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Post by TheWrestleGeek on Apr 3, 2017 18:16:36 GMT -5
One of the best. Had the privilege of meeting him. Hand downs one of the most kindest and caring human beings on this planet. Defiantly will miss watching the Deadman.
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Post by ¡Twist Of Lime Green Jello! on Apr 3, 2017 18:23:04 GMT -5
He'll always be the best, and I'm not just saying that because he retired.
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Post by rkmo: A Lack of Fortitude on Apr 3, 2017 19:16:38 GMT -5
As a hyperactive kid watching wrestling, I don't have too many memories watching the height of the Attitude Era or the Monday Night War. It was mainly background noise to whatever beatdowns I was doling out to my stuffed animals. One of the characters that did stand out most vividly in my mind was the Undertaker during his MOD run. He was such a badass guy that didn't impose fear as much as a longing to be like.
Going through his ABA/ Big Evil run spark memories of him dragging Hulk Hogan around the arena from the back of his Harley; his feud with Jeff Hardy culminating in a Ladder Match for the Undisputed Championship; and his brutal rivalry with an up-and-coming star in Brock Lesnar. You knew as a fan if Taker acknowledged a fellow competitor post-match or backstage, that guy would be one to watch.
After the demise of his biker gimmick at Survivor Series, I didn't expect to see him again until he was resurrected as the Deadman at Wrestlemania. Eventhough he had already done so much in his career, the future provided so many more opportunities to shine. Countless times viewers watched the Undertaker put on classics with a whole new generation of talent, trying his best to make his opponents look that much better during the course of the match. Even after adopting a special attraction schedule, his appearances never waivered from being a must-see event in my eyes.
One aspect that should garner the most respect from fans is his dedication. It is commonplace for a performer to cling to his spot as long as he can in this industry, often hindering the growth of future talent. Though despite having such a lauded accomplishment of an undefeated record at the biggest show this business has, and despite many fans' wishes for him to retire with that streak unblemished, the man behind The Undertaker actively searched for someone to upset this perfect record. Several names have been floated over the years to end the Streak, but none of those rumors had come to fruition until 2014, when Brock Lesnar finally did the unthinkable. That match, much like the one which seemingly ended his career, wasn't the classic that many had hoped it would be. Maybe the opponent wasn't right for them, or maybe outside circumstances prevented the match to live up to expectations. But wouldn't the satisfaction of a Match of a Lifetime or another W in the Streak had left us fans wanting more? Somehow seeing a man known for rising up from the dead not be able to kick out of one final move seems a fitting enough end for this fan.
Congratulations to Mark Calaway, aka The Undertaker, on a lengthy career, and may he be able to now enjoy the achievements he has so rightfully earned.
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Post by JC Motors on Apr 4, 2017 12:00:48 GMT -5
I wonder if WWE will sign him to a legends contract or make him an ambassador to the company
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Post by c-scope on Apr 4, 2017 13:58:02 GMT -5
It's gonna be so weird not having him around. There will never be another like taker or anything like the streak. It was the greatest charectar of all time, and it is amazing to be able to say I was there for his last match.
Thank you Taker.
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hbkfan
Superstar
Joined on: Nov 25, 2011 8:00:29 GMT -5
Posts: 503
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Post by hbkfan on Apr 4, 2017 14:04:47 GMT -5
I was about to type a semi-long paragraph about this but you pretty much summed it up for me, couldn't have said it better myself. It's crazy for me in hindsight cause I remember being 11 when Undertaker was buried alive at Survivor Series 03 against Vince, and while I didn't really believe he was buried, I was legit kind of upset for the next couple months because I thought that might've been a way to permanently write Taker off for retirement and I wouldn't get to see him again. Then ofcourse his ultimate return at RR 04/WrestleMania XX was a wonderful time for me lol but I initially figured he'd only have a 1-2 year run left after, but nope funny enough, he gave us 13 more incredible years ever since his Deadman return. R.I.P Retire in Peace Taker! Wow. I was 11 when Ted Dibiase introduced his mystery member of his team at SS 1990...
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Apr 4, 2017 14:11:01 GMT -5
I think he'd be the only wrestler to quietly retire & stay retired. No indie bookings, no shoot interviews, no autobiographies.
It's none of my business what he does with his life now. I just hope he can relax & get a well deserved rest.
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Post by Valbroski on Apr 4, 2017 18:07:27 GMT -5
He was a part of some of my best memories of wrestling. I don't think there will ever be an entertainer quite like him.
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HTMN
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 24, 2013 15:42:13 GMT -5
Posts: 849
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Post by HTMN on Apr 4, 2017 18:35:19 GMT -5
I wonder if WWE will sign him to a legends contract or make him an ambassador to the company Taker will never be out of a job. What he's done for the WWE and Vince is second to none. He could pretty much never make an appearance again and be paid on a WWE contract for the rest of his life. The man is the best ever and the most loyal superstar wrestling has ever seen. He will be greatly missed and not just by many, by all. Taker is WWE and he always will be. Nobody will ever fill the hole he will leave behind.
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Post by JC Motors on Apr 4, 2017 21:01:21 GMT -5
I wonder if WWE will sign him to a legends contract or make him an ambassador to the company Taker will never be out of a job. What he's done for the WWE and Vince is second to none. He could pretty much never make an appearance again and be paid on a WWE contract for the rest of his life. The man is the best ever and the most loyal superstar wrestling has ever seen. He will be greatly missed and not just by many, by all. Taker is WWE and he always will be. Nobody will ever fill the hole he will leave behind. That is very true
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AV1
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 15, 2008 9:04:59 GMT -5
Posts: 2,870
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Post by AV1 on Apr 5, 2017 10:16:36 GMT -5
While it was only a 6 man tag at a house show I'm glad to say I had the honour of seeing The Undertaker live. When it comes to comparisons The Undertaker is in an unrivalled class of his own. The gimmick, the respect he has earned, his dominance of Wrestlemania, not just the streak but arguably having the best match at every WM from 23-29. While he was obviously getting older and it is time for him to go, it is still a shame we will never see him grace the ring again.
While I don't expect him to I would love to see him do a show on the network where he discusses his career. It would be interesting to here his views in stuff such as the streak, his matches with HBK, his loyalty to the WWE, earning the respect of the lockeroom. He has appeared in some stuff on the network so maybe an interview with someone like Austin or JBL isn't completely out of the question.
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Post by mikey1974 on Apr 5, 2017 12:46:45 GMT -5
I started watching pro wrestling in 1983, and by default, it was the WWF. Really, I had no choice, as cable was a new thing, and I only got USA Network, so it was All American Wrestling every Sunday, and MSG Network once a month. I watched religiously from late '83 til '86 (got burned out on Hulkamania, took a break), then started up again after WrestleMania III. I was a HUGE Ultimate Warrior mark, and was enjoying his first and only World Title reign deep into Fall 1990 when Survivor Series came on. Of course, I was invested in The Warriors team, and hoped Hogan would somehow lose. But I was also mildly intrigued by the notion of Ted DiBiase having a mystery partner, but I just assumed it would be someone, well ... someone NOT special, like he bought one of the Bushwhackers or something, LOL! This was only boistered initially when Brother Love was announced as the mystery man's manager. Then, the announcement - "I give you, The Undertaker!" And out he walked ... and my life was never the same. I can't tell you exactly what it was - his look, his mannerism's, his wrestling - but I was struck. Hard. Something about this guy just hit me, and I literally became an instant fan. Could've also been my love that continues to this day for horror movies. He almost look like a killer who came out of one of these films, here to lay the WWF to rest. I watched as his undefeated streak grew, as a WrestleMania Streak began without any of us knowing it, as Paul Bearer became his new manager, as he targeted all the fan favorites in the company, as he allied with Jake Roberts against The Ultimate Warrior. He actually did something I thought not possible - Taker made me choose him during his summer 1991 feud with Warrior, and in the process he supplanted Warrior as my favorite wrestler. I looked with great anticipation as he set his sights on Hogan in the fall of 1991, and even though it was full of interference, I was beyond happy when he beat Hogan for the World Belt at Survivor Series '91. Within a year of debuting, he had climbed to the top of the mountain. He was one of the few heel's in the business who the fans literally MADE Vince turn face. And not because of anything he did per se, but because he was SO over the fans started cheering him no matter how dasterdly his deeds.Unfortunately after this, he kind of had a "fall". Not in the traditional sense, but in that his feuds and angles became a bit of a chore to watch. It seemed like it was always just "Put Taker with a big guy", and that was the extent of it. While the WWF itself was hokey at the time, Taker tried to stay true to his character while engaged in hokey feud's. The only time I can specifically remember him "breaking character" during this timeframe was when he became an unlikely champion of America. I know it was to set up a feud with Yokozuna, but it was still surreal to see the Deadman embracing the Red,White, and Blue. Wasn't long after this that he "died" for the first time, only to be resurrected months later, unfortunately still part of a hokey-ish WWF landscape. Indeed, this would continue until 1996, when He would finally feud with someone smaller than him, Mankind. And this feud was what finally broke him out of his funk, got him more aggressive, and for the first time led to wholesale changes in his character. He became less of a cartoon, less of a walking zombie, and more human. He became an integral part of what would become the Attitude Era, and this "new" Undertaker was rejuvenated and a vital part of the wrestling landscape again. More changes were to come over the years, and indeed decade and a half yet to come. But the first 8 - 9 years of Taker's existence will always be my favorite, will always be an integral part of my youth and growing up, and gave me some of he fondest memories of not only my wrestling obsession, but my life as well. I was fortunate enough to see Taker live many times throughout those years, in house show matches and Raw is War. A memory I will keep with me is seeing him one last time this past November, when he returned to SmackDown Live for it's 900th episode. I had a tepid reaction knowing they were coming to this area, but when I heard the Deadman would be there? Tickets were immediately ordered. Because, instinctively, I knew this would likely be my last time to see him in person. While Sunday gutted me, it was not entirely unexpected. I , like many others, sensed his time had come. And he deserved to go out when he wanted, on his terms, while he still has time left to do what he wants with the rest of his life. While part of me would selfishly want to see him continue to hurt himself to continue to entertain me, the human being in me is happy he was able to walk away now, and that Mark Callaway will now be able to devote his time to his family and friends and follow whatver passions he has outside the squared circle. And I want to say thank you, Mark. Thank you for the excitement you brought to my life. Thank you for the fond memories I will carry with me the rst of my life. Thank you for making me stay a fan during the WWF's darkest periods. And thank you for putting my butt in the seat. God bless you, and godspeed on the next phase of your life. Your memory will never ... Rest ... In .... Peace ....
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