DLman91

Alright, please explain this one to me, because I have been trying to understand it for years. The Undertaker, OK so he's big, he's really big actually, but why does everyone like him? I can't figure it out. The Deadman character makes it worse, because he's a guy who can't be hurt. What the hell is that? Part of wrestling is trying to make the other guy look good, because the better he looks, the more over opponents everyone has for the future.

OK, so the crowd pops huge when th gongs go off, but does that automatically translate into drawing power? From what I remember, the Undertaker has been around for over 10 years, and has NEVER been a top draw. He was on top in 1997, after Wrestlemania 13, and ratings stayed where they were. Then he won the title again from Hogan at Judgement Day, and wore it around his neck like a retard before people realized that NO ONE CARED.

Why? Because no one thinks anyone can beat him, and when you make someone unbeatable, you lose any chance of reality. Second, you have him squash every worker in your promotion, that makes them look weak and then no one cares about them either. I liked the American Badass character, I thought it suited him well. I would have liked to have seen him lose a little bit more, but he sold (sort of) and actually used different offensive moves. Instead of walking around menacingly, rolling his eyes in the back of his head and flipping his hair back. Did I mention he sucks in the ring? There are only so many "soup bones" you can throw before they all look the same.

And I'm still pissed that he beat Hogan at Survivor Series when I was 8

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

Are you sure you aren't taking about HHH? :roll:

Chair Shot Fan

Haha...well I think this breaks down to the question of whether you liked him as a kid or not. Growing up, Undertaker & Paul Bearer (with the funeral parlor) were awesome to me. Undertaker stuffing Ultimate Warrior in the casket is still one of the best wrestling-related memories I have. Granted, the whole Corporate Ministry angle thing really killed the character (with Vince being revealed as the Higher Power) IMO, the whole history of the character preceeds him & really is what has kept me interested in Taker, long term. He's a respected vetran & has put over fresh talent, such as the Hardys, Maven (Royal Rumble), and Brock Lesnar. Just because he doesn't drop every match like Foley doesn't mean the guy shouldn't be entitled to have a strong win record.

You'd better put your clothes back on...before you start puttin pot holes in my lawn...

Dr. Giganto

Simple: natural charisma a la Hulk Hogan

he has "the look", he moves well for a man his size, and he was the beneficiary of the greatest "gimmick" of all time

Also, dont put too much stock in the "ratings didnt go up while he was champ" thing. If thats the case, then HBK and Bret Hart suck too. I would say most fans watch for the overall quality of the program, not simply for who the champion is

Steveo

Leave the guy alone. He is the one loyal performer that I have ever seen besides Sting. He has never left the company and he has never not put people over that needed it. He is the tops because he is the veteran, he is the locker room leader. Do you realize the shitty angles this man has been through? Do you realize that when everyone else jumped ship he stayed? The UT character got over because its a spectacle to behold. Its dark and mysterious and that strikes a nerve with people. They have never cared that he isn't that good in the ring. They go ballistic every time he does the sit up or walks the ropes or drops a tombstone. It is not wrong for people to love a man for reasons no one really understands. I for one respect The Undertaker for sticking with us and always giving us the best show possible despite the limitations of him and his opponent.

Papa Shango

The loyalty card is worthless. Taker couldnt have gone to WCW with that gimmick anyway, and without it he would have been worthless.

Steveo

Why are you people finding the need to jump on a guy for being at the top of his profession. Are we just a bunch of cynical assholes. And the UT gimmick would have worked in WCW because they have had waaaaayyy cheesier gimmicks than that. Plus i will play the loyalty card you know why? Cause I'm gonna stick by a man who was stuck by his company for damn near 15 years now. Have you seen the crap he got put through? He won his first championship in '91 he wouldn't get it back till '97 and then after that he didn't get it again until '99 hey and then he wouldn't get it again till 2002 thats the last time he held a belt. He is not another HHH like alot of you like to accuse for some reason. He payed his dues before he got to WWF, Vince made a golden gimmick for him and he rode it straight to the top. Ya let's all hate him for it. He's such an asshole and he should quit cause he sucks. Sometimes people make me sick in their criticism.

Papa Shango

Hey Im a big taker fan, Have been since i saw his debut in 1990. Im not bashing him at all. But He couldnt have been as successful in WCW as he was in WWF because he wouldnt have been allowed to take the gimmick over with him.. and without it he would have been pretty worthless to WCW... im not saying he couldnt have gotten it over with the fans, im saying he wouldnt have been allowed to use the gimmick in the first place.

Steveo

He would have probably just gone back to "Mean" Mark Callous or they would have tried a similar gimmick like UT but that would have gone bad since WCW's production was crap. Just imagine had he left and then was allowed to do the American Badass biker thing in WCW I bet it may have very well been the death of WWE it would have been the last nail in the coffin so to speak of the floundering WWF at the time. I'm referring to if he had left about when Hogan and every one else jumped.

Woodifvh

The Undertaker, the greatest gimmick of all time and my favorite wrestler. I remember first seeing him when he stuffed Ultimate Warrior in the casket and I never looked back. The aura of the Undertaker is what makes him so great and so likeable, and his the loyalty part is a very admirable quality that many don't have.

As far as not putting people over, lets see list a few that he has: Kurt Angle, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Mick Foley (not that he wouldn't have gotten over anyways). The only person that I truly think he needs to put over before he retires is Kane, but I dont' know if thats even possible now that they've washed Kane's gimmick down the drain. Hell, he put over the whole ministry just by having them in his stable. Bradshaw and Farooq were formed and people even cared a little about Mideon. Undertaker has put a lot back into this business, stop bashing the guy.