BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) ROOTS
The Undertaker started his career off in the mid 80’s with World Class Championship Wrestling under the gimmick of “Texas Red”. His first match was against cult icon Bruiser Brody. He’d work the circuit and pay his dues for a while in the famous territory. He’d move to CWA and later USWA under many gimmicks in the late 80’s. He got to work with Lawler, the Jarretts, and all of those southern legends. He rose up the card in monster bad guy type of roles and then found himself in WCW for about a year. Then to New Japan for a short spot and then finally to the WWF. History ensues.
(THREE) THE STREAK
As I write this, the man is 19-0 at Wrestlemania. That’s 19 wins and no losses. Granted some of these wins were over the likes of Giant Gonzalez, Big Boss Man, A-Train, and a lot of big guys and old guys at the lows and ends of their careers. The more recent Shawn Michaels matches were great and his matches against Edge, Orton, Flair, and the first Kane match were all good. Regardless, that’s impressive as hell and over the past six or seven years it’s really been a selling point for the character and show. It’s almost completely eclipsed any other accolade or event in the dude’s long and awesome career. It’s impressive and all, but let’s not forget the guy’s full body of work.
(TWO) MMA
If you’ve paid attention, you’ll notice that The Undertaker has really taken to the MMA style. When he came back in the biker gimmick his style was pretty much a “MMA brawler”. He started using moves like the triangle choke and wearing MMA-Vader style gloves. He has shown up in the audiences of many MMA fights, especially the Brock Lesnar ones. He hangs out with MMA guys and has said that if MMA was around back when he was first coming up he probably would have gone that route instead. Thankfully MMA in the force we know it didn’t infect the world until about a decade or so ago. UFC is the NASCAR of “fighting sports”. Yuck.
(ONE) OLD MAN WALKING
The Undertaker just turned 47 years old. He needs to retire, but still obviously brings value to any card he’s on. I’m really uncomfortable with him still wrestling. The last few times I’ve seen him he seemed to be slowing down. I don’t want to think of the “dead man” as someone fragile or weak. I don’t want to see people overselling his slow-motion punches like they do Jerry Lawler and other old timer vets. I respect The Undertaker too much for THAT to be his lasting presence. I’ve never been his number one fan or anything, but the dude is a top tier icon. He can be like Michaels and leave before embarrassing himself like a Hogan or Flair. Much respect.
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