Better Choice For The Face Of Smackdown: The Undertaker Or Edge?

[Mitch Henessey]

The Ultimate Opportunist and The Deadman have dominated the blue brand for years. Both of these men have also held the World Heavyweight Championship numerous times. These two feuded against each other for the World Heavyweight Championship in 2008, but who could be the better choice to be the leader of Smackdown right now? Here's my take on both men:

Edge

Edge's first face turn last year never took off, but the Rated-R Superstar has been having a nice run as a good guy the second time around. Edge might not be what he used to be in the ring, but he can still go, and he did manage to have some nice matches with Dolph Ziggler recently. Edge can also be a superb heel if he needs to be. Although, Edge can be injury prone. He's had problems staying healthy over the years, and he's starting to get up their in age, so his health will continue to be a problem.

The Undertaker

The Deadman's legacy is more storied than Edge's. He's undefeated at Wrestlemania, he was one of the bigger names during the Attitude Era, and he's also enjoyed multiple World Championship reigns. Live crowds still pop like crazy when the gong sounds, and people still want to see Undertaker. Although, Taker's body has taken a beating over the years, and it can show in the ring at times. Like Edge, The Deadman can be very injury prone, but Taker's breaks can be very frequent. Undertaker has been known to take a lot of time off over the years, and Taker's health will also continue to be a problem.

I love Taker, but I would have to pick Edge as the better choice for the face of Smackdown. Edge can still deliver in the ring, and seeing him play the good guy role is refreshing. Edge can still surprise us with a good/great match every now and then, and I do think he can be a better World Heavyweight Champion. The Rated-R Superstar can also cut very entertaining promos.

I'm sure we all get pumped for Taker's Wrestlemania match each year, but what do we have to look forward to after the big Mania showdown? We all know there's a good chance Taker will go on a lengthy hiatus, and we usually have to wait a long time before we see him again. Taker's Wrestlemania match might be a five star classic, but his other matches on Smackdown and pay per usually don't make our jaws drop. Also, after his returns, seeing Taker wrestle can be rare.

Who would you pick to be the face of Smackdown right now? Edge or The Undertaker?

 

[FSWWE]

- In my perspective, Edge is the face of Smackdown!!
Undertaker the legend, but not the face...
- On Raw, Cena is the face!
However Triple H is the legend...

 

[RatedRSuperstar1331]

Edge is a better face for Smackdown only because Undertaker's absences begin adding up and when advertising a Superstar for house shows, TV tapings, and pay-per-view, you should probably has confidence that the Superstar in question will actually be at the show. That said, Edge's injury history isn't the best, either. At this point, I think I'd take someone young with no history of injuries like Kofi Kingston and put him all over the promotional posters. Don't eliminate Edge and Taker.

 

[GI Cake]

Edge is on Smackdown on a weekly basis while the 'Taker is on whenever need be...

It's a no brainer... It's Wade Barret...

 

[Ultra Awesome]

Whilst the Undertaker has had a far greater/longer history on the blue brand -- being on it since one can even remember; I would think that the one who is undoubtedly the face of Smackdown [currently] is Edge.

The reason that I have trouble with picturing the Undertaker as the 'face' of Smackdown is that -- while although he may, in a sense, define Smackdown (seeing as how he's been a part of the brand for a very long time) -- I've always pictured him more as a symbolic figure in the sense that he is more of the 'phantom' of Smackdown. He's been there from the start, yes. But more often than not, he disappears -- whether through injury or something else -- therein, never really being able to leave his existance known in terms of 'face.' Rather, he is like a phantom, a being that is rarely seen, but presence's is felt all too often.

On the other hand, Edge has been, week-in and week-out, involved in the main-event scene of Smackdown for the past couple of months in some form of way. Sure, the World title has a lot to do with me imagining Edge as the 'face' of Smackdown, but it has to be noted that the crowd reaction Edge draws, the presence that he has, main-eventing against Ziggler, defending his title, cutting promos, embarrassing Vickie -- all of these allude to Edge leaving the presence that he IS the current face of Smackdown.

So yeah, Edge is the face of Smackdown in my book.

 

[Avitus25]

Like many of you guys have said, it mainly comes down to the fact that Edge has been there every week over the past few months and can be relied upon to put on better performances on a more regular basis. He's great on the stick, his current face run is fresh and interesting in relation to what he's been doing in the past, and I think he really SHOULD be pushed by the WWE as the face of smackdown.

However, I think that regardless of how WWE pushes it, The Undertaker still has to be considered the face of the brand. Over the past 7 or so years, the Undertaker has pretty much been the ONLY superstar not to have jumped back and forth between brands like Edge or Mysterio (at least the only one who is currently on Smackdown, I know that Cena and Orton have been pretty stable). The Undertaker's legend and popularity is such that simply by being part of the Smackdown roster, without having to appear that often, or without having to be champion, he is just the face of the brand, and I think the WWE'll find it VERY hard to replace him with anyone else until he hangs up his boots.

 

[Zangash]

Currently, it's Edge. No doubt about it. How can you be the face when you're not even there?

That being said, Edge is on his way out and will tell anyone willing to listen. When he heads out, it'll be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Boondocks]

I definately think it is Edge. With that in mind, Edge and Undertaker ar both bad picks for this, taking into consideration that both are aging, and within 3 years, will both be gone. But right now, it's Edge. He is the champion, Undertaker is not. He is on the show week by week, Undertaker is not. And lastly, he has been in WWETV for the past year. All points shown say that Edge is face of SmackDown! over The Undertaker. But when they both leave...this will be a MUCH more entertaining and interesting topic.

 

[AK2V8]

Edge is deffinately the CURRENT face of Smackdown. Undertaker is certainly the LEGEND of Smackdown. There have been many faces of Smackdown in Eddie Gurrerro (2004-2005), Batista (2005-2007). Undertaker has always been a consistent pop of the night, but never the main man of the show.

 

[Xemmy]

Edge is the face of Smackdown at this point. The problem is that, as long as Undertaker's lurking, it won't really be HIS show. The Undertaker and Cena are really the only guys in the company that you look at and think, ok this guy's red, and that other guy is blue. You saw it on the Bragging Rights poster last year. While Edge is the guy that's out there, running the top of the card, the Undertaker's legacy on the blue brand is so big at this point that, until he retires it's going to be "The Undertaker Show". Edge maybe running things in the main event, but Taker still gets the biggest pop and has his face plastered all over the intro.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Well, it's unanimous, isn't it? Edge by a landslide.

The thing is, being the face of a brand requires loads of personality; and it can hardly be said that Undertaker has one. 'Taker's speeches concern only himself and the opponent he's about to face; that's all. Consider what John Cena covered when he spoke last night. Sure, he addressed The Rock and The Miz; but he also mentioned the fans in the arena, the Texas Rangers, Fruity Pebbles and the entire WWE Universe.

Edge, too, throws in references to things other than his upcoming opponent. His moods range from happiness, outrage, inspiration and anger. He has a personality you can either love or hate.....and he can take the crowd wherever he wants them to go. This can't be said of Undertaker. Last Friday, did he talk about Kane, what happened to Paul Bearer, or who won the Super Bowl? No, he spoke only of Triple H. Yeah, he's focused, but that will never qualify him as the face of Smackdown. He doesn't have different moods like Edge; 'Taker has only one mood..... talk about one dimensional!

Plus, as has been mentioned, he's not around nearly enough for the Smackdown brand to rally around him as their face.

Years ago, when Owen Hart died, the entire roster came out to stand in silence as a tribute, remember? Yet, Undertaker was left backstage because his standing at attention to honor a fallen comrade would have been so out of character that the company wisely chose to avoid it.

'Taker is great, but no one who is cast as the ultimate loner can ever be the face of an organization.

 

[iwinulose]

edge is good dont get me wrong, he is an awesome in-ring performer, he is awesome. the undertaker, he is easily my favorite wrestler of all time (aside from STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN), he has done alot in his years in the wwe. maybe he hasnt been champion as many times as edge (though his undeafeated streak makes up for that and is probly worth more then numerous world title runs), but undertaker is still arguably the biggest name in wwe. i have to vote for undertaker, sorry edge, your close, but no cigar.