Tag Archives: The Undertaker

Pro Wrestling

Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker: Five Reasons Why Each Should Win

Despite the fact that their Wrestlemania XXX match did not live up to the hype (well, the match itself didn’t, but the finish absolutely did), tonight’s Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker match at Summerslam has given the event a supercard feel. With Jon Stewart hosting (sure beats The Miz from a couple years ago), Stephen Amell in a match and our big name main event, Summerslam feels closer to Wrestlemania than it does to the rest of the WWE Network Special Schedule. Unlike Wrestlemania XXX, were it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Undertaker was beating Brock (which of course led to the shock value of the finish), this year’s encounter can go either way. Here now are five reasons on why each competitor  should win tonight.

Five Reasons Brock Lesnar Should Win at Summerslam

  1. Brock Lesnar as a main attraction requires him to be an invincible monster.

Interestingly, by the time Taker and Lesnar locked up at Mania XXX, Brock Lesnar has lost most of his appeal as a major attraction. He will still very over, but it wasn’t the same as two years prior when he first showed up and confronted John Cena. He had suffered a couple of losses (to Cena and Triple H) and no one gave him a chance against the legendary Streak. When Lesnar ended the streak…a brilliant booking decision…it put him back in that special attraction slot. WWE smartly booked him to be an unstoppable monster from that point forward. He destroyed Cena. Cena seemingly almost got him back, but Lesnar still left with the title. He beat both Cena and Seth Rollins. He looked like a monster even as Roman Reigns fought him to a draw, and lost his title without being pinned. He destroyed Champ Rollins before Taker returned. All of this gets added to the numerous segments where Lesnar wrecked everyone and everything (like the RAW after Mania). Losing to the Undertaker undoes most of this, and there is still a lot of money left in the Brock Lesnar is a monster story.

  1. Brock Lesnar needs the win more than Undertaker.

With Wrestlemania XXXII on the horizon and WWE looking to break all kinds of attendance records, Brock Lesnar needs to be at the peak of his drawing power. There’s no Streak to conquer in the future to re-establish Lesnar as a special attraction. We can’t be wasting losses on the Undertaker.

  1. A loss means Lesnar vs. Undertaker III.

A route that WWE should not take is Lesnar-Taker III at Wrestlemania XXXII. But if Lesnar loses here, we probably need a rubber match between the two, and to be honest that’s not the best match possible for Mania. Really, the only Taker match out there that needs to happen is against Sting. Let Lesnar move on. It might be time to throw all the money in the world at The Rock for Lesnar vs. Rock…unless Vince thinks he is getting Stone Cold or HBK.

  1. Brock Lesnar just signed a new WWE contract.

As a result, there is no reason for WWE to not get the maximum out of Lesnar’s drawing power. If WWE resigned Lesnar just to lose to Undertaker and whomever, it’ll be a colossal waste. Someone beating Brock Lesnar will give a huge rub (one that almost went to Roman Reigns). WWE would be smart to maximize that.

  1. It’s not believable that Brock Lesnar would lose to Undertaker.

It would be one thing if this was in his prime Undertaker, but this is old man Undertaker and UFC ass kicker Brock Lesnar. After what happened at Wrestlemania XXX, would anyone buy the Undertaker still pulling the John Wayne and taking down the big bad guy at this point?

Five Reasons The Undertaker Should Win at Summerslam

  1. Undertaker needs momentum for his retirement match at Wrestlemania XXXII.

Like Lesnar, we don’t want to lose the specialness of Undertaker’s draw and character. A lot of that was taken away at Wrestlemania XXX when he lost the Streak. A lot of people didn’t care about Taker beating Bray Wyatt. If he loses again, will anyone really care about him come Wrestlemania XXXII?

  1. Undertaker has never beaten Brock Lesnar in a 1 vs. 1 PPV Match.

Undertaker currently sports a 0-3-1 record against Lesnar in PPV Matches (losses at No Mercy ’02, No Mercy ’03 and Mania XXX. The lone draw was at Unforgiven ’02). To complete his legacy, a win over Lesnar may be necessary.

  1. Undertaker’s Last Non-Wrestlemania PPV win was five and a half years ago.

The last time Undertaker won a PPV match that wasn’t a Wrestlemania? Royal Rumble 2010 against Rey Mysterio. How crazy is that? It’s also been nearly five years since he’s even wrestled on a non-Mania PPV. Wouldn’t it be disappointing for him to lose in his first Summerslam match since 2008?

  1. Undertaker needs to avenge his Wrestlemania XXX loss.

We all remember the aftermath of Taker vs. Lesnar at Mania XXX. Shocked fans. A concussed Undertaker slowly walking to the back. Like Cena when he came back on RAW after Lesnar destroyed him at Summerslam last year (and some kids felt that their hero was still alive), Undertaker’s fans need to see that the Deadman isn’t done. The fans need that closure.

  1. The Undertaker might not be as done as we think.

Raise your hand if you had the Undertaker wrestling at Summerslam this year. Who’s to say we aren’t getting a Survivor Series or Royal Rumble match this year leading up to the retirement match at Wrestlemania XXXII? Hell, who says he’s retiring at Wrestlemania XXXII? He’s “only” 50. Everyone saw how badly he was beat up at Wrestlemania XXX and assumed he was done. Well, when you get concussed, that’s how things go. He looked better at Wrestlemania XXXI against Wyatt. How do we know he doesn’t have five years left of this?

In the end, as much as I love the Undertaker…the smart business decision is to let Brock go over. He’s the big draw. People are going to watch Taker vs. Sting at Wrestlemania XXXII (or Cena, I guess) no matter what happens at Summerslam. Don’t screw up Lesnar again WWE.

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews: WWF Wrestlemania X7

WWF Wrestlemania X7
April 1, 2001
Houston, TX

It’s over.

Good bye WCW. It was a good run and you put on a great effort, but the WWF has won. When the last Monday Nitro basically became a commercial for Wrestlemania X7 it was over for good.

The WWF set one of the truly great stacked PPV cards of all time for Wrestlemania X7. They were fortunate as unlike last year, no top guys were injured. Last year the WWF was missing The Undertaker and Stone Cold. For Mania X7, they have both. The WWF also did an effective job making new stars, evident by Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit’s run in the latter half of 2000. The WWF owns the wrestling world now. Things can only get better from now on, right? (Hindsight says…ha!)

Let’s talk a little bit about Stone Cold.

Is he as popular as he once was? Is he on the way down? Is he stale? Why are ratings not as strong? Why didn’t his comeback lead to another big ratings streak?

All great questions. At the end of Wrestlemania we’ll see how Vince answered them.

The Card

Houston Astrodome is packed. This is also the first Wrestlemania promo where I really felt the epicness of the event.

Limp Bizkit’s “My Way” was a perfect fit for this event.

Paul Heyman, replacing the temporarily departed Jerry Lawler here, says ECW about three minutes into the broadcast. I chuckled.

Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho© vs. William Regal

It was an interesting time for Jericho. After spending last summer as nearly a top guy, Jericho found himself back in the midcard…at least for now.

Regal was still a relative newcomer, debuting in September. But, we are also at the beginning of perhaps Regal’s best work, as he was clean at this point and a great heel as the Commissioner.

This was the feud that had Jericho peeing in Regal’s tea. A legendary moment if there ever was one. This also had Jericho running in on Regal when he was dressed as Doink.

Fast start, probably because they know they only have about 8 minutes for this.
Jericho almost overshoots Regal on a flying bodypress to the outside. Would have been a bad start to Mania there.

Double underhook suplex on Jericho from the top. Nice move from our Commissioner!

Regal’s STF makes me wonder how WWE ever thought John Cena could pull it off.

Chris Jericho retains by pin in 7:08. Lionsault out of nowhere gets the win. Crowd even seemed surprised. They tried to jam a 15 minute match into an 8 minute match, and while it wasn’t a bad match, it was nothing special and a bit disappointing.

Shane McMahon arrives in a WCW limo!

Bradshaw explains just how important this match in Texas is by going over historical events that took place in the Astrodome. Six man tag is next.

The APA and Tazz vs. The Right to Censor

I don’t recall how Tazz got involved, but the APA and RTC didn’t get along for obvious reasons.

Weird botch when Tazz gets whipped into the ropes and just falls into them and rockets back. Quite strange there.

The APA and Tazz when Bradshaw pinned the Goodfather in 3:52. Clothesline From Hell wins it. Just a way to get the guys on the card and to pop the crowd early on. This would be the end of the RTC (well, Undertaker would end them for good a week later) and virtually the end of Val Venis, Goodfather, Steven Richards and Bull Buchanan. None of these four would ever regain the popularity they had before.

Trish Stratus rolls Linda McMahon into the Astrodome, and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley says she’s late. I kinda forgot about the whole Linda in a catatonic state thing.

Hardcore Championship
Raven© vs. Big Show vs. Kane

While a step down for both Kane and Big Show, Kane it seemed to work for while it just seemed like something for Big Show to do. Show would be stuck in mid and even lower card hell until Survivor Series 2002.

Big Show never even gets to the ring as we’re fighting in the crowd now.

Raven pops up out of nowhere to attack Kane. The story of this match will be Show and Kane going at it, and Raven attacking out of nowhere.

Kane tries to throw Raven through a wall. Ouch.

Smartest move of the match: Big Show locks himself, Raven and the ref in a cage with Kane out. Kane rips the door off its hinges anyway.

Raven gets thrown through a window by Kane. Crowd responded to that for sure.

Show and Kane actually go through a wall this time. Raven attacks. One thing I didn’t like about this match: Raven basically no sells being thrown through a window.

Raven nearly gets run over by a golf cart. I hope he got a good paycheck for this match.

Kane wins the title by pinning Big Show in 9:17. Big Show presses Raven over his head to throw him off the stage, but Kane boots him and they both go flying off. Kane follows with a flying legdrop and wins the title. Garbage wrestling, but it was well done garbage wrestling. This is one of my favorite Hardcore title matches in the history of WWE. Shame they went back to 24/7 soon afterwards. Paul Heyman also somehow makes Raven look like a million bucks on commentary, which is a bonus.

Kurt Angle angrily watches over his tapping out to Benoit. Edge and Christian joke around, but Angle’s serious. Alliances like Angle, Edge and Christian are just things you don’t see in wrestling anymore. They aren’t a team, but they work together and are friends.

European Championship
Test© vs. Eddie Guerrero

No one cared about Test at this point. He had just come off the T and A run, which got Trish over more than anyone else.

Unfortunately, Guerrero was on his way down too. Personal problems had been catching up with Guerrero and he wouldn’t last much longer.

Perry Saturn seconds Guerrero and has a ridiculous hat on. It would only get more ridiculous for Saturn as 2001 went on.

Test actually gets a decent pop. Maybe he was cared about here and I didn’t remember.

Test gets his foot caught in the ropes. I don’t think it was intentional. Guerrero gets him out.

Ref definitely saw Saturn interfere there.

Eddie Guerrero wins the title by pin in 8:30. Test has it won with a big boot, but Dean Malenko pulls him off. Guerrero hits Test with the European title for the win. Match wasn’t bad, it really looked like Eddie Guerrero was doing just about everything to make it good. Test would get a strong push in 2001, but by 2002 it was pretty much over for him as a top guy. Guerrero would fall apart…but then get his life together in 2002 and go on a great three year run. Still, in the long term this match meant nothing.

Mick Foley is the king of the cheap pop.

Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle

There wasn’t much of a story here, it basically spawned from Angle being shut out of the world title picture and Benoit and Jericho’s feud running its course. Most recent storyline between them: Benoit made Angle tap out on RAW.

Angle runs down Texas. Brilliant mic work.

We get a straight wrestling match to start. It’s an interesting way to start as 2001 didn’t have a lot of that.

Predictably, Angle takes the first liberty. Amazing how the can make a punch a heel move, but here it is.

This whole match is the prototype from their amazing Royal Rumble 2003 match. The biggest difference? The fans didn’t truly trust Benoit as a good guy yet.

Angle taps to the Crossface! But there’s no referee. That guarantees this program would continue (and it would be great).

Kurt Angle pins Chris Benoit in 14:04. Angle gets a crucifix pin after a sequence, and holds the tights for the win. Finish makes sense to continue the feud, but it was a pretty cheap win for Wrestlemania (next year would be worse). This is a very good match, but they would have better.

Kamala has invaded Regal’s office! Great stuff.

Great line from Heyman. JR: “Why aren’t you in the gimmick battle royal?” Heyman: “What, you want me to bring my telephone in the ring?”

Benoit attacks Angle post-match, and Angle taps out again!

Women’s Championship
Ivory© vs. Chyna

This is the ending of the Chyna broke her neck angle. Considering Chyna is considered equal to the men, there’s not a chance in hell Ivory wins.

Chyna wins the title by pin in 2:38. Chyna begins the burial of the division here. Shame she went crazy, as she was still mega over. Chyna finished with a Gorilla Press Slam, which I wonder was a reference to Warrior going over HHH at Mania XII (or a shot at HHH).

Street Fight: Mick Foley is the Referee
Mr. McMahon vs. Shane McMahon

Vince foreshadows his alliance with Stone Cold in a quick interview with Cole.

I always wondered how Shane got away with being a momma’s boy without being booed for it.

This was also the famous feud where Shane showed up on Nitro and stole WCW.

Shane absolutely destroys Vince…until Stephanie pulls Vince off a table than Shane was flying towards.

That’s all it takes for Trish Stratus to wheel down the comatose Linda McMahon!

Trish turns on Vince! Trish beats up on Stephanie afterwards.

Trish chases Stephanie away, and Vince takes Foley out with a chair (including a chair shot to the back of the head, which Foley wasn’t expecting). Vince rolls the comatose Linda into the ring.

Of course Linda awakens and kicks Vince right in the jewels.

Shane McMahon pinned Mr. McMahon in 14:12. Shane-Terminator (ECW’s gone a month and already we’re stealing moves) puts an explanation mark on a very entertaining street fight. Sure, it’s not really the best “match”, but it was fun all the way. Also, if you’re into the McMahon storylines, you would have loved all of this, as I did.

This is already a pretty great show…and we’re only half way through!

World Tag Team Championship: Tables, Ladders and Chairs
The Dudley Boyz© vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz

At No Mercy ’99, Edge and Christian along with the Hardyz changed the Ladder Match game with their tag team ladder match. At Wrestlemania 2000, the Dudleyz were added. Summerslam was the first official TLC match. All these matches were amazing and stole the show. There had also been lesser known matches in-between, such as a Tables match with the Dudleyz and Hardyz at the 2000 Royal Rumble, for example.

It doesn’t take long for E and C to introduce the ladder and take out the Hardyz!

Something you don’t see in a lot of multi-man ladder matches anymore: build up. We get some minor knockdowns off the ladder early on here.

The Hardyz bring it to the next level by doing their legdrop/splash combo onto Christian off a pair of ladders.

The Dudleyz build a table fort on the outside…back when we may have not realized they would be involved in the finish.

Spike Dudley runs in and hits a Dudley Dawg on Edge off a ladder, then hits Christian with one from the ring to the floor.

Here comes Rhyno!

GORE GORE GORE!

Now Lita’s here! She stops Edge from getting the belts.

Lita breaks a chair over Spike’s head…but then gets the 3D!

Jeff Hardy relives his moment from last year with another 20 Foot Swanton Bomb through a table on the floor!

I believe the hanging off the belts spot was invented here. Jeff Hardy almost hopsteps ladder to ladder to ladder, but the ladder gives. Still ridiculous.

Jeff Hardy in another famous spot, he ends up hanging off the belts…and Edge spears him off a ladder! Crazy. Just crazy.

Rhyno comes in and sends Matt and Bubba through the table fort create earlier off a ladder.

Edge and Christian win the title in 15:47. After that, Rhyno helped Christian up the ladder to get the belts. In my opinion, this is still the greatest multi-man ladder match in history. Innovative spots, crazy bumps, excellent use of Rhyno, Lita and Spike. Just crazy. 2001 is where WWE would oversaturate the ladder match though. Hell, they gave away a TLC on Smackdown two months later (that was also insane).

It’s a shame this match meant nothing in regards to the titles though. The Hardyz were supposed to win, but it was switched when it was decided Undertaker and Kane were getting the belts for Backlash, so heels needed to win.

Still. Amazing.

Gimmick Battle Royal

I won’t get into all the gimmicks, but Doink gets a huge pop. And of course the Gobbledy Gooker. Hillbilly Jim did as well.

The Iron Sheik wins in 3:07. Sheik last gets rid of Sgt. Slaughter. Slaughter with a post-match attack. It was horrible, but that’s the point. It was just a fun battle royal with all the old timers. Bobby Heenan seemed like he had more fun on commentary than he had in years.

The Undertaker vs. Triple H

The story was simple. HHH beat Austin at No Way Out and pointed out how he beat everyone that there is to beat. Undertaker told HHH he “ain’t ever beat me”.

HHH Motorhead Live entrance is pretty awesome.

JR brings up that Taker is 8-0 at Mania at this point. Probably the earliest mention of the Streak, other than a 4-0 mention at Mania XI.

This match had no waiting out period. Taker and HHH are just beating the hell out of each other right away. Well, Taker is at least.

It only takes about five minutes, but we have a sledgehammer!

The referee is bumped and Taker gets a chokeslam…but the ref only makes a 2 count. Taker then beats up the ref…and the brawl all over the arena is on!

They end up fighting in the tech/computer area, which is something you don’t see every day. It leads to some awesome visuals, especially when HHH hits Taker with the chair. It feels like a real fight with spectators surrounding them.

Speaking of cool visuals, Taker chokeslams HHH off the tech area, which is like a 10 foot drop (although a replay shows the soft landing for HHH). It looked like Taker dropped HHH off the face of the earth. The moment HHH is up in Taker’s grasp is awesome. Taker comes flying off with an elbow drop for good measure!

We get a Tombstone, which had just become special…but the ref is still gone (way for there to be no 2nd ref!)

In perhaps the forgotten great near Streak-stopper, Taker lifts HHH for the Last Ride, but HHH brings the sledgehammer with him and just whacks Taker in the head with it. I was amazed when I was younger that didn’t finish it.

Undertaker pins HHH in 18:57. HHH makes the mistake of corner punching Taker, as that leads to the Last Ride and 9-0. Just a great knock down drag out brawl. Easily the best Undertaker match of the early American Bad Ass era, at least until Mania X8.

We still have the main event left!

WWF Championship
The Rock© vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Of course, the promo video for this may be the best over. (Limp Bizkit’s “My Way”).

Austin gets a huge pop and The Rock gets booed for the 1st time as a top babyface…although it wouldn’t be the last time.

Again, no wait period! Austin and Rock tear right into one another!

Kind of a funny moment, but Rock is on the announce table trying to get back to his feet, and the table just falls apart.

In all seriousness, this is an amazing brawl.

Rock explodes out of the corner and nails Austin with a clothesline and the crowd boos the shit out of him. It’s Austin’s crowd in his home state!

There’s something brilliant about having a bloodied Austin trapped in a Sharpshooter at Wrestlemania.

Another amazing idea: Austin busting out the Million Dollar Dream! And JR explains why it’s a big deal!

Here comes Vince!

Rock gets the People’s Elbow, but Vince pulls the Rock off. Some fans boo, realizing what’s about to happen.

It becomes official once Austin asks McMahon for a chair.

Stone Cold wins the title by pin in 28:07. In another genius finish, The Rock, who was getting booed out of the building earlier, gets some big cheers as he survives Austin’s onslaught. Austin pounds The Rock with a chair some 16 or 17 times and gets the pin. Austin and Vince shake hands, which basically marked the end of the Attitude Era and the last boom period in professional wrestling. Great great match. Arguably Austin’s last great match, although I like the Mania XIX match too.

This was the perfect match: two of the biggest wrestling stars of all time at the top of their games. It wasn’t like Hogan-Andre because Andre wasn’t in his prime. It wasn’t like Hogan-Warrior because Warrior wasn’t a sure thing and it was treated like Hogan was passing the torch. It was two guys at the very top of wrestling going toe to toe at the height of wrestling’s popularity at the WWF’s biggest event of the year.

And yet, that’s what makes the ending such a disappointment. Wrestlemania X7 is perfect with the hometown hero completing his comeback and winning the WWF Title. Instead, we got a shocking heel turn that no one wanted. No doubt, Austin was a great heel, but he was a once in a lifetime babyface. The WWF hasn’t reached the level they were at here since. The real Stone Cold was gone, as Austin devolved into a (still entertaining) comedy heel with a serious side to him. Austin wrote in his book about how he thought about just calling an audible when he saw the crowd reaction, realizing that Stone Cold still had the potential to be an elite top face. The finish also showed stubbornness, as Vince had to know he had to change plans after acquiring WCW.

Look, if you have any issues with this show, pro wrestling is not for you. I once thought Wrestlemania XX was the superior show, but really, it’s not. This is perfection, sans the ending. It’ll have to go with 99.9% then.

Hands down, the greatest professional wrestling PPV ever.

Final Grade: A+

Pro Wrestling

Happy 50th Birthday Undertaker! 50 Great Undertaker Moments

Happy birthday to The Undertaker! This is the Phenom’s 50th birthday, and I figure what better way to celebrate than reliving 50 great Undertaker moments of the last 25 years. Of course, we’ll get some more at Wrestlemania XXXI when Undertaker faces Bray Wyatt.

50 Great Undertaker moments. These are in chronological order. Enjoy all!

#1: The Undertaker debuts. (Survivor Series 1990)

What a way to start. Ted Dibiase announced his mystery partner, the Undertaker. Undertaker took out Koko B. Ware and Dusty Rhodes before being counted out. Just the first example of the strength the phenom would show over the next quarter of a century.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij4RluraYSo

#2: The Undertaker finds his first Wrestlemania victim. (Wrestlemania VII)

The vaunted Undertaker Wrestlemania streak began with a dominant victory over the legendy Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hyDIQKu3D0

#3: The Undertaker wins his first WWF World Championship. (Survivor Series 1991)

Merely a year in the WWF, the Undertaker challenged WWF Champion Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series, and with a little help from Ric Flair, won his first WWF World Title. It wouldn’t be the first time he beat Hogan for the belt either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQ4bzY8msg

#4: The Undertaker goes 2-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania VIII)

The Undertaker joined the side of good against Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Tombstoned him on the floor to move to 2-0 at Wrestlemania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ITpKDUzs44

#5: The All-American Deadman. (Superstars, November 1993)

The Undertaker joined the All-American team of Lex Luger and The Steiner Brothers against the evil Foreign Fanatics, led by WWF World Champion Yokozuna. Undertaker would stalk Yoko for the next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjeVPDhJKGM

 #6: The Undertaker returns to face Dibiase’s Imposter. (Summerslam ’94)

After disappearing at the Royal Rumble, Ted Dibiase claimed to have bought the Undertaker. Paul Bearer brought back the real Undertaker, with an updated look and feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH7Xts_fctg

#7: The Undertaker stuffs Yokozuna in a Casket. (Survivor Series 1994)

The Undertaker avenged his Royal Rumble defeat at the 1994 Survivor Series, stuffing Yokozuna in a casket once and for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFZSPLg5zps

#8: The Undertaker returns to get revenge on King Mabel. (Survivor Series 1995)

Injured at the hands of King Mabel, The Undertaker sought revenge, with a new scary face mask to protect his face.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gqcmq_wwf-survivor-series-1995-team-mabel-vs-team-undertaker_sport

#9: The Undertaker drags Diesel to Hell. (In Your House: Rage in the Cage 1996)

After Diesel cost Undertaker the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble, The Undertaker got revenge in the most devilish way yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82yxwkXcJJ8

#10: The Undertaker goes 5-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XII)

A tough challenger, but in the end Diesel couldn’t put down the Undertaker despite two jackknife powerbombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lChZopIjHGk

#11: The Undertaker rises from the grave. (In Your House: Buried Alive 1996)

Mankind proved to be Undertaker’s toughest foe yet, and even managed to bury Undertaker alive. Undertaker showed that he “would not Rest in Peace”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NmIfPAmmZY

#12: The Undertaker wins his 2nd WWF World Championship. (Wrestlemania XIII)

Moving to 6-0 at Wrestlemania, Undertaker receives an assist from Bret Hart in dethroning Sid for the WWF Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCTS9LKqmc

#13: The Undertaker sends Shawn Michaels flying off Hell in a Cell. (Badd Blood 1997)

In the first ever Hell in a Cell Match, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker put on a classic that ends with a bloody and beaten Heartbreak Kid…and a blast from Taker’s past. Taker sending Shawn off the side of the Cell was an iconic moment that defined what Hell in a Cell was about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coa9zWwAGh8

#14: The Undertaker returns to face Kane. (RAW 1998)

After being locked in a casket and being set on fire, The Undertaker returned to face his monstrous little brother Kane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPpXVXiek8

#15: The Undertaker goes 7-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XIV)

It takes three Tombstones, but the Undertaker put down his younger brother at Wrestlemania XIV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-g6WjexuBA

#16: The Undertaker destroys Mankind in Hell in a Cell. (King of the Ring ’98)

One of the most famous matches in wrestling history, Undertaker destroys Mankind and ends the Taker-Mankind feud once and for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgYoYTbnPo4

#17: The Undertaker wins his 3rd WWF World Championship. (Over the Edge 1999)

On the side of evil now, The Undertaker beats Stone Cold thanks to some help from Shane McMahon for a third WWF World Title reign.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9lflm_the-undertaker-vs-stone-cold-over-t_sport

#18: The Undertaker returns…and the American Bad Ass debuts. (Judgment Day 2000)

After a lengthy hiatus, the Undertaker returns to get Vince, and this time he’s coming out to Kid Rock and riding a motorcycle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQR9Cs6If8

#19: The Undertaker shoves Rikishi off Hell in a Cell. (Armageddon 2000)

The Undertaker causes more destruction in a Hell in a Cell match as he sends Rikishi flying off the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RTx6DmAb3Y

#20: The Undertaker goes 9-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania X7)

The first of the Undertaker-Triple H Wrestlemania matches, where Undertaker wins a war that goes all around the Astrodome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P03DdaeAEc

#21: The Undertaker wins the Hardcore Championship. (Vengeance 2001)

Looking for respect, the Undertaker decides to beat it out of Rob Van Dam and shows an edge we hadn’t quite seen from the Undertaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rva_uOFQwxA

#22: The Undertaker goes 10-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania X8)

The Undertaker hits the historic 10 win mark at Wrestlemania, this time defeating the legendary Ric Flair.

#23: The Undertaker wins his 4th WWE World Championship. (Judgment Day 2002)

11 and a half years later, Undertaker pins Hulk Hogan again to win the Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9TqP5suWoA

#24: Undertaker returns in the Royal Rumble. (Royal Rumble 2003)

The Undertaker makes his return after being attacked by Big Show in late 2002, and tries to win the Royal Rumble.

#25: The Gong. (Royal Rumble 2004)

Buried Alive by Kane, The Undertaker teased his return at the 2004 Royal Rumble…and sent Kane a message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epMHPN7J4h4

#26: The Deadman Returns. (Wrestlemania XX)

One of the most iconic moments in WWE history…the Deadman returns to once again face Kane at Wrestlemania.

#27: The Undertaker returns to Smackdown! (Smackdown 2004)

Paul Heyman was a tyrant running Smackdown…and said there wasn’t a man alive who could stand in his way. Well then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvCat5GarQ0

#28: The Undertaker goes 13-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXI)

“The Legend Killer” Randy Orton tried to end the Undertaker’s now historic Wrestlemania streak, but fell to the Phenom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND3B-gk4lEc

#29: The Undertaker comes from the burning casket. (Survivor Series 2005)

Taking a page from Kane, Randy Orton stuffed Undertaker in a casket and set it on fire. Undertaker wasn’t happy about that one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybe5fkMTvD8

#30: The Undertaker challenges Kurt Angle. (Royal Rumble 2006)

After finishing off Orton at Armageddon 2005, The Undertaker set his sights on Kurt Angle’s World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mn2Ck5uIJw

#31: The Undertaker dives onto Mark Henry. (Wrestlemania XXII)

In extending his streak to 14-0, the Undertaker also brought back his trademark dive over the top rope. He cleared the casket too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLcJjOwE39s

#32: The Undertaker wins the Royal Rumble. (Royal Rumble 2007)

One of the few accolades the Undertaker had yet to win, the Undertaker beats Shawn Michaels and earns a World Title match at Wrestlemania.

#33: The Undertaker wins his 5th World Championship. (Wrestlemania 23)

The Undertaker won his 5th World Championship and went 15-0 at Wrestlemania after defeating Batista.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDPKji_fGZ8

#34: The Undertaker wins the Elimination Chamber. (No Way Out 2008)

The Undertaker concluded his rivalry with Batista, finishing him off in the Elimination Chamber and earning a World Title shot at Wrestlemania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aO7hpmltzU

#35: The Undertaker wins his 6th World Championship. (Wrestlemania XXIV)

The Undertaker won his 6th World Championship and 16-0 at Wrestlemania after defeating Edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZE8DTSW9U0

#36: The Undertaker leaves WWE “forever”. (One Night Stand 2008)

Edge wins back the World Championship…and the Undertaker has to leave WWE forever. The way he walks off makes it feel like it’s for real as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfOpK_i2SVI

#37: The Undertaker returns in Hell in a Cell. (Summerslam 2008)

Forever wasn’t long, as The Undertaker looked to finish off Edge once and for all in Hell in a Cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccOtCL_xr6A

#38: The Undertaker goes 17-0 at Wrestlemania. (25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania)

Shawn Michaels tries…but in the end the Undertaker stood tall at Wrestlemania in a five star classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCHbbw8CcXg

#39: The Undertaker returns and goes after CM Punk. (Summerslam ’09)

The Undertaker surprises CM Punk, gunning for his World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA9MQYw0cjU

#40: The Undertaker wins his 7th World Championship. (Hell in a Cell 2009)

In the vaunted Hell in a Cell, the Undertaker pins CM Punk and wins his 7th World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwyeZmEeCRg

#41: The Undertaker retires Shawn Michaels. (Wrestlemania XXVI)

Shawn Michaels tried to end the Streak one more time…but ultimately lost his career at the hands of the Deadman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5guP45itg

#42: Paul Bearer returns to help Undertaker fight Kane. (Smackdown 2010)

The Undertaker looks one more time to the power of the urn to face Kane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCL4g9k_UVM

#43: 2.21.11 (RAW 2011)

The mysterious 2.21.11 meant the return of the last outlaw…until Triple H returned as well to challenge the Streak.

#44: The Undertaker goes 19-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXVII)

The Undertaker made Triple H submit to the Hell’s Gate to keep the Streak intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUY5LLf0tas

#45: The Undertaker returns to challenge Triple H. (RAW 2012)

Unhappy with how he left Wrestlemania XXVII…the Undertaker returned to challenge Triple H one more time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOaovYjh2Eg

#46: The Undertaker goes 20-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXVIII)

The Undertaker beats Triple H a third time at Wrestlemania, this time in Hell in a Cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbiswEm-Pk

#47: The Undertaker returns to RAW 1000. (RAW 2012)

The Undertaker returns to help Kane one last time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlIqOxxQPqM

#48: The Undertaker goes 21-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXIX)

CM Punk had proven to be the “Best in the World”, but even that wasn’t enough to beat the Streak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq8ukQNy8oM

#49: The Undertaker returns to challenge Brock Lesnar. (RAW 2014)

When Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman said there were no worthy challengers for Brock at Wrestlemania, the Undertaker stepped up to prove otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIqv_DR6ij0

#50: The Streak Ends. (Wrestlemania XXX)

The Undertaker walked down the ramp way at Wrestlemania XXX a loser for the first time at Wrestlemania…but with the respect of everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fglyZ5M4l2s

 

Happy Birthday Undertaker!

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWF This Tuesday In Texas

thistuesdayintexas_logographic

WWF This Tuesday in Texas
December 3, 1991
San Antonio, TX
Reviewed on January 22, 2015

And you thought Taboo Tuesday was the first experiment for weekday WWF PPVs?

Just six nights after Survivor Series (held on a Thursday back then), the WWF tried a new form of revenue stream in the form of a Tuesday night PPV. It had a pretty hot main event as well, with new WWF Champion The Undertaker going up again the man he took it from, Hulk Hogan. The WWF had been on the bit of a slide business wise, although the true reason for that was that fans were tiring of the Hulkster and Vince had no one hot enough to replace him. Sid was a popular choice at the time. Vince had also acquired Ric Flair, but he was never one to really build his promotion around a heel like Flair.

Also on this card is a match regarding the big Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage feud. So while this PPV seems pretty random and is forgotten now, you can tell the WWF tried hard with it to see if it would work. Does it? Let’s see.

The Card

We kick off with a post Survivor Series promo with Paul Bearer and The Undertaker. They are already hyping up This Tuesday in Texas. Bearer says nothing is immortal, not even Hogan. He says Hulkamania at Survivor Series…all that’s left is the funeral services. Bearer and Taker were pretty awesome characters in 1991.

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Bret Hart© vs. Skinner

Skinner actually gets the jobber entrance here. Not sure why he’s getting an IC title shot on a PPV but we’re told he’s undefeated so far, so there’s that.

Starting with Bret is a good idea though.

There’s not much to say about this match other than Bret is mega over.

Bret Hart retains when he makes Skinner submit in 13:46. Bret tosses Skinner off the top rope and makes him submit to the Sharpshooter. Went about 6 minutes too long. Match was as bare bones as you can think of. The only move I can remember Skinner doing that seemed remotely unique was his reverse DDT. Boring overall. Crowd was into it though, as Bret was as I wrote earlier, mega over.

Jake “The Snake” Roberts promo. Roberts was terrifying at this point. You really thought he’d beat the crap out of Miss Elizabeth if given the chance.

Randy Savage with a crazy nutty promo himself. Both are pretty awesome.

Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

This really should have happened at Wrestlemania VIII, but I get putting it here to sell the PPV. Story here: Jake turned heel earlier in 1991, and had put a snake in Elizabeth’s wedding gifts. There was an angle later that actually used a real cobra to bite Randy Savage. Savage eventually got re-instated as he lost a retirement match to The Ultimate Warrior back at Mania VII, and got his match with Jake.

Savage attacks Jake during his entrance. I think this is his first match since Mania, but I could be wrong.

Jake quickly takes control, ramming Savage’s arm into the ring post.

Randy Savage pins Roberts in 6:25. Savage drops the big elbow on Jake for the win. It surprisingly just ends like that. While it was fun, it was too short for a feud of this caliber. I would be okay with it if it led to a Wrestlemania match…but it didn’t. Savage tries the post-match chair shot, but the ref stops him, leading to Savage getting the DDT. Jake drops Savage with a 2nd DDT for good measure.

Jake then brings out a snake, and Miss Elizabeth runs in and begs Jake to leave Savage alone. Jake drops a third DDT on Savage right in front of Elizabeth. Jake forces Liz to beg in order to save Savage. Jake then SLAPS Elizabeth, which is one of the most despicable things a heel could have done in 1991. It takes President Tunney to get Jake out of there. Nuclear heat for Jake.

Another great Jake promo. He’s sick.

The British Bulldog vs. The Warlord

A pretty good power match here. Warlord has more moves than I ever realized.

Warlord actually locks his full nelson in by using the Bulldog’s hair. Creative heel stuff.

This long full nelson is kinda killing it though. It just went too long.

The British Bulldog pins the Warlord in 12:45. Bulldog gets a crucifix to win. It was the best Warlord match I’ve ever seen and a decent match overall. The full nelson really took me out of the match though. The Bulldog and Warlord didn’t get through 1992 I don’t believe with the steroid issues the WWF would have.

Randy Savage interview. He’s furious about what happened with Jake and Elizabeth. It’s an awesome promo. How didn’t they blow this off at Mania?!

Repo Man and Ted Dibiase vs. El Madator and Virgil

Part of the Virgil-Dibiase feud…Dibiase hired Repo Man to re-obtain the Million Dollar Championship from Virgil.

Dibiase and the Repo Man dominate Virgil. Makes sense as the storyline is with him, not Tito.

Man, crowd is hot for Virgil, especially when he gets his hands on Dibiase. You just don’t see that for midcarders these days.

Ted Dibiase and Repo Man win when Dibiase pinned Virgil in 11:28. Strange finish here. Dibiase holds Virgil for Sherri to hit with her shoe, but Virgil moves and she clocks Dibiase. Virgil grabs Sherri, but gets kneed in the back by the Repo Man. Dibiase then makes the pin. What was the point of Sherri hitting Dibiase there? Anyway, this was a good match, best on the card. Virgil was over…but sadly no one really cared about him without Dibiase.

Hulk Hogan interview. Hogan really was one of the best promo men of all time.

WWF World Championship
The Undertaker© vs. Hulk Hogan

Bobby Heenan with an awesome line. Monsoon is busy praising Hogan, and Heenan responds with “quiet Monsoon, here comes the WWF…Champion.

Taker and Paul Bearer attack right away. President Jack Tunney is at ringside to prevent any shenanigans.

We get our first botch. Taker goes for his top rope hangman from the apron, but Hogan keeps punching. Well this wasn’t going to be a technical classic.

It’s pretty amazing what Undertaker was in the ring in 1991 and what he was some 16 years later. The only submission Taker knew here was the choke.

Huge botch, although it may have been the ring. Taker was going for his flying clothesline…but he gets caught in the ropes and falls.

Flair is here! Hogan smacks him with a chair and Tunney goes down as well!

Hulk Hogan regains the WWF Title by pin in 13:09. Paul Bearer tries to hit Hogan with the urn…but gets Taker! Hogan grabs the urn, pours out ashes and throws them in Taker’s face before rolling him up for the three. Flair propped Tunney up though so he saw the finish…which led to the title being vacated and being up for grabs in the ’92 Rumble. Uh…this match was terrible. All Undertaker choking with some botches in-between. Historically though this led to the ’92 Rumble, and Hogan failing to obtain a clean victory over Undertaker really helped establish him as a top guy for basically forever.

Interesting attempt at a Tuesday PPV. It was entertaining, but they had to give Bret a better opponent in the opener. I mean what was Rick Martel doing at the time. Taker vs. Hogan was what it was. Everything else wasn’t too bad. Jake slapping Elizabeth is a crazy moment.

Main event is just too bad to put this in B range though.

Final Grade: C+