WWE.com: What did you think of your match tonight?
Undertaker: I thought it was a good, solid match. I have a feeling that Test is going to be one of the top big-men in the industry; one of our next generation top big-men in time. But tonight just was not his time. I thought tonight I had to fight for the pride of our country and I’m not just saying that to be cliché-ish. I thought it was very important to make a statement.
Okay, this is just insulting my intelligence. Everyone else talked openly about their matches in post-match interviews, from HHH/HBK to Angle/Misterio, but Taker's gotta stay in character? To what end? And what sort of statement was Mark Calloway making? That real Americans don't job?
I don't give a crap what his defenders say, the man does not put over young guys in high profile PPV matchups. Test needed that win and Taker didn't. God knows, enough veterans put him over cleanly in 91-92.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex
Not only did Taker not put Test over, he squashed three people, including the tag champs, and no-sold a finisher. And did you notice how he lost the world title without being pinned, also avoiding losing to Brock at Slam? the guy has his good moments, but stuff like that pisses me off
Test sucks. Period. I don't care if Taker didn't put him over. As for the in-character stuff, well it IS WWE.com, so who cares? It's not like he's on Sixty Minutes or something. Plus, who said it's Taker holding people down? Wouldn't it be better to put the blame on Vince? I really don't think the wrestlers decide the outcome of their matches. Period. Unless anyone who was backstage during one of those closed meetings wants to chime in? Anybody? Anybody?
Kawshen, you're brilliant. Kawshen's right. Couldn't have said it better myself.
(edited by WhoBettahThanDeion on 26.8.02 1459) You ever notice how girls who wore lots of make-up and were considered goog looking or doable in high school, AIN'T that good lookin' a few years after you've graduated? Still doable though. Oh yeah. MORE doable. Hehe.
Deion - You can't tell me that if Taker really wanted to elevate someone that he wouldn't get his way. He's a veteran in that locker room and has clout. It's been well reported that veterans like Austin, Michaels, etc. have used their clout to get out of doing jobs. Besides, look at Taker's friggin' WrestleMania record, which he has bragged about. Why would you give a shit if you're 10-0 in the premier event of a worked sport???
I'm not a big fan of the Canadian Bugs Bunny, but he's looked very good in the ring as of late, especially in his KOTR match with Brock. He's very agile for a big man, is intense and has greatly improved over the two years that I've been watching him. That's more than I can say for Taker.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex
'Takers got character and some mic skills. Test has big teeth. There's the difference. I don't buy Test at all, and I even think he's a decent wrestler. But, let's put it this way, Test and Stasiak make it to the finals of Tough Enough, I have to choose one. I choose the useless one who'll be on Heat as opposed to the useless one who can't talk and wastes my time every two or three months with another so-called "push." Screw him.
And I can honestly say I don't know Undertaker holds people down. I wasn't with him and Vince when they decided to screw Test. Sorry. As for the 10-0 record at Wrestlemania, it makes you wonder who will be the one to end it. I'm sure he's not really all that proud of going 10-0, but it does help his character. I don't know what goes on backstage, maybe you do and could illuminate how this vast conspiracy to hold down Test goes back to Taker?
You ever notice how girls who wore lots of make-up and were considered goog looking or doable in high school, AIN'T that good lookin' a few years after you've graduated? Still doable though. Oh yeah. MORE doable. Hehe.
Normally, I'd rather see 'Taker putting over the younger guys, but this is Test we're talking about here. Jeebus, man, I hope Test never makes it. Do you really want to see PPVs main evented by Test? Hold this man the fuck down. Where's the glass ceiling?!
"The only difference between lilies and turds are those humankind have agreed upon, and I don't always agree." ---George Carlin
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." ---Anon.
I gotta disagree with this assesment, lads. I think Taker winning and Storm/ Christian winning made everything even-steven. Balanced. The Unamericans will lose no heat. Taker wins the war for the Pro-Americans. I don't think Taker was speaking in character, but more about the match and it's signifigance to the (American) fans. I think that Test getting a pin on Taker on RAW was a big step for Andrew- but if anyone thought that he was gonna win the PPV match after coming out on top on RAW..... man! It's almost a formula now! Taker is one of the guys who supposedly doesn't object to putting guys over. Hell, Rock even said that Taker suggested that Rock go over clean in one of their first big matches- and Taker even suggested that Rock gets his finisher in for the win. This was before Rock was big shit. About Taker losing the title without doing the job- I don't think that was his idea. With Taker in the midst of a face turn- I don't think the writers could come up with another way for another face to take the belt- unless they do ye olde 3-way dance. Test isn't anywhere near ready for the big time, in my opinion. He can work- yes. I loved it when he started using the big boot as his finisher... but his mic skills still don't evoke any emotion. The fans don't really have any reason to get behind him. Now with this new gimmick- he doesn't really get any more personality. You or I could walk out on stage and say "America sucks" and get the same heat that Test gets...
Taker has ALWAYS done interviews in character. Even WWF Home Video stuff...go back to the "Best of WrestleMania I-XIV" tape and see him talking about fighting Diesel. Calloway's all kayfabe, all the time. It's part of the big, intimidating, old-school deadman gimmick. It's a throwback...and at this stage in his career, I don't think anybody's gonna be telling ol' Mark to change his ways.
And as for new talent...remember, this is the same dude who "bottle-fed" Foley through the rest of the match after those hellacious Hell in a Cell bumps in Pittsburgh.
My only request...now that he's a babyface "American Badass" again, ditch the Big Evil merchandise, and get the Kid Rock entrance music back. C'mon, Vince, crack that Stamford checkbook open!
Star wipe, and...we're out. Thrillin' ain't easy. . . THE THRILL ACW-TV/Home Video Technical Director Emeritus...and A2NWO 4 Life!
Originally posted by WhoBettahThanDeion'Takers got character and some mic skills. Test has big teeth. There's the difference. I don't buy Test at all, and I even think he's a decent wrestler. But, let's put it this way, Test and Stasiak make it to the finals of Tough Enough, I have to choose one. I choose the useless one who'll be on Heat as opposed to the useless one who can't talk and wastes my time every two or three months with another so-called "push." Screw him.
And I can honestly say I don't know Undertaker holds people down. I wasn't with him and Vince when they decided to screw Test. Sorry. As for the 10-0 record at Wrestlemania, it makes you wonder who will be the one to end it. I'm sure he's not really all that proud of going 10-0, but it does help his character. I don't know what goes on backstage, maybe you do and could illuminate how this vast conspiracy to hold down Test goes back to Taker?
You're putting words in my mouth. But I'll illuminate for ya. Watch Mania X8 and watch Taker count to 10 after he beats Flair. Then read the WWE.com interview with him afterwards, when he brags about his 10-0 record and how that's one of the highlights of his career. That's not proud?
I don't give a shit about Test, and he probably won't accomplish nearly what Taker has in his career. But this match was a believable setting for Taker to job, especially with two run-ins. And he didn't. Stone Cold pulled this shit near the end and it got boring, too.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex
Maybe Test would be appreciated more if anything he did, including just being out in the arena, actually drew heat. What do you guys think?
If you don't draw heat, then you're not going to make money [see any merchandice that's for Test? No...]. Hard to put someone over for very long who won't make you money.
I can see putting Test over on free TV. It's free for me, so I don't really care if someone I couldn't give a rats ass about wins. But if I paid 35 bucks to see someone who would barely even get booed for winning win, well, I'd ask for a refund...
I've got nothing against Test, personally. I enjoy SOME of his in-ring work. But I haven't really seen him do anything new anytime recently, and I haven't heard any crowds wanting to see him or see him destroyed anytime recently either, so I think he needs to be rethought...
Wrestling's fake. Taker NOT bragging about ten wins is dumb. I win. Argument over.
You ever notice how girls who wore lots of make-up and were considered goog looking or doable in high school, AIN'T that good lookin' a few years after you've graduated? Still doable though. Oh yeah. MORE doable. Hehe.
Why the hell does Ric Flair brag about being a 16-time World Champion when it's worked?
Taker bragging about being 10-0 is the EXACT same thing. Period.
As for him putting young guys over, let's look at his pay-per-view opponents this year:
Royal Rumble: Eliminated by Maven, beats him up afterwards. Still, the elimination is what's remembered.
No Way Out: Loses to Rock
Wrestlemania: Beats Ric Flair
Backlash: Beats Austin, I think. He won that match didn't he?
Judgement Day: Beats Hogan
King of the Ring: Beats Triple H
Vengeance: Loses to Rock when Rock pins Angle
SummerSlam: Beats Test
So, as you can see, it's not like he's had the chance to put young guys over lately anyway. And I agree with the majority on Test, that guy doesn't deserve to be beating Taker.
(edited by BobHollySTILLRules on 27.8.02 0244) "BobHollySTILLRules STILL rules!" -SmooveK, finally letting the world know what a select few have known all along. That I do, indeed, rule.
One of the reasons that I like the Rock so much is that he walks in the people's champ, and come win, lose, or draw, he walks out the people's champ. He understands that winning and losing aren't important in the grand scheme of things. One would think that knowing that the outcomes are predetermined, we would realize that winning and losing aren't important in the grand scheme of things either. But here we are with a thread bitching about the Undertaker beating Test (and other complaints elsewhere about HHH beating Undertaker). None of this is important. Especially with respect to putting over new talent. Steve Austin's feud with Bret Hart is generally regarded as the feud that turned him into a superstar, but during that feud, Austin never beat Bret. Bret and Austin, talents that they were, were able to elevate Austin without giving him a victory. The victories are only important with respect to the future booking. (If Taker and Brock are going to feud, Taker should not be losing to Test.) As much as Taker is a veteran and has clout, I've heard little of him openly refusing to job. He might selectively sell for people, which is really where the issue in Taker putting over Test lies, but whether or not he scores the final victory over Test is irrelevant. The way the feud played out, it made sense for Taker to win. If you want to argue about Taker's victory, then you should argue that Taker had the whole feud, including his pinfall loss to Test's big boot in the six-man, planned out ahead of time simply to keep his heat.