WWE icon The Undertaker has revealed he secretly underwent heart surgery just one day after attending WrestleMania 41, in what he and his wife Michelle McCool have described as a “terrifying” health scare.
The 60-year-old wrestling legend — real name Mark Callaway — opened up about the ordeal on his Six Feet Under podcast, explaining that despite worsening symptoms, he travelled to Las Vegas in April to support McCool’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Speaking candidly, McCool said: “It’s because of the heart issues you’ve been having weeks prior. Which, by the grace of God, we found out just by— it ended up being terrifying.”
Callaway, widely revered for his iconic “Dead Man” persona, said he had been struggling with shortness of breath during basic tasks like throwing a ball with the dog or walking upstairs. He was unaware of the severity of the issue until routine activities began leaving him unusually winded.
Emergency Surgery After WrestleMania
The day after WrestleMania, the couple arrived at hospital at 6am, where The Undertaker underwent a minor heart surgery. It followed several days of hospitalization earlier in the month, where he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (a-fib) — a condition that had gone undetected.
“You were in a-fib for several days, and your heart rhythm was out of wack,” Michelle recounted. “The ejection fraction of how the blood was pumping was down to 30%. It’s supposed to be close to 100%.”
Doctors had to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm — a procedure known as cardioversion. But the effects were short-lived, and Callaway soon relapsed into a-fib after returning home.
“I Was Stressed” – Michelle McCool
Michelle, a former WWE Divas Champion, admitted the emotional toll of watching her husband continue to attend public events while quietly facing a serious medical condition.
“We were in the hospital for four nights two weeks before WrestleMania,” she said. “I couldn’t focus on anything else. I just wanted to make sure he had the best cardiologist.”
The wrestling world was none the wiser, with Undertaker’s appearance at WrestleMania sparking admiration from fans — even as his condition worsened privately. “I wasn’t even supposed to go to Vegas,” he admitted.
Recovery and Reflection
Now on the mend, The Undertaker has expressed gratitude for the timely diagnosis and treatment. “By the grace of God, you are here,” McCool told him during the podcast.
The couple emphasised the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking medical advice — even when the symptoms seem minor. “It could’ve turned out badly had we not found it that day,” she added.
Though retired from in-ring competition since his cinematic Boneyard Match against AJ Styles in 2020, The Undertaker has continued to appear sporadically on WWE programming, offering mentorship to younger talent and connecting with fans.
Despite the health scare, Callaway remains a respected presence in the wrestling world — both for his legendary career and his resilience outside the ring.
