Two false reports saying The Undertaker, born Mark Calaway, has died have gone viral in the past week, angering fans.
The first was published on Empire Sports, a self-described “satire” website. Another was posted to Huzlers.com, which also claims to be “satire.”
A disclaimer from Huzlers says: “Huzlers.com is a combination of real shocking news and satire news to keep its visitors in a state of disbelief.”
Empire Sports also has one: “Empire Sports is a satirical and entertainment website. Empire Sports uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.”
Both articles are copies of each other and have tens of thousands of shares and “likes” on Facebook.
“It has been just under a week since the WWE Hall Of Famer Ultimate Warrior passed away so suddenly. We just received word that another legend will be joining him. Mark ‘The Undertaker’ Calaway was found in his Houston home dead late last night by his wife Michelle McCool,” the bogus articles say. “Calaway who suffered a severe concussion early on in his WrestleMania match with Brock Lesnar was taken to a hospital right after and kept over night. After being released Monday Calaway was told by WWE CEO Vince McMahon to go home and rest after receiving a severe concussion early in his WrestleMania 30 match with Brock Lesnar.”
On social media sites, fans of The Undertaker reacted.
“Damn they just found The Undertaker dead too?? Another sad day for the #WWE ... Can anyone confirm this,” one person tweeted. “She hit him with a folding chair and then he stopped breathing. I think that’s called murder,” another person wrote.
Added another: “This whole website should be shut down for always reporting lies!” referring to Empire Sports.
Some noted that the false death report about The Undertaker is insensitive because it came just days after The Ultimate Warrior, another WWE legend, died of a heart condition.
Recently, Warrior’s wife wrote a letter to fans, thanking them for their support.
“He taught me to live by his creed, ‘Live Strong, Act Bold, Be Brave. Nothing’s too hard to do, ALWAYS BELIEVE,’ and with that creed I will carry on and make him proud,” she wrote in the letter on WWE’s website.
