The Undertaker’s Son Opens Up About Growing Up Around The Wrestling Business, Meeting Vince McMahon

Chandler Sorrells recently interviewed Gunner Calaway, son of legendary WWE Superstar The Undertaker. Gunner was captain of the bowling team in high school, is a graduate of Full Sail University, and is currently working as a repair technician. Calaway confessed that organized sports never really interested him all that much, although he is a self-described outdoors enthusiast.

Unlike his Superstar father, Gunner’s focus isn’t on the world of professional wrestling; but, he is instead pursuing a video game design career,

“As a kid definitely you see it [wrestling] so much and you’re like, ‘Wow, how cool would that be? In my eyes, it’s like being a super hero. I tried to [go to shows] whenever I had the time to do so. Most of them fell on a school night so, couldn’t be out too late. As a kid definitely. As I got older and got into my teenage years, you want to be independent and find your own interests. In my adult life, I kind of turned away from it and tuned in only when it was necessary. As a kid, I was all about it, but now, I went to Full Sail. I got my bachelor’s as a video game artist, so that’s kind of the path that I’m setting before myself. I’d like to, within the next 5-10 years, I’d love to be an artist for a team, whether a production company for video games or something where I can put my 3D skills to use. I’d love to eventually own my own indie company and call out to all my artists and all my creative people and make our own games and see what happens. That would be great.”

Despite going to Full Sail University, Gunner never attended an NXT show, but did have a friend who worked the lighting. Some even assumed that the reason he went to the Winter Park, FL based university was somehow related to NXT.

Gunner opened up about what it was like growing up around professional wrestling, as the son of one of wrestling’s most iconic stars,

“As far as interesting or crazy memories or anything like that, I would say what has always been interesting to me is the community and it’s such a strong community. It’s so funny because I remember growing up and I remember meeting all these people, all these larger than life characters and you kinda have these connotations or these expectations when you meet them ’cause you see them on TV because they have these big personalities. There is so much respect for everybody in that business and what everybody is there for and their passion. I can’t think of any one person that I met in my life that worked in the business that was rude or disrespectful or kind of higher than everybody else. It was always such a strong community and that goes across the board, be it the wrestlers themselves or the fans. Everybody who have approached me is respectful, is like, ‘Oh my gosh, these guys had such a big impact on my life and we grew up watching these people.’ To me, it’s always been so cool – indirectly – not of my own choice, but brought into this very passionate but very respectful community. Wrestling fans are some of the most boisterous and passionate people that I know, but they’re awesome. It’s a charmed life for sure, but I am very grateful like it.”

Gunner also talked about what it was like meeting Vince McMahon as a kid and was asked if the WWE CEO was anything like his TV character,

“No, but he’s a fun guy to talk to, for sure. All of them. Everybody, like I said, you would never think – you see them act a certain way and then you meet them in person and they’d be so humble and just so giving of their time and respectful of people. it’s really refreshing.”

Gunner sat ringside for his father’s WrestleMania 33 match against Roman Reigns and described the event in the following,

“It was cool. I got to fly out an hang out with them for a little bit before the show and they had offered for us to come sit ringside and see the match up close, which, I mean, of course. That’s the best seat in the house in my opinion, but yeah, it was just there to give support and be a part of it and just, be there for them. I’m always grateful for that and those opportunities.”

(Transcription Credit: Michael McClead, WrestleZone)

Readers interested in watching the interview in its entirety may do so below:

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