But we'll get another couple years' or so of fantastic matches from whoever steps up to give it a try.
They have to give us a Cena/Taker match at either WM28, 29 or 30; like someone said, it's the big white elephant in the room. And I don't recall those two ever facing each other one-on-one except at (I think?) a Tribute to the Troops event in which 'Taker won by DQ. They were also on opposite sides of a tag-team match at No Way Out '07, when Cena defeated 'Taker after an FU.
In between now and then, they could give an opportunity to a talented cocky young guy like Morrison or Miz.
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Originally posted by Guru ZimThe man who never lost at Wrestlemania - good for 20-30 years of use.
The guy who beat Taker's streak - good for 6 months - 1 year.
Taker will not lose.
See, this, I don't get. What "use" will Taker get out of being the man who never lost as Wrestlemania once he hangs up the boots? Will he sell that many more DVDs? Be a better promotional mouthpiece for the company? Get a better non-wrestling job of some kind? I really don't see it. The Streak is very useful for Mania hype, but once that's done, I think it's just a pleasant memory--and it's that whether he wins or loses his retirement match.
Now, maybe there isn't that much value in ending it. I do agree that if Cena's the last opponent, Taker should beat him; Cena doesn't need the rub, and the fans who dislike him will just be more ticked off at him. But if there's an opportunity to take a guy who is not quite at that level and give him something special, I think it could really make a difference. If I were in charge of WWE and I knew that next Mania was going to be Taker's last, I'd probably end up having Punk beat Taker. He's a guy who's already well on his way to being a major star, but he's not quite there, and this is the sort of thing that could really put him over the top. Now, maybe I'm wrong about that--maybe fans would just be turned off by it. It's the benefit to Taker of keeping the streak intact that I don't get.
Originally posted by ekedolphinThe streak will never be broken...
But we'll get another couple years' or so of fantastic matches from whoever steps up to give it a try.
They have to give us a Cena/Taker match at either WM28, 29 or 30; like someone said, it's the big white elephant in the room. And I don't recall those two ever facing each other one-on-one except at (I think?) a Tribute to the Troops event in which 'Taker won by DQ. They were also on opposite sides of a tag-team match at No Way Out '07, when Cena defeated 'Taker after an FU.
Vengeance 2003, back when Cena was a heel, proclaiming himself "the new Deadman Inc." in his theme song.
Cena shouldn't break the streak and he shouldn't be mentioned at all to end it. They have done everything to get Cena over and it has worked depending where they are. They have feed Jericho, Kurt, HHH, HBK, Edge, and most of the roster as well as recently Batista. People are just sick of SuperCena. He can laugh all he wants to with the fans who boo him, but he is not setting the world on fire anymore. The ratings are just ok compared to what they used to be years ago. To be fair, we don't know what his merchandise sells for now a days unless someone has WWE's financial statements that actually break it down, we are only guessing.
WWE has given Cena the keys to the castle and while he has done a good job with it, he is not the giant babyface Austin, Rock, Foley or even Eddie was. I like Cena and I defended him in 2005 to 2006 when everyone was throwing him under the bus. Yet, he hasn't changed his character in the last 5 years and his wrestling hasn't gotten any better. He is a good spokesman for the company, but he is not believable anymore. That is his major problem. People believed Hogan and Warrior could beat the odds and he took some beatings along the way. People routed for Austin, Eddie and Foley to buck the trend to be champion. People know that Rock would save the day even if it meant losing matches and here and there. No one believes in Cena. He has done it all without breaking a sweat for the most part. He is the Yankees of wrestling. People expect him to win every time and often then not he does. He doesn't need to be the one to break Taker's streak.
At this point, HBK at the best storyline next to Flair going against Taker at Mania to beat him where the fans would buy it. I just don't see where you put Cena over Taker and not expect more backlash then he is already getting. Like the analogy before with the Yankees, the more he wins, the more people get pissed off. If he breaks this streak it would be the equivalent of an entire decade of Yankee wins or better yet remember the Braves in the 90s imagine. Remember how frustrating it was to see that team go to the World Series and lose all the time sans one time. Its better for Taker to go 20-0 and then retire. Taker has earned that right even though I do question putting the belt on him anymore. He has done a lot for the company and his will be his legacy.
On the assumption that win #20 will be his last match (which is a heck of an assumption, but it would be a pretty great place for the old man to hang it up), I say Cena is the best possible final opponent. Not only is it a "dream match" but since Cena basically pulls boos anyhow, it's a way for him to play heel without actually doing a turn. Now, for the year between now and then, I say the best opponent is actually the Miz. Why? Because right now the story is that the Undertaker can not be beaten at Wrestlemania. The best story to tell for next year, I think, is that even though that's the case, there's still someone dumb and cocky enough to try. Miz fits the bill for that.
Originally posted by Peter The HegemonSee, this, I don't get. What "use" will Taker get out of being the man who never lost as Wrestlemania once he hangs up the boots? Will he sell that many more DVDs?
"20-0: Undead, Undefeated" (or similar) is a remarkably easy sell for them, and wouldn't preclude them doing any other Undertaker-centric DVDs. And post retirement, if they ever chose to bring him back for one more match they've got an instant feud people would pay to see right there.
Putting a young buck like Punk over him could work great, or it could backfire horribly so why take the risk? There's plenty of ways to get a guy over the hump, but, with apologies to The Miz, there's only one streak.
I don't see anyone really challenging " the streak". HBK has given The Undertaker his 2 best WrestleMania's and was the closest to ending the streak and I don't see anyone hyping up with enough credibility to potentially ending Undertaker's undefeated WM record.
For sake of argument, who could challenge The Deadman? Triple H, Cena, or even Jericho? I wouldn't mind seeing Jericho facing 'Taker because it would be different and hasn't faced him yet at WM. This probably could be a good match depending on how much more Undertaker can give with his body now.
Overall though, Undertaker's best WrestleMania opponents were the last 2 years against HBK which to me means that there is really no chance or a line of credibility somewhere that Undertaker will be beaten on the biggest event in wrestling.
I thought for sure Cena was going to be UT's opponent this year as that's really the last big match for the Undertaker. Anybody else and it's a foregone conclusion that UT is going to win. Cena is the only guy left, other than *MAYBE* HHH, that UT can face at WM and have the ending be in doubt among everybody, smarks and marks alike. UT is quite obviously getting old and broken down, so the number of good matches left in him are very few. Can he make it another year or two? They have to get that Cena match in there before he can't move anymore
Oh, and Cena totally should NOT win that match. The Streak should never be broken. After UT "retires", he can come back once a year for however many years to defend The Streak. It's a built-in, heat-filled match every year and a guaranteed money maker. The Streak has become as much a part of the "WrestleMania Experience" as Axxess, C-Level Celebrities, and the Money In The Bank ladder match.
After the two matches with Shawn it's pretty clear now that the streak will never be broken. I agree that Taker vs. Cena will be the ultimate money match, but why have Cena go over? As mentioned above, it would only multiply the backlash against him by a million, plus he really doesn't need it. Maybe some new kid will give him a run for the money, or even Daniel Bryan? I doubt that established stars like HHH will take that win.
By the way, when did they first start scknowledging the streak? The first time I remember it was at WM X-8, when he went 10-0 after beating Flair. I doubt they planned that long ahead when he started his career, so when did they find out "hey, he never lost at Wrestlemania, let's play that up and make it an attraction"? 2005 was when he really should have lost, though.....
Originally posted by UnsUweBy the way, when did they first start scknowledging the streak? The first time I remember it was at WM X-8, when he went 10-0 after beating Flair. I doubt they planned that long ahead when he started his career, so when did they find out "hey, he never lost at Wrestlemania, let's play that up and make it an attraction"? 2005 was when he really should have lost, though.....
Jim Ross played it up heavy at Wrestlemania X-7 against Triple H, that going in, Taker was 8-0 in Wrestlemania matches. Prior to that was the Crash TV era where they couldn't remember on a week to week basis if he was a heel or face, and likely wasn't acknowledged.
I think WM21 was the first time they really used the 'will the streak be broken?' angle, since Orton was bragging about how he'd continue his legend-killing spree by being the first man to beat Taker at Wrestlemania.
Totally agree that Cena is a logical opponent, and it should happen next year or at WM 28 (depending on Taker's health). But if it ends up happening at WM28, then for next year I'd like to see Taker in a tag match for logistical reasons. He can't say "18 have tried, 18 have failed" anymore since Michaels is on the list twice. (Big Show and A-Train make up for Kane's two matches.) Maybe you could have a tag team just run roughshod over the WWE for the latter half of 2010 and into 2011, culminating with them challenging Undertaker and a partner of his choosing at WM27. Then you'd have another easy angle of a wrestler feeling the pressure of having to defend UT's streak alongside him.
Either that or Undertaker against Tiffany in a pillow fight match.
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Either that or Undertaker against Tiffany in a pillow fight match.
I'd love that! It would be funny after all this if he lost to Doink or the Iron Sheik or Pete Rose or someone in a silly gimmick match early in the card.