Career Ending Matches

[NathanFantastic]

Before I start, let me say I understand both ends of this debate. I'm not saying anyone is wrong.

We have been hearing alot about the situation between Superstars like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin The Undertaker, HHH, Mick Foley and many more who are getting too old for this new generation of upcoming younger talent.

With this being said, people are debating who the older talent puts over in their end of career matches.

For Example:

The Rock should put over Cena.

The Undertaker should put over Del Rio or Cody Rhodes or whoever is an upcoming star in the streak match at Wrestlemania.

Stone Cold should put over CM Punk.

HHH should put over CM Punk.

Foley should put over Sheamus, Cody Rhodes or other upcoming Talent.

But wouldn't it be a fitting way to have these legends go out in style and victorious? For all they have done in the company and they lose their last ever match, it would be heartbreaking and even though it is their last match, it would be so much better if they had one last win under their belt.

I would love to see Rocky beat Cena at Wrestlemania.

I would love to see Undertaker keep his undefeated streak at Wrestlemania when he retires.

I would love to see Foley win one more match before he hangs up his boots. Same with Austin and HHH.

But this is just one fans opinion..

So go ahead =)

 

[The Future Rises]

I think the legends who have yet to retire should put over younger guys but not in their final match. They should put them over in the final stages of their careers. But still go out in style and victorious in their last match. But some guys who are not selfish like for example Mick Foley actually wanted to put over younger talent. You've seen Mick put over guys like Orton and Edge. Why not do it with a few more young talent before having his last match and hanging up hid boots? It's the best way to go in my opinion.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

I think I'll be in the minority here but I have to say that I agree with you for the most part. I have nothing against an old guy putting over the younger, in fact, it has to happen for WWE to survive BUT if it's a guy's final match, why does he have to lose? There are plenty of other ways to put over a younger guy.

I think it diminishes the guy's whole career if he goes out a loser. If The Rock loses to Cena, all the kids are going to talk about is how The Rock "sucks" and is "overrated" or whatever. No one will talk about his accomplishments or what he meant to the business.

To me, preserving a legendary wrestlers legacy (ie. Undertaker, Rock, Triple H, Stone Cold, etc.) is more important than "passing the torch" when there are so many other ways to "pass the torch" to the next guy.

 

[Rckstrtmmy]

The only one that I think SHOULD lose is The Undertaker. The WWE has done a great job at making the streak a real, tangible thing. Really the streak should be meaningless to Taker because he been on hundreds of PPVs and he's won some and lost some. Winning at WM is awesome but unless it's the main event (since the current top 2 stars at the time are in the main event at WM typically) it shouldn't be such a big deal. I know it speaks to Taker's longevity and what not but the streak ending could really put a heel over in a way never seen before. We've never seen a streak like this and we've never seen it broken. IMO the only reason they make a big deal out of the streak is so someone gets a huge boost when it ends. Just think, if HBK, Edge, Orton and HHH (the only ones I can really remember mentioning wanting to end the streak) couldn't do it, and someone like Del Rio pulls it off it could push him to another stratusphere. In the WWE, there's a payoff for everything they do for the most part. 19-0, 20-0 is great, but 19-1 is still wicked impressive and it also helps the company that has given you so much.

 

[mancpenguin]

The only one that I think SHOULD lose is The Undertaker. The WWE has done a great job at making the streak a real, tangible thing. Really the streak should be meaningless to Taker because he been on hundreds of PPVs and he's won some and lost some. Winning at WM is awesome but unless it's the main event (since the current top 2 stars at the time are in the main event at WM typically) it shouldn't be such a big deal. I know it speaks to Taker's longevity and what not but the streak ending could really put a heel over in a way never seen before. We've never seen a streak like this and we've never seen it broken. IMO the only reason they make a big deal out of the streak is so someone gets a huge boost when it ends. Just think, if HBK, Edge, Orton and HHH (the only ones I can really remember mentioning wanting to end the streak) couldn't do it, and someone like Del Rio pulls it off it could push him to another stratusphere. In the WWE, there's a payoff for everything they do for the most part. 19-0, 20-0 is great, but 19-1 is still wicked impressive and it also helps the company that has given you so much.

Del Rio ? Really ? Really ? Del Rio ? I understand your point that if a bunch of legends such as HBK couldn't do it then it would look impressive. It'd be the biggest shock in Wrestlemania history. I don't think it should happen though. The reason is the victory would be the only amazing thing someone like Del Rio has ever done and if anything it'll pull his career down as everything else he does after won't be half as good or as important. Even winning the World title won't seem such a big deal after ending the streak. In my own view The Taker should have one last great Wrestlemania match and retire unbeaten at Wrestlemania. I can't think of anyone big enough to handle the burden of having beating him.

Except one man - John Cena. Think how much he would be booed if he was to do what nobody else could do and beat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Of course this will never happen since he's facing The Rock next year.

 

[RATED R CHAMPION]

YOU DONT HAVE TO LOSE TO PUT OVER SOMEBODY, LEGENDS SHOULD PUT YOUNGER STARS OVER FOR THE GOOD WELL BEING OF THE INDUSTRY, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, BUT NO, LEGENDS LIKE TAKER OR TRIPLE H SHOULD LOSE IN THEIR FINAL MATCH.

IT WAS HBK WHO LOST HIS FINAL MATCH, BUT HE'S SHAWN MICHAELS, HE LOSSES AND LOOKS LIKE HE WON, THAT'S HOW GOOD HE IS.

 

[Rckstrtmmy]

Del Rio ? Really ? Really ? Del Rio ? I understand your point that if a bunch of legends such as HBK couldn't do it then it would look impressive. It'd be the biggest shock in Wrestlemania history. I don't think it should happen though. The reason is the victory would be the only amazing thing someone like Del Rio has ever done and if anything it'll pull his career down as everything else he does after won't be half as good or as important. Even winning the World title won't seem such a big deal after ending the streak. In my own view The Taker should have one last great Wrestlemania match and retire unbeaten at Wrestlemania. I can't think of anyone big enough to handle the burden of having beating him.

Except one man - John Cena. Think how much he would be booed if he was to do what nobody else could do and beat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Of course this will never happen since he's facing The Rock next year.

I said someone LIKE Del Rio...he was only an example. What I meant was a young, upcoming heel. Out of the batch we have right now, I could see it being Del Rio, The Miz, Cody Rhodes, or Wade Barrett. But who knows when Taker will actually retire given that he only wrestles like 3 times a year. He could do this for another 5 years with his limited schedule. There were reports the Taker wanted someone (can't remember who) to end his streak back in the day. Taker knows how the business works and he has alot of respect for it so I think him putting someone over on his way out would be more important to him then the streak ever was.

 

[Fisheatppl]

There is a rule, and I honestly can't remember exactly how it goes, but it says "You don't go out on top". HBK lost, Bret Hart lost, I honestly can't remember how Austin went out because he hung around so long afterwards, but I believe he lost. Rock lost and will lose. Jericho lost (the best exit ever in my opinion against John Cena in 2005). Batista lost. You lose, its how you show A: You've given your all, and B: The young talent is ready to take over.

Sure there are special cases. Edge won, at Wrestlemania no less. But he didn't voluntarily retire. And actually, its kind of fitting for him of all people, but still if it was planned he was done he would have dropped the title to Del Rio.

Its the business, its how it goes, and if you're lucky enough, you'll be good enough to lose on your way out.

Taker will probably be the only one to win, and thats just because his last match will probably be at Wrestlemania. And he won't lose. The streak is too big now. You can't have somone like Cena or HHH win, its meaningless to them. And you can't use it to put someone over, its too big of a burden. If you don't live up after that you're really screwed. You can't place that on someone unproven.

 

[I_Am_Electro_Boy]

I have mixed feelings on this. On the one hand a guy shouldn't have to lose on his last match as it's the final time that they're going to preform in the ring and you want to win that match to leave on a high. Also what says that it's going to help the other guy's career as he could screw it up so basically it could be making a guy lose on his last match for nothing. On the other hand it's only a match. If they've had a good enough career people will forget that he lost in his last match and remember how good of a career he's had. Also it might actually accelerate a man's career so he becomes a legend and makes the company money. To be honest I can't pick either way.

 

[maxparrott]

There is a rule, and I honestly can't remember exactly how it goes, but it says "You don't go out on top". HBK lost, Bret Hart lost, I honestly can't remember how Austin went out because he hung around so long afterwards, but I believe he lost. Rock lost and will lose. Jericho lost (the best exit ever in my opinion against John Cena in 2005). Batista lost. You lose, its how you show A: You've given your all, and B: The young talent is ready to take over.

The rule is "You go out on your back". The whole point of it is to put new talent over. Pro-wrestlers would see it as a show of respect for the business. Giving back to something that has given them so much. I'm sure alot of the older guys would take this pretty seriously. Somebody like Undertaker is known to be a locker-room leader. Every pro-wrestler you hear talk about him has a huge amount of respect for what he's given to the business. I have a feeling he'll want to lose his final match. Maybe it just won't be at Wrestlemania....

 

[vthokie8]

I think it all depends on two factors A) How it is booked and B) If it really is the superstars final match.

For example A) Michaels losing his final match to Taker at Mania was booked perfectly. He had a hell of a match, he fought his heart out he just happened to lose. Shawn Michaels always had a never say die attitude and the match was booked to reflect that, he didn't go out like a punk and the end of the show was him getting applauded. Now the negative of this example would be Goldberg/Lesnar. Lesnar was on his way out of the business to pursue other things, Goldberg although a WCW guy, was a legend. The match was a mess to begin with, then to have him be punked on his way out was even worse. I think it is sad when we look back at his last match this has to be it.

As far as B goes, look at all of the people who have had their "last match" only to come back or show up in another company a couple of months later. I thought Ric Flair's last match in WWE was booked great. The whole "lose and you're gone" angle was nice and to culminate it at Mania against someone the calibur of Shawn Michaels was great. Although he lost, he went out with dignity on the biggest stage in wrestling. Then he shows up in TNA and has to wear a shirt to wrestle because his body hasn't held up. It is sad, someone who I loved as a kid and is one of the greatest of all time doing this to his legacy. Same goes for Hogan. I personally think Wrestle Mania 18 should have been his final match. What a perfect way to have went out, his career really had come full circle at this point and it would have been the perfect send off. I even argue Savage losing at Mania VII could have been his final match and it wouldn't have been a bad thing. If my last memories of Savage in the ring was this match, that would have been alright with me. I thought he was great on commentary and should have stayed in that spot. Instead, we had to see him as the #2 or #4 in the nWo and the whole "Madness" thing.

As far as guys now are concerned, I will break it down. If Taker were to lose at Mania, I think Cena would be the only logical choice. Cena is a garuntee to stay with the company, imagine booking Taker to lose to say Del Rio, Del Rio leaves and goes to TNA, now the competition has "the guy who did what Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Randy Orton and tons of others couldn't do" on their roster. I think Cena beating Taker would get him heat if you wanted to push him as a heel, and piss off all the "Super Cena" haters. Not only that, it would propel Cena to even greater heights as a character. If this doesn't happen I think Taker's final Mania match should be against Mick Foley, Triple H or Kane. There would be no reason to make his send off against a young guy and there are hardly any guys left on the roster that Taker fueded with hard during his run. I think Rock will put over Cena at Mania, I can't really see that going any other way, Rock is not going to commit to a long term wrestling deal and if he would win it makes WWE's main attraction look weak. Austin shouldn't wrestle again, he is a medical risk and there is nobody on the current roster I feel that would gain anything by being put over by him except maybe Punk. Triple H should go full on heel in this new role, and put over a new face. WWE is lacking big name faces right now aside from Cena and Orton and maybe Rey. Triple H putting over a guy would automatically project him to star level. I would love to see him put over a face Miz. I think it would make sense to have him abuse his power, Miz steps up and challenges his decisions and they have a match at Mania.

 

[mikde_]

Like many have said, its kind of a unwritten rule that 'The older guy should put over the younger guy' and for the most part i totally agree. As for taker and his streak, i just dont see the point in him losing to someone because quite frankly its been built up for far too long and sure if he did lose to someone like ADR (just a example), sure he would be huge for a while but like everything...the heat will die down, he will have a loss here and there and after so long it will only be a line on his list of achievements. Im not even a taker fan! but i think if he was to lose then it should be to someone like cena...why? because id love to see the taker fanboys and cena haters blow a fuse! muhahaha

 

[whoopin' ass]

in order for it to actually mean anything, it needs to be the career ending match maning they will never wrestle again period. Foley retired over a decade ago but has still wrestled since - would a career ending match really mean anything now? unless it is something where it is the last match, and it is built up properly, the match is a waste.

i don't think career ending matches need to be used as a way to get someone new over - the wrestlers should be doing that all along. Use Taker as an example - if the streak were to end, whoever did it would be given a push like you can not believe since he beat Taker at Mania. who do you give that to who can live up to the hype afterwards? Taker could retire undefeated at Mania and it wouldn't hurt anyone IF he was helping to put guys over now. problem is guys don't do that. that whole idea of just being in the ring with an Undertaker or HHH is getting them over is complete bs - Kidman beat Hogan, no one cared. you need to show that the person you are against is in your league and is capable of beating you but usually that isn't what happens. imagine of someone like Del Rio called out Taker now and between now and Mania, he beat Taker a few times - start out by cheating to win, then getting a legit win around Royal Rumble. he starts feeling cocky and challenges Taker to a match at Mania where if he wins, Taker retires. they could go out there, have a hell of a match and Taker gets a tombstone out of nowhere for the win - he wins the match and Del Rio gets over like crazy because he had a great feud with Taker. you don't need the career ending match but it could be the icing on the cake.

in the end, it all depends on the setup and how it is done. to suddenly pull it out of thin air and try to use it to sell a match isn't a great idea and usually doesn't help anyone.

 

[Aaronliveshere]

One more match and how they go out are 2 different things. Pre-TNA, no one felt less about Ric Flair because he lost his "last match" to HBK. Now I do agree that most vets should put over younger guys on their way out the door, but they can put on a good showing without losing.
I know this isn't a last match...but watch John Cena's debut. Kurt Angel makes Cena look GREAT!!! There is no reason that any vet couldn't do something similar to give a rub to a younger guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybIeYAepGPg

Just to throw in my 2 cents..Undertaker will retire undefeated at Wrestlemania..whenever that time comes

 

[mancpenguin]

I said someone LIKE Del Rio...he was only an example. What I meant was a young, upcoming heel. Out of the batch we have right now, I could see it being Del Rio, The Miz, Cody Rhodes, or Wade Barrett. But who knows when Taker will actually retire given that he only wrestles like 3 times a year. He could do this for another 5 years with his limited schedule. There were reports the Taker wanted someone (can't remember who) to end his streak back in the day. Taker knows how the business works and he has alot of respect for it so I think him putting someone over on his way out would be more important to him then the streak ever was.

I see what you mean - it could indeed be the making of someones career but then they would have to keep pushing this person on and on - for example they would have to win the World title shortly after Mania. I think Cena is the only person who could do it though - the smart fans would have yet another reason to hate him and the kids would love him even more. He'd be the guy who ended the steak and I don't think his career would be choked up by it given the other legends he has defeated at Wrestlemania. I'm not even a John Cena fan but I think it'd make sense.

 

[Rckstrtmmy]

I see what you mean - it could indeed be the making of someones career but then they would have to keep pushing this person on and on - for example they would have to win the World title shortly after Mania. I think Cena is the only person who could do it though - the smart fans would have yet another reason to hate him and the kids would love him even more. He'd be the guy who ended the steak and I don't think his career would be choked up by it given the other legends he has defeated at Wrestlemania. I'm not even a John Cena fan but I think it'd make sense.

Sure Cena makes sense but he doesn't need anymore help, especially after The Rock puts him over at WM 28. Plus he's already the 11 time WWE champ. But if someone like The Miz does it, it could solidify him as the next face of the company which is what WWE is hoping for. I'd say do it in a couple years after the Miz makes a big face turn and gets himself really over with the crowd. Have the Miz respectfully take on Taker and win a 5 star match. Undertaker does his service, the streak has it's payoff and the Miz shoots off like a rocket. It make more sense than Cena.

 

[mancpenguin]

Sure Cena makes sense but he doesn't need anymore help, especially after The Rock puts him over at WM 28. Plus he's already the 11 time WWE champ. But if someone like The Miz does it, it could solidify him as the next face of the company which is what WWE is hoping for. I'd say do it in a couple years after the Miz makes a big face turn and gets himself really over with the crowd. Have the Miz respectfully take on Taker and win a 5 star match. Undertaker does his service, the streak has it's payoff and the Miz shoots off like a rocket. It make more sense than Cena.

True it could indeed make someone the face of the company. I guess it all depends how much faith the WWE has in that person.

For the record I doubt highly anyone will ever beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Given the history and the fact it will never, ever be done again.