Legendary actor and martial artist Chuck Norris died at the age of 86, his family announced Friday. Norris co-starred with Bruce Lee in 1972’s “Walk the Dragon,” went on to star in a series of 1980s martial arts films, and gained further fame in the 1990s with his role in the TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
This rise also led to Norris’ only appearance in WWE, serving as the “Special Troubleshooting Referee” during the main event Casket Match between WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna and The Undertaker at Survivor Series 1994.
Chuck Norris was the “Special Troubleshooting Referee” during the 1994 Survivor Series casket match between The Undertaker and Yokozuna. (YouTube/WWE)
While the match may not be etched in many people’s memories 32 years later, looking back at it provides a glimpse into how different WWE is from the multi-billion-dollar behemoth it is today, while also highlighting what a great star Norris was as an action movie icon and early “Texas Ranger Walker.”
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In many ways, it’s no surprise that Norris was undoubtedly the biggest attraction in this match, which was the culmination of a year-long feud between The Undertaker and Yokozuna. Even back then, WWE had a long history of intertwining pop culture and professional wrestling, especially during big moments and shows like WrestleMania.
Norris got into the ring before either Yokozuna or The Undertaker, eliciting a strong reaction from the San Antonio crowd. Norris even got some fire as he stood in the center of the ring wearing a black cowboy hat and fleece-lined denim jacket. His presence was necessary because earlier this year at the Royal Rumble in January, Yokozuna defeated The Undertaker in a Casket Match due to heavy outside interference. Norris exists to ensure that any inevitable conflicts don’t ruin the outcome of the sequel.
As far as The Undertaker and Yokozuna go, they were undoubtedly two of the top guys in WWE at the time.
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Even though The Undertaker isn’t really the Undertaker we know today – he’s still a character in this era of WWE – he’s still a rising star, complete with purple gloves and boot covers. During the match, you could see the athleticism and charisma that Undertaker would bring to the table for the next 25 years.
Yokozuna, on the other hand, is on the tail end of a WWE main event, having won the WWE Championship earlier this year and now wrapping up his show with The Undertaker at Survivor Series in November. He worked with heel managers Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette, both of whom were involved in this match.
It was more of a spectacle match than a skill match, with most of the action focused on hard hitting from the big man, with the occasional high-impact move – Yokozuna’s Samoan Drops and Uranech, and The Undertaker’s flying clothesline or what’s known as the “old school” move. Aside from some banter with the two men in the casket, the fans inside San Antonio’s Freeman Arena were just waiting for outside distractions and Norris’ involvement.
Naturally, those conflicts arose as the game entered its final stages.
First, King Kong Bundy marched up the entrance ramp, only to be stopped by two referees as the ever-stoic Norris looked on. Bam Bam Bigelow followed suit and Norris reacted in kind. If WWE wanted Norris to be a dangerous enforcer, they would have done so as he stared with daggers and scared away two men roughly twice his height.
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While Norris was distraught, the evil IRS emerged from the crowd, attacked Undertaker, and escaped.
Norris eventually came into physical contact with a fourth outside entity involved: Jeff Jarrett.
Jarrett was soon kicked by Norris, prompting a round of applause from the crowd.
Jarrett recalled the scene in a 2021 interview with Cageside Seats:
“Chuck Norris is from Texas. Survivor Series is in San Antonio. Somehow, somehow — I’m not sure if I volunteered or if I got the short straw and was the young guy on the team. I always take it with a badge of honor and maybe I’m an idiot sometimes. I don’t have any problem doing it. He obviously knows how to kick the ball, and he gets it out there.”
Shortly thereafter, The Undertaker rallied and closed the casket for Yokozuna, winning the match and earning redemption, earning Norris’ stamp of approval in the process.
Norris eventually made a brief appearance in WCW a few years later, celebrating Goldberg’s victory alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bret Hull, and Herschel Walker. But on that night in Texas in 1994, Norris didn’t say a word, just a kick, and played a small but memorable role in WWE history.
