This was a fun thread to start last year, just because there were so many directions they could go with Undertaker's streak. Now he's at 19-0, so that means UT's probably got one more Streak match in him. Question is, who's next?
All signs seem to point to Cena. Cena's the only one with the kind of credible star power that people could buy ending the Streak. And similar to the argument I posed with Triple H last year, pairing Cena with Undertaker simultaneously keeps Cena hovering at the main event without putting him in the title picture.
Personally, I'm going to push my luck and call my shot again. I think Undertaker ends up facing Miz, who will be on a full-fledged ego trip and be in total "I want to cement my legend by killing Undertaker's Streak" mode, similar to what Orton was seven or eight years ago. Of course, that would relegate Cena to the title picture for about the third or fourth year in a row, so this is admittedly implausible.
So it's time to ask again: Who faces Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXVIII? (Or more interestingly, WILL Undertaker face anybody at Wrestlemania XXVIII or does he call it a career before then?)
EDIT: And a mere 24 hours later, we can safely rule out Cena. I probably shouldn't have started this thread so soon.
At this point I have to say Cena because there is no one else. If pushed right I could see Ziggler or Morrison Going for it but for that to work they have to really get behind them. Hell give Sting a Iron Clan creative control contract for a year. Build him up as the last son of Krypton and have him and taker go at it, but for that to work He has to get over himself and get his head out of his ass. As none of those two things will likely happen Cena is their only choice.
Dont say its not worth it, when you can sleep with no fear, that kind of time is worth any thing.- FFX
Considering that the man works hard one night per year at this point, and the company seems happy to keep inserting him into a top-card WM match despite spending most of the year at home, I can't see why he would leave after next year. Sure 20 is a nice round number, but isn't 25 a milestone too?
I think next year is Cena v. Rock, so I'm going to say they try to get Sting, and failing that they go with Miz. His complaints about how he was treated for years has been part of his persona, and UT is the locker room leader, so he's partially responsible.
Kudos for Its False for going with HHH from last year's thread, dumb ass on me for picking anyone else. All signs point to Cena and I will also fall in line with that thought even though Amos' Foley idea is appealing. Foley does or did have the best win/loss against Taker back in the day. After eating three pedigrees, a hundred chair shots and a Tombstone, I have no idea how they will end the streak. Thus, if they are looking for big names to fed the beast, Cena is it. Even though I will give an outside shot to Miz or Punk to face him. Again, after last night I have no idea how they will ever have him lose at Mania and make it convincing.
I can only see three possibilities at this juncture.
The obvious option, and the one I think they'll go with, is John Cena. This works on two levels. First of all, it's a "dream match" on the level of Shawn Michaels and HHH. Secondly, it's someone whom Taker will trust to work safe with him and who's standard style won't cause Taker any difficulties.
Secondly, Samoa Joe. I don't actually think there's a chance in hell of this happening but if Joe were brought in even as late as Survivor Series and treated as Joe, I think he could be built up as a credible threat to The Undertaker, someone who the average fine would believe had a chance at defeating him and who the IWC might believe the WWE would see a benefit in him going over.
Thirdly, Zach Ryder. But only if I find some way to blackmail Vince. (Let the paternity tests begin!)
Originally posted by spfConsidering that the man works hard one night per year at this point, and the company seems happy to keep inserting him into a top-card WM match despite spending most of the year at home, I can't see why he would leave after next year. Sure 20 is a nice round number, but isn't 25 a milestone too?
25 would be a nice milestone but considering Undertaker is 46 years old with a lot of mileage, even one match per year to make it to 25-0 would be pushing it for the 20 year veteran.
For next year's WM, I too will agree with the vast majority of people and say John Cena will be Undertaker's opponent. The applause and cheers for Cena being beaten to the Taker would be close to deafening. What will happen after next year's WM? I will say Undertaker retires or the creative team finds a way for Undertaker not to return.
Another thought has occurred to me... With the increasing presence of CGI graphics, and the generally amazing abilities of WWE's production crew, it's only a matter of time before they try to push a CGI wrestler.
What if The Undertaker had to battle his own immortal soul? What if The Undertaker's streaks is finally broken by.... The Undertaker?
Originally posted by InVerseAnother thought has occurred to me... With the increasing presence of CGI graphics, and the generally amazing abilities of WWE's production crew, it's only a matter of time before they try to push a CGI wrestler.
What if The Undertaker had to battle his own immortal soul? What if The Undertaker's streaks is finally broken by.... The Undertaker?
Yeah, that would be great for the live fans in attendance!
However ... what about family? They've had father and brother ... is it possible we have the Son of the Undertaker at some point? He's old enough to have a son of rasslin' age.
Originally posted by Matt TrackerI think the WWE would still like to get Brock back for that match.
this has been my opinion for a while now.
Do a worked MMA match.
I really expected Triple H to bust out some submission moves to weaken Taker's leg. I mean, he can't Last Ride or chokeslam or Tombstone with a bum leg. Triple H thinks he's in the clear and THEN walks into the Hell's Gate. Instead, it was a hardcore match.
(edited by Matt Tracker on 4.4.11 1147) "To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Unless Rock/Cena is already set in stone for WM28, I'd agree that Cena is the obvious candidate.
Depending on how many years Undertaker keeps wrestling, there are still a number of streak-related storylines they've never done...
* a "streak vs. streak" angle where someone else who happens to be unbeaten at Mania goes against Undertaker. I thought they might try this with Edge a few years ago once Edge got to 5-0, but then Edge got his streak unceremoniously broken in the Money in the Bank at WM23. Of current candidates, the only really notable one I can think of is Miz, who's now a mere 2-0.
* a tag team or multi-man bout. Say the Corre had said, "We want to finish the job we started at Survivor Series and finish the Undertaker for good! But, since everyone is equal in the Corre, we ALL want to break the Streak. So Taker, you can either face us all by yourself, or find some partners!" Then you'd have Taker trying to recruit his own team, thus letting the Streak rub off on a few teammates. Like, instead of Kofi Kingston just randomly being on a team against the Corre, imagine Taker personally inviting Kingston to fight alongside him. Makes Kofi seem like a bigger deal, eh? You could also have the likes of Kane and Big Show involved, with the storyline of "will these ex-Streak victims tab Taker in the back?"
* Along those same lines, a singles match with Big Show, since Show is the only Streak victim that Taker never actually beat himself (A-Train took the fall at WM19). The downside here, of course, is that Show/Taker is not a match that excites anyone.
* A heel manager like Cole or Vince challenging Undertaker...but ONLY once Taker has fought someone else first. This gives UT the chance to pad his record a bit and add two matches in one year.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
My outsider picks would be Foley or Kurt Angle. Sting would be cool until they actually fought, I'm not sure those two could take it to the level it would need to go to however.
So, I guess that leaves Cena. John Cena would bring it for a match this big, the crowd would be all over him and solidly behind Taker. Make it title vs streak and have Taker win the title and retire on top. Confetti and fireworks galore to end the show, for a nice visual to the end of a great career.
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