Why did Undertaker leave Raw in late 2002?

[iliketurtles 0]

I was watching a clip of Undertaker debuting on SD against Benoit and Angle and I swear to god I'm totally stumped as to what the storyline reason was. I know it was between Summerslam and Unforgiven. Other than that I don't remember. Thanks to anyone.

[CBright7831 0]

Anything from July 2002 to May 2003 was a blur. I hardly watched any wrestling. I missed the katie Vick angle, thankfully, overwise I may not be watching today.

[iliketurtles 0]

From that same time period, I either remember it like it was yesterday or I don't remember it at all.

[claydude14 0]

Wasn't he chasing after Lesnar and his title?

[Exslade ZX 0]

Anything from July 2002 to May 2003 was a blur. I hardly watched any wrestling. I missed the katie Vick angle, thankfully, overwise I may not be watching today.

You do know he wasn't asking you specifically right?

 

But I believe it was just the time when Vince said the shows had free trade, and after hearing that Stephanie just decided to pick him up..I can remember her on the phone talking about 'some RAW superstar' and she got mad at Kurt for almost ruining it or something...but taht was pretty much it..no special reason given or anything

[SuperJerk 0]

I was watching a clip of Undertaker debuting on SD against Benoit and Angle and I swear to god I'm totally stumped as to what the storyline reason was. I know it was between Summerslam and Unforgiven. Other than that I don't remember. Thanks to anyone.

Since he was on both PPV cards, I'm not aware that he DID leave between those 2 shows.

 

However, he left after "No Mercy" to sell injuries sustained by the Big Show throwing him off of the stage after losing the Cell match to Brock (real reason: his child was about to be born).

 

 

edit: Exslade ZX is right. He jumped to Smackdown after Summerslam to follow Brock for his title shot. He didn't actually leave until after No Mercy for the reason I just mentioned.

Edited May 10, 2005 by RobotJerk

[iliketurtles 0]

Here's what I recall:

 

Night after Summerslam 2002 was at MSG, Kane came back...HHH beat Taker with the help of Brock, and then Brock left for SD.

 

Next week was when HHH got the Heavyweight belt for the first time. I then remember his feud with RVD and stuff...

 

And I don't remember how Lesnar/Taker at Unforgiven came about, though.

 

However, he left after "No Mercy" to sell injuries sustained by the Big Show throwing him off of the stage after losing the Cell match to Brock (real reason: his child was about to be born).

 

I remember that pretty well. I was there in Boston when he came back at the Rumble.

 

I'm talking about before that.

 

I also remember the Big Show trade, but this was before that too so that had nothing to do with it.

[iliketurtles 0]

So did Taker beat HHH instead on that Raw?

[SuperJerk 0]

So did Taker beat HHH instead on that Raw?

No, HHH won, but Taker got the title shot anyways.

 

I remember they'd been teasing Brock vs. Undertaker since King of the Ring.

[iliketurtles 0]

Okay.

 

So pretty much the answer to this thread is "No reason."

 

I think we did more thinking about this then they actually did booking it.

[Promoter 0]

Wasn't that match a #1 contender's match that led to Brock/Taker though? Taker left RAW because the champion became exclusive to smackdown. Thus, we got the HHH show forevermore on raw.

[spman 0]

I was actually at the show where Taker switched, it was a Smackdown taping at the Mohegan Sun Casino here in CT. I'm 90% sure it was simply explained as either a "Trade" or simply Smackdown stealing another star from RAW, but Undertaker inserted into Benoit vs Angle which was the finals of a one night tournament type deal to determine a #1 contender for Lesnar/

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I'm here to save the day.

 

***HOW TAKER WENT AFTER LESNAR***

 

Lesnar's first Smackdown! as the sole champion was August 29, 2002.

 

Stephanie comes out. "Haha Bischoff, we've got Lesnar! But who is the #1 contender? Not HHH, he's on Raw! We'll have a series of matches. The last person to win is the #1 contender! Let's start now."

 

1. Eddie pins Edge after frogsplash.

2. Rikishi pins Eddie after superkick.

3. Benoit makes Rikishi tap to Crossface.

 

Angle says "they saved the best for last", he'll face Benoit to determine winner.

 

Angle and Benoit come out. Stephanie comes out. Says she JUST SIGNED A NEW STAR TO SMACKDOWN! and the match is now a TRIPLE THREAT MATCH. It's The Undertaker.

 

4. The Undertaker defeated Benoit and Angle in a 3-way by pinning Benoit after the Last Ride to become #1 Contender.

[CBright7831 0]

Anything from July 2002 to May 2003 was a blur. I hardly watched any wrestling. I missed the katie Vick angle, thankfully, overwise I may not be watching today.

You do know he wasn't asking you specifically right?

Of course. I was simply upping the thread, because I wanted an answer also.

[CBright7831 0]

See, I had no idea Triple H even pinned The Undertaker (thus getting his win back from Wrestlemania and making it 1-1) until tonight.

 

That's how bad 2002 was.

[Naked Snake 0]

I always thought this match was a political one. Undertaker loses to HHH, the two politicians switch brands, and Taker gets to become the #1 contender on SmackDown! while hHh gets a custom title to parade around on Raw.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

I always thought this match was a political one. Undertaker loses to HHH, the two politicians switch brands, and Taker gets to become the #1 contender on SmackDown! while hHh gets a custom title to parade around on Raw.

The HHHeavyweight title.

[SuperJerk 0]

See, I had no idea Triple H even pinned The Undertaker (thus getting his win back from Wrestlemania and making it 1-1) until tonight.

 

That's how bad 2002 was.

Undertaker retained the title at King of the Ring against challenger Triple H.

 

 

And yes, 2002 was teh suck.

[cawthon777 0]

See, I had no idea Triple H even pinned The Undertaker (thus getting his win back from Wrestlemania and making it 1-1) until tonight.

 

That's how bad 2002 was.

Undertaker retained the title at King of the Ring against challenger Triple H.

And beat Taker on Smackdown shortly before Fully Loaded 2000 (Angle interfered and cost Taker the match).

[SuperJerk 0]

See, I had no idea Triple H even pinned The Undertaker (thus getting his win back from Wrestlemania and making it 1-1) until tonight.

 

That's how bad 2002 was.

Undertaker retained the title at King of the Ring against challenger Triple H.

And beat Taker on Smackdown shortly before Fully Loaded 2000 (Angle interfered and cost Taker the match).

I'm sorry, but you've exceded the point in time the WWE thinks we can only remember back to.

[Jericholic82 0]

See, I had no idea Triple H even pinned The Undertaker (thus getting his win back from Wrestlemania and making it 1-1) until tonight.

 

That's how bad 2002 was.

Undertaker retained the title at King of the Ring against challenger Triple H.

And beat Taker on Smackdown shortly before Fully Loaded 2000 (Angle interfered and cost Taker the match).

I'm sorry, but you've exceded the point in time the WWE thinks we can only remember back to.

lol I guess wrestling fans do have short ememories. Not me I remembered all of this, but got beat to it. Kudos.

 

after takers signing, vince decided onair that there would be no m ore free agent moves and there can only be chanegs to the brands through direct trades.

[David Blazenwing 0]

I personally liked 2002... now 2003 sucked major ass.

 

Like RD Reynolds on WrestleCrap said, he could probably write an entire book JUST on the year 2003 in WWE.