Abyss, known outside the ring as Christopher Joseph Park, turned down multiple opportunities to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania, primarily due to his strong allegiance to TNA Wrestling. The offers came over several years, but Abyss, a key figure in TNA, remained committed to the Nashville-based promotion, believing in its legacy and community. This loyalty prevented him from participating in one of WWE’s most celebrated events, despite the significant professional exposure it could have offered.
Offers to Wrestle The Undertaker Were Repeatedly Declined
During a recent discussion on the Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast, Abyss revealed that WWE approached him several times with the chance to perform against The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Despite these enticing prospects, he could not reconcile leaving TNA, where he was regarded as a cornerstone alongside fellow stars like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle, and Sting. Abyss emphasized the pride he took in being part of a loyal cohort that stuck with the company through its formative and challenging years.
Abyss Reflects on His Career and WWE Producer Role
Though Abyss declined to compete at WrestleMania, he ultimately joined WWE after retiring from active in-ring competition, transitioning to a backstage producer role in January 2019. He described this progression as a meaningful conclusion to his wrestling journey, stating,
“I also think that it’s a poetic story that when my career ended, I was presented to go there and become a producer, for the biggest and best wrestling company in the world.”
This role has since earned him respect for his backstage contributions and demonstrated his continued integration into the broader wrestling industry.
There were a couple of times we had conversations, and they always went really well. My thing — I was with TNA from the beginning. And that made it, for me, personally, extremely hard to leave. I felt like I was one of the cornerstones of the company along with AJ Styles, the Samoa Joes, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, and Kurt Angle. I felt an extreme sense of loyalty. I had no interest [to jump ship and work the Undertaker match at WrestleMania]. I was all about TNA at that time. I also think that it’s a poetic story that when my career ended, I was presented to go there and become a producer, for the biggest and best wrestling company in the world,” Abyss said.
The Undertaker’s Iconic WrestleMania Legacy and Abyss’s Place in Wrestling History
The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak, an undefeated run through 21 matches until his shock defeat by Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30, is arguably the most iconic storyline in professional wrestling history. Abyss reflected on this legacy with insight, suggesting that if certain top talents like himself and others had remained in WWE during that period, The Undertaker’s streak might not have lasted as long. This reveals how shifts in wrestling rosters affected one of WrestleMania’s greatest sagas.
With a record of 25 wins and only 2 losses, The Undertaker set a standard at WrestleMania unmatched by any other competitor. While Abyss never competed against the “Deadman” on that grand stage, his career and steadfast loyalty to TNA helped define an important era in wrestling outside of WWE’s shadow, proving that allegiance and character can shape a wrestler’s legacy as powerfully as moments inside the ring.
Impact of Abyss’s Loyalty on His Wrestling Career and WWE’s Evolution
Abyss’s decision to remain loyal to TNA rather than leap at WrestleMania opportunities underscores the complex choices wrestlers face between career advancement and company allegiance. His story highlights how deep commitments to a promotion can shape the entire trajectory of a performer’s path. Abyss’s later transition to a WWE producer role reveals that such loyalty did not close doors indefinitely but rather carved a unique and respected niche in the wrestling world.
Looking ahead, Abyss’s continued work behind the scenes positions him as an influential figure shaping wrestling storytelling and production, proving that the bonds wrestlers form with their home promotions can coexist with future opportunities in the industry’s biggest companies.
