The Undertaker Debunks WWE backstage Drinking Rituals & Explains Origins of “Whiskey Gargling”
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The legendary Undertaker has finally addressed and refuted a long-held myth surrounding backstage culture in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), specifically the claim that younger performers were pressured to consume alcohol – even “gargling” whiskey – as a form of initiation. The WWE Hall of Famer detailed the story’s evolution and clarified the truth during a recent appearance on the “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast with Cody Rhodes.
The persistent rumor has long painted a picture of a demanding and potentially coercive surroundings. However, Undertaker was emphatic in his denial of any pressure tactics. “So you may be a little disappointed in all this,” he stated. “And I’m not one to make someone gargle. That’s not my deal. I take the shot, I drink the shot… You’re invited over. It is indeed a welcome. But you know, that’s a big misnomer. Like ‘Oh, man, Taker told me to come over and drink, I had to drink.’ No, it’s not that. I don’t ever make anybody do anything they didn’t wont to do.” He characterized any invitation to drink as just that – an invitation, not a requirement.
The Undertaker traced the origins of the infamous “whiskey gargling” practice back to a period when financial circumstances were more challenging for many wrestlers. He explained that the practice wasn’t initially about hazing, but rather about navigating social dynamics and financial constraints.
“So we go back to when business wasn’t quite so good,all right? I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum,” he explained. “And so for me, gargling happened because the guys on top, when you go to the bar. Those guys were making a little bit more money than everybody else was, right? And ther was a struggle.”
During this time, some wrestlers, eager to be included in social gatherings, found themselves unable to consistently afford to purchase drinks. This lead to deceptive behavior. “So what would end up happening is a lot of people would fast shot or they’d throw it,pour it on the floor and then act like they’re drinking,right? And you know,that’s money,right? That’s people’s money.”
The practice of feigning alcohol consumption was eventually discovered, prompting a response from those in positions of authority. “so there was a lot of people that were tossing shots and they got busted for it. So then it kind of became a deal where, ‘Alright, you gotta gargle so that you know that you’ve had the shot.’ That was the original origins of it.”
Over time, the Undertaker noted, the practice morphed into something far removed from its original intent. “So then it kind of became a machismo thing too… So I never gargled, and I never made anybody gargle.”
Setting the Record Straight
With these comments, the Undertaker definitively dispelled the long-standing rumor, emphasizing that the story had been substantially exaggerated and misinterpre
With these comments, the Undertaker definitively dispelled the long-standing rumor, emphasizing that the story had been significantly exaggerated and misinterpre
