The amazing pictures that reveal why WWE legend The Undertaker had BSK tattooed onto his stomach
The amazing pictures that reveal why WWE legend The Undertaker had BSK tattooed onto his stomach
AT THE end of every match, the legendary Undertaker would pull down the straps of his singlet to reveal a huge tattoo that reads “BSK Pride” across his abdomen.
But what did it actually stand for?
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Well, it’s actually gang ink – a reference to his backstage crew in the 1990s who stood opposite to Shawn Michaels’ “Kliq,” which ran roughshod over the WWE locker room at the same time.
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The letters BSK stand for “Bone Street Krew” – named after the gang’s love of playing
dominoes (or, as they’re sometimes called, “bones”).
The Krew traveled together, and members were each branded with BSK tattoos.
Wrestling folklore says they acted as locker room leaders – and peacekeepers – during a turbulent time in WWE behind-the-scenes.
To become an official member of BSK, a wrestler had to be given the nod by Undertaker and Yokozuna.
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Who was in the Bone Street Krew?
The BSK was made up of several well-known wrestlers.
The Undertaker – WWE’s greatest living (or undead) legend. Multi-time champ and a veteran of 27 years.
Yokozuna – the 600lb Samoan played a Japanese sumo wrestler. He was a two-time World Champion and is rumored to have been a locker room authority and the founder of BSK.
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Rikishi – Popular Attitude Era superstar who arrived in WWE in 1992 as Fatu, a member of the Headshrinkers tag team. He’s the father of SmackDown tag champs, The Usos.
The Godfather – Real name Charles Wight, he also played Papa Shango and the Kama. He was a friend of Undertaker’s from their time wrestling together in USWA.
Savio Vega – Puerto Rican wrestler who was with WWE from 1994 to 1998. He was the first member to get a BSK tattoo.
Henry Godwinn – WWE’s resident wrestling pig farmer. Real name Mark Canterbury, he was a two-time tag champion with storyline cousin Phineas.
Mideon – AKA Phineas Godwinn, was the last member to be inducted into the BSK and later became part of Undertaker’s on-screen Ministry faction.
Crush – Originally the third member of Demolition, Crush – real name Brian Adams – was an on-off singles star in the 1990s and an original member of the Nation of Domination.
Paul Bearer – Undertaker’s longtime manager and friend. He was a real-life mortician and brought some ghoulish realism to the Deadman’s character.
Mr. Fuji – Devious manager famous for tossing salt into the eyes of his wrestlers’ opponents.
He managed Yokozuna on-screen and was called “Uncle” by the BSK.
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Did they appear together in the ring too?
The Kliq was notorious for working matches and feuds against each other because they were only willing to make each other look good in the ring.
BSK also worked together – but unlike the Kliq, there was no political agenda.
The Undertaker had long-running feuds with Yokozuna and Godfather (as the Kama), while Godfather, Savio Vega, and Crush were all part of the “gang wars” in 1997.
Undertaker Henry Godwinn, Rikishi (then Fatu), and Savio Vega teamed together at the Survivor Series 1995.
Was there really a rivalry with The Kliq?
Internet rumors say there was a locker room war between BSK and The Kliq – Michaels, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, X-Pac, and Triple H – but there’s only a little truth to it.
Savio Vega has recounted how he once got into a shoving match with Kevin Nash over a dispute in a bar, but otherwise, the gangs co-existed peacefully.
In fact, Savio Vega and Scott Hall were real-life friends – and played buddies on-screen during Savio’s singles push in 1995.
In an interview with WWE.com, The Godfather said: “I hear stories that there were wars between The Kliq and us.
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“I don’t remember any problems with any group. I don’t think The Kliq would have messed with The BSK in the first place.”
Shawn Michaels said: “We all hung out at the same places, anyway. We were friendly.
“At some point, the rumor started that The BSK started because of The Kliq, but I don’t know who started the stirring of the pot that we didn’t get along.”
Though animosity between the groups might have been fabricated, most fans suspect that the presence of BSK – led by Taker and Yoko – would have kept the Kliq in check.
So were BSK real locker room leaders?
Both Undertaker and Yokozuna are famed for their backstage roles, and both commanded and demanded respect.
Also speaking to WWE.com, Mideon recalled how Undertaker broke up a bar fight involving a wrestler during a tour of Germany.
He said: “I’m trying to pull them apart, and I swear to God, it was like a John Wayne movie.
“The doorway lit up, and The Undertaker came walking through it. He grabbed both of them by the throat with one hand and posted them against the cement wall.
“He took the wrestler out of the bar and gave him a talking to.”
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What happened to BSK?
Even during the Monday Night Wars, with talent jumping ship to WWE, the core members of the Bone Street Krew stayed loyal to WWE.
But Yokozuna had to leave WWE at the end of 1996 due to his weight issues. He died in 2000.
Savio Vega left WWE in 1998, while Henry Godwinn departed in 1999.
Mideon appeared in various storylines – including the awful “Naked Mideon” gimmick – until 2001.
The Godfather left in 2002 but made sporadic returns as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
But there continues to be a BSK connection in WWE to this day.
Rikishi and Yokozuna are part of the famous Anoa’i wrestling family – and cousins to Roman Reigns, the man who retired Undertaker at WrestleMania 33.