Cremation Myths: Debunking The History Of WWE's Undertaker
Understanding the world of cremation can be a sensitive topic. Instead of doing research or contacting cremation services, many people use pop-culture as their reference source. For fans that grew up watching the WWE, a lot of cremation knowledge came from the dark character known as The Undertaker. Instead of following the "facts" displayed by the WWE, you can use The Undertaker's history in professional wrestling to separate fact from fiction.
The following four myths were started by The Undertaker's WWE story and are completely different than a real cremation process.
Urn Size
When the Undertaker debuted in the WWE, he had a manager named Paul Bearer. Bearer would carry a massive gold urn around the ring. To match the comical style of the WWE, this urn was a lot bigger than the average urn you would receive for cremation services.
When choosing an urn, you have a lot of options. The traditional urn shape is not the only option, either. You can select from a variety of cremation containers including memorial boxes, necklaces, or individual urns to give to multiple family members. When working with a funeral home, ask about some of the special options that you have. A lot of people typically select a metal finish, but you can select from other materials like wood or stone.
Smoking Urns
On several occasions, The Undertaker's opponent would steal his urn in an attempt to defeat him. When the urn was opened smoke would pour out of the urn and fill the live arena. The smoke often appeared in different colors like purple and black. This type of occurrence is purely fiction.
When a cremation is completed and you receive your urn, the only thing left inside will be the ashes of your loved ones. The ashes are completely cooled and there is no way for smoke to fill or escape the urn.
Urn Spotlights
Later in the Undertaker's career, Paul Bearer would return with him at Wrestlemania XX. For this return, Bearer featured an urn that had a giant spotlight coming out the top of it. The light was an obvious novelty that is not a part of real urns.
There are plenty of ways you can customize the urn that you purchase. Other urns can feature items made for display in the home. This includes features like small clocks, picture frames, or images like the American flag. These are nice little personalized touches to make the process more unique. If you like the spotlight effect of The Undertaker, then you can choose to have a lighted urn display at your home. This type of display will feature small solar lights that illuminate the urn at night. It creates a nice memorial for your loved one.
Urn Contents
When the Undertaker's urn was dumped out by opponents like Hulk Hogan, the contents often looked very different than real cremation remains. The ashes that have fallen out of the Undertaker's urn resemble dark crumbled gravel and dirt. This is far different than real cremation remains.
When a loved one is cremated, the ashes have a pale white color. The texture is similar to sand and may sometimes include tiny bone fragments. Metal items like tooth fillings and artificial body parts are separated from the ashes using large magnets. These parts are not included with the remains.
A new cremation process known as liquid or bio cremation is completely different than traditional methods. Instead of flames, water and chemicals are mixed with the body to naturally break down elements. Not only does this give you cleaner ashes, but it has less impact on the environment.
When watching historical matches of the WWE's Undertaker, it's important to watch from a fictional stand point. Believing a lot of the far-fetched stories can easily cause you to mix up fact and fiction when dealing with a real cremation process. For more info on the facts of cremation, contact a local funeral home or cremation service.
