it would be Mark, and I was like, ‘Oh s***,’ because I knew he was about to kill somebody,” Calaway said, recalling Henry’s fiery reactions to practical jokes.
Henry’s rage wasn’t just a casual temper tantrum—it was the stuff of legend, with stories circulating about his explosive responses to being pranked. Calaway explained, “I bet I’ve got 15 calls through the years with him ready to kill somebody, and somewhere way, way up the totem pole, and I’m like, ‘Mark, I understand, but you—just take a deep breath.'”
One of the most notable incidents involved a prank orchestrated by Vince McMahon in 2011. After a show, McMahon had Henry wait alone in the ring for a match that never happened. Henry waited for several minutes before storming backstage in a fury. Feeling utterly disrespected, he threatened to quit on the spot. However, it was Calaway who managed to talk him down from the edge. This incident, meant as a joke, inadvertently gave Vince McMahon the inspiration for Henry’s “Hall of Pain” persona, a character that would go on to dominate and win the World Heavyweight Championship.
While Calaway did not delve into specifics about other instances, he made it clear that both he and Owen Hart played crucial roles in preventing potential backstage disasters. “A lot of people owe themselves and Owen Hart their lives and ability to walk,” Calaway suggested, hinting at the countless times they had to calm down the “World’s Strongest Man.”
Owen Hart, known as “The King of Harts,” was legendary not just for his wrestling prowess but also for his ability to diffuse tension with humor and kindness. His calming influence on Henry was evidently significant, as implied by Calaway. “Owen had this way of getting Mark to see the funny side of things or just to cool off before things got out of hand,” Calaway shared, highlighting Hart’s unique talent for handling such volatile situations.
This combination of The Undertaker’s authoritative presence and Owen Hart’s disarming charm often acted as the perfect antidote to Henry’s rage. Their efforts ensured that many WWE superstars avoided potentially career-threatening confrontations.
Reflecting on these stories underscores the intense and often unseen dynamics behind the scenes in professional wrestling. The camaraderie, the tensions, and the relationships between wrestlers shape much of what happens both inside and outside the ring. For Mark Henry, having friends like The Undertaker and Owen Hart was crucial in managing his formidable temper, thereby preserving not just his career, but also those of his colleagues.
Mark Henry’s transformation from a wrestler on the brink of quitting to a dominant champion as the “Hall of Pain” persona is a testament to the power of mentorship and friendship in the high-stakes world of WWE. It’s a reminder that behind the showmanship and rivalries, there are deep bonds and real human emotions that drive these larger-than-life characters.
