R-E-S-P-E-C-T

[Guest raffi]

Here's my first attempt to write a column for this board. Looking forward to responses and constructive criticism, but please remember that English isn't my first language, so there might be some grammar mistakes.

Enjoy

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One of the hottest trends on the Internet the past couple of years has been to trash the Undertaker. Trash his in-ring skills, trash his no selling and trash his position on the roster. I’m here to offer a different view on the work of Mark Callaway, a.k.a The Undertaker.

Often in pro-wrestling, it is asked what is stronger, the gimmick or the wrestler. Some wrestlers can overcome the wrong gimmicks and break out as the true star they can be, for example Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H. Others are doomed forever for having played a certain gimmick (usually an over the top cartoonish gimmick) and will never find true success, like Dustin Rhodes and Terry Taylor. The Undertaker is a rare occurrence of a “comic book gimmick” making it big. And a lot of the credit here belongs to Mark Callaway.

Vince McMahon created the Undertaker gimmick in 1990, and it was a staple of what the WWF tried to convey at the time – a larger than life spectacle, suitable for all ages, featuring the ultimate fight between good and evil, in a way it was a real life comic book story. A lot of wrestlers would have turned down the offer to play the Undertaker because of the nature of the gimmick, but Mark Callaway didn’t. He’d do anything to earn his living as a wrestler. And when he first took on that persona, he didn’t just play the Undertaker - he *became* the undertaker.

Vince’s fetish for big men and outlandish gimmicks guaranteed that the Undertaker would receive one hell of an initial push, but it was up to Mark Callaway to carry that gimmick, make the most of it and prove that he deserves it. And he did just that, over and over and over again. He, along with his managers, made the audience care about the Undertaker, react to him, and truly treat him as a main event star. He delivered with dark, serious promos, and with intense, yet calculated in-ring work that suited the gimmick. He took what was handed to him, and did the most of it; in every angle and feud he had over the years. The Undertaker character changed many times over the years. From the “undead” creature of the early nineties, through his troubled, dark character all the way to the evil cult-leader of the Ministry of Darkness and Corporate Ministry of the “attitude” era. But when the nineties ended, it was time to move on, and perhaps get the ultimate proof that Callaway is stronger than the Undertaker. After being sidelined for over six months with an injury, he came back as “The BikerTaker” – a character that is a reflection of the real Mark Callaway. It was a big gamble – will the audience accept him as a “regular character” or will they demand the comic book character? The pops he receives for the past 2 years prove that the real star here is the wrestler, not the character.

One of the biggest issues critics focus on when they criticize the Undertaker is that he doesn’t put new stars over. Tell that to Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Kane, Kurt Angle and many others – all hold significant, meaningful victories over the Undertaker, which helped establish them as main-event caliber stars. Others say that he doesn’t lose cleanly, but the thing is that a lot of time he really shouldn’t lose cleanly. When he is a face and fights heels, it only makes sense for the heels to have to cheat in order to win the matches. When he fights as a heel, he himself cheats in order to win the match. When he fought Maven for the hardcore championship and Maven needed the Rock’s assistance in order to win the match, it was the only logical way to get the title off the undertaker. Would anyone really believe Maven could beat the Undertaker on his own? Whenever the Undertaker was asked to put a new wrestler over, he did it, proving that he’s a true professional, and cares more about the good of the company than about his own record.

Many argue that in this point of his career he shouldn’t be wrestling close to the main event and that he should step down to the mid-card. I believe that he earned this position. He gets some of the biggest pops in every arena he wrestles and he’s one of the top merchandize sellers in the company. He may not be the best wrestler on the payroll (Hell, he’s not one of the top ten wrestlers in the company) but when he needs to step up and deliver the goods in the big match, he does that. Be it against Triple H at Wrestlemania 17, in the main events of Invasion and Survivor Series, against RVD at Vengeance and in many other matches. He brings intensity and energy to the ring that very few men in his age and position do (coughhogancoughnashcough).

The Undertaker’s career is in its final stages. His biggest concern now is probably his legacy, the way he’ll be remembered, and that's why his current persona, of the veteran wrestler looking for respect, is so right for him. I believe that what we’ve been witnessing for the past year is a rare case, when Vince McMahon shows gratitude towards a wrestler, acknowledges his contribution to the company and lets him end his career on a high-note. His current Wrestlemania record, 9-0, is a big part of this legacy. It’s staple of dedication and class. And if he faces Ric Flair at this year’s Wrestlemania, I believe he should win, making it 10-0. But this Wrestlemania should also mark the beginning of the final stretch in his career. He should start a “retirement tour” after this event. This tour should end either at this year’s Survivor Series or next year’s Wrestlemania. During this tour he should face superstars such as Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, RVD, Booker T, Edge and Test, and put them over, giving them more credibility and recognition. If this tour ends at next year’s Wrestlemania, he should then suffer his first, last and only Wrestlemania loss, and then step down. It will be wrestling’s version of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retirement season from the NBA.

But what about Undertaker’s legacy? His legacy is old school, dedication, tradition intensity and pure love of this business. He’s the one thing that connects the WWF of 1990 and the WWF of 2002. Nowadays, when the WWF needs to make something look special and historic, they bring out Freddie Blassie. Be it for the opening videos of the recent Wrestlemania’s, or this year’s Vengeance, or when Vince McMahon brought him to address the locker-room prior to “Invasion”. During the invasion angle, Undertaker was presented as the current locker-room leader, and he inspired the wrestlers just like Blassie did. 20-30 years from now, if the WWF will still be around, I believe Undertaker will play the role Blassie plays today. The face of history, of tradition, of old school. Just like throughout his entire career, when you’ll see Undertaker, you’ll know something special is about to happen. Why? Because the Undertaker is there.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"The pops he receives for the past 2 years prove that the real star here is the wrestler, not the character."

 

he's a star because the wwf wants him to be a star and wants him to be over. if you gave anyone else his entrance, a limp bizkit song, a motorbike and the ability to no sell every one of your opponents moves, they'd get a big pop too

 

 

"Be it against Triple H at Wrestlemania 17, in the main events of Invasion and Survivor Series, against RVD at Vengeance and in many other matches. He brings intensity and energy to the ring that very few men in his age and position do "

 

Any good match he has had is because of superior wrestlers carrying his slow ass on their back. His matches with kane have sucked! His matches with Rock have sucked! Austin, Trips, RVD, Foley have all carried lesser talent than Taker so he is no exception.

 

 

 

"Many argue that in this point of his career he shouldn’t be wrestling close to the main event and that he should step down to the mid-card. I believe that he earned this position."

 

He should be putting over younger talent. When he told vince he was the biggest ass-kisser of them all, it was a shoot. He was serious. He is no longer a huge draw as last year's main event run proved, his act is played, and he should get out of the ring, sign autographs and promote shows ala HBK. He is done and deserves no respect. Other wrestlers have done far more for this business and have helped strengthen this biz more than the Taker has ever done. When has he ever jobbed cleanly? When have you heard of him helping new talent? Just like every other wrestler, he is only out for himself. I don't blame him but it doesn't mean I have to respect him.