Has The Undertaker's Streak Become A Parody Of Itself?

[asiatic7]

Hey, how is everyone? It's been a good while since I posted or commented anything...but here we go.

I want to start off by saying that I'm a huge Undertaker fan.(I even loved the Ministry and American Badass incarnations that everyone seems to hate) I think he is the cornerstone of the WWE roster and probably the most successful wrestler as far as longevity. No one has wrestled as long as 'taker in one company with so much success (23 years, that's longer than most of you ham and eggers been alive!).

But, to get to the point...Does anyone else think that the "streak" is just a parody of itself? I think after 20 wins he should have been done. 20 is a solid even number and that would have been a perfect way to end his career. Let's face it, Undertaker is only working match a year so what's the point? Everyone knows that the streak is never going to be broken. And IF The streak just so happens to end, it has to be against someone the WWE is looking to put a lot of stock into for the next 10 or 20 years... anyone on the roster now deserving of that prestigious honor?

I think when someone shells out $60 dollars for a 'mania PPV, there should be some unpredictabiltiy to it. Besides this last 'mania being the most predictable ever, what is the point of an Undertaker match if you know he's going to win?

Also, when was the last time you personally thought the 'taker had a chance of losing at 'mania?

 

[The Dragon Saga]

But it's a guaranteed good match. Taker continually comes back and proves any naysayers he may have wrong. And last Sunday those who said that he needed to be "carried" or a stipulation to have a good match were proved wrong and he was shown the respect by those in attendance for it. After he'd won, stood up and looked out into the crowd he was very clearly humbled by the reception, at least to me and I know others agree with me Taker realized how much the fans still love him and want to see him.

It's an attraction. An attraction at a spectacle. I'm not too caring for surprises or other shit anyway, so when I ordered WrestleMania all I wanted was good wrestling and from the bottom to the top of the card (exempting Henry/Ryback which disappointed me) I was satisfied, overly satisfied by Taker and Punk's performance which stole the show. Something Taker does time-and-time again. So for me the positives of having Taker come in and do one match a year outweigh the negatives.

Plus the older he gets the more people will flock to see what could always be Taker's "last ride". I've seen it said by countless people that experiencing Taker's entrance alone at 'Mania is something not just great in wrestling but great in life itself.

As for the last time I thought someone could potentially end The Streak, I'd have to say Michaels at 25 although I was never too certain, but most definitely Orton at 21 because that was going to be the plan but Orton is said to have rejected it out of respect. Will anyone ever end it? Maybe. But you can't just set someone up to do it. It has to be someone on the cusp of being the next big star in the business.

 

[Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D.]

As long as Deadman keeps delivering these high quality matches, The Streak remains awesome and exciting.

 

[HBsam31]

Good match match or not it is going to begin to get watered down. Taker only wrestling once a year has to make the streak mean a little less. I do have to say that last year with the sweet chin music pedigree combo that I thought he was going to lose. This year I knew there was no way of him losing. It is just losing a bit of its luster for me. It is an attraction I know, and I know my opinion is not going to be popular, but I think the streak needs to end. It is just to great of a tool to get someone way over not to use it. I think 20 is where it should have stopped if it isn't going to end. I understand why they will keep going with it, but as a fan I am starting to lose interest in it.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Good match match or not it is going to begin to get watered down. Taker only wrestling once a year has to make the streak mean a little less. I do have to say that last year with the sweet chin music pedigree combo that I thought he was going to lose. This year I knew there was no way of him losing. It is just losing a bit of its luster for me. It is an attraction I know, and I know my opinion is not going to be popular, but I think the streak needs to end. It is just to great of a tool to get someone way over not to use it. I think 20 is where it should have stopped if it isn't going to end. I understand why they will keep going with it, but as a fan I am starting to lose interest in it.

Means a little more. People haven't seen him wrestle a whole year. People now pay to see a goooooood match and have the Undertaker Mania Streak Experience. That is it. From the whole entrance to the match and 21 and O shining on the titantron in the end, people pay to see it. The streak will never end. And I've reiterated that since WM 21. I really thought Randy was gonna break it but after that WWE just hyping the shit out of it. It's a commodity, marketing tool in itself. For fuck's sake they have DVDs out called the Streak, people who still talk about it ending are on some strong shit.

 

[The Butcher]

I think when someone shells out $60 dollars for a 'mania PPV, there should be some unpredictabiltiy to it. Besides this last 'mania being the most predictable ever, what is the point of an Undertaker match if you know he's going to win?

Also, when was the last time you personally thought the 'taker had a chance of losing at 'mania?

It's not the destination, it's the journey. Thinking otherwise is like saying why live life when you know you're going to die. Plus WrestleMania is an event-- you're not paying $60 for one match. The predictability of the Triple H/Lesnar and Rock/Cena matches would have been far more acceptable if the matches had lived up to the hype.

I was of two minds about The Streak this year, because I thought Punk would have been someone to properly use the honor of breaking it. At the same time, though, I'm an Undertaker mark, so I was happy to see it continue unscathed. At no point was I fully convinced that he'd lose, but I approach every show, be it a televised show or a pay-per-view, as a mark first. I may joke around in the live discussion some weeks, but for the most part I'm watching wrestling to enjoy myself, not to analyze everything. So, ever since The Streak became an acknowledged ordeal, I've kept a reasonable doubt in my mind that WWE just might shock us. They still might. 'Taker looked much more fit and agile at WM than most of us (myself included) expected. The Streak continues, and if the Deadman is willing and able, we'll be treated to another great match next year-- regardless of the outcome.

 

[indikah]

I think you're underestimating the art of storytelling - that's what makes these streak matches so appealing, and it only suits certain superstars who have the audacity, confidence, legacy and ability to truly have the potential to end the streak. Either that or as you said, up and coming future stars (Dean Ambrose would be the perfect candidate to end the streak).

But more than anything else the streak match saved Wrestlemania this year. It also gave CM Punk the opportunity to steal the show - it was essential that he did so because Wrestlemania's never really been his yard. This time it was, and WM 29 will be remembered for the wonderful match these two put on, no matter how predictable.

 

[Thedancingheel]

I can't think of Wrestlemania without the Undertaker defending the Streak. It does seem to make Wrestlemania that ever so more special but The Undertaker is running out of opponents at his level deserving to be in a mania match with him. John Cena is the only one who deserves a crack at the streak in my eyes because he is the top guy in the company and has been for years.

 

[A11oftheLights]

How exactly has it become a parody of itself?

Parody-An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.

Pretty sure the streak does nothing of that

 

[Madeye36]

No, the streak is still a relevant part of wrestlemania & a lot of people still tune in to find out if it's going to continue. I sometimes think people put too much thought into a show. Just sit back & enjoy the action. Everyone says "this was predictable or that was was". Really? So you knew that Triple H wasn't going to win in a hell in a cell even though Taker has a losing record in those matches? And to give a up & comer the honor of ending it? He's career will now be defined by 1 match. That's all he'd ever be known for. He'd now be known as the main eventer & if he isn't ready you've just destroyed his career. Look at Renegade warrior, Goes from rookie to main event to nothing in a couple years. Ambrose may be good but you can't put him in that position.

 

[Judah's Lion]

i'm with Dragon and what looks like to be the majority here. the Streak is not a parody but an attraction. whether we like it or not, Mania has become less about wrestling and more about entertainment over the years. for better or for worse. or a little bit of a mix of both.

the Streak just increases the legend that is the Phenom, the Undertaker, and Mania itself. Taker and the Streak have main evented several Mania events, sometimes with the title on the line and once when it wasn't. and main event or not, the Streak often steals the show.

major props to Dragon for specifically mentioning Taker's entrance for his Streak matches at Mania. they're worth the price of admission alone.

for several years, the Streak wasn't even acknowledged. it was just understood that Taker was successful at Mania, winning his debut match there, winning a WHC there, etc. but once it started building steam, i think it was first hyped at Mania 17 in his (first) match with Triple H. Taker was going in undefeated at Mania and Triple H was going in as the first heel to leave Mania's main event with the world title (Mania 16). since then, trying to end Taker's undefeated streak has become its own storyline every year at the showcase of the immortals.

that said, i've only ever felt there were two threats to Taker's streak: HBK at Mania 25 and Triple H at Mania 28. when HBK put his career on the line at Mania 26, i felt that guaranteed a Taker win. the street fight with Triple H at Mania 27 was very enjoyable, but also seemed like a foregone conclusion to me. but the next year was billed as "the end of an era", and the Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree inside the Hell in a Cell match made me believe that the Streak could and would end, as would the era of the Streak.

Punk/Taker stole the show this year, but i never believed that the Streak was in danger. and at this point, i think it should end at 25-0.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'm not seeing where the OP is coming from at all. Like a lot of other fans, I think the OP is putting too much stock in unpredictability. Don't get me wrong, sometimes being too predictable is detrimental, as it did bring down WrestleMania in the eyes of many this year. The streak isn't necessarily about unpredictability, it's ultimately about telling a story.

When you sacrifice storytelling for something unpredictable, you often wind up with pretty forgettable moments & matches in wrestling. While both can be brought into play of course, you have to look at how the streak has ultimately morphed over the years. The streak has ultimately become a HUGE deal at WrestleMania. Why? Because wrestling fans themselves have made it a huge deal. They've become emotionally & personally invested in the streak and they want to see what happens. I think most fans believe deep down that the streak won't be ended, but there's a lot of money to be made in convincing them that it MIGHT end. Why do you think Taker's matches have become such a huge focal point of WrestleMania, especially over the course of the past 6 or 7 years?

Fans respect The Undertaker. From your more casual fan to your hardest of hardcore smarks, Taker is someone that people like to like. People respect him for his professionalism, his work ethic, his heart and his outright love for the business. In this day and age, you can sometimes come across articles of interviews in which people discuss Taker and people always say glowing things about him as a person and a professional. Fans also know that The Undertaker is someone who is truly among the last of a dying breed. Many fans, including myself, grew up watching him as kids and it's amazing that he's still not only relevant today, but can still deliver top notch performances. Taker wrestling only once a year and making only a handful of appearances altogether makes his presence feel memorable, especially since most know that it's probably not going to last too many more years.

At this point in time, if anything made the streak seem like a parody of itself, it would be if you put Taker up against the likes of Brodus Clay or Santino Marella. Fans don't see the streak as meaningless, nor does WWE, which is why it is always given the royal treatment at WrestleMania. For the past 5 or 6 WrestleManias, you'd be hard pressed to find another wrestling match in any company at any given time of the year that is able to tell a story half as good as the streak match can.

As long as Taker is able to physically put out a great match and as long as he wants to keep doing it, the streak will go on. As long as the streak goes on, it'll be relevant for the fans. As long as it's relevant for the fans, it'll make big money for WWE.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

Not in the least bit. Taker's matches aren't about unpredictability anymore they're about great storytelling. His matches steal the show year in and year out because they are an attraction that people look forward to as well as Taker still being able to put on a great match. The last time I thought the streak would end was against Batista at 23. Although I kind of hoped they'd let Punk do it I was still pretty sure that Taker was going to win. The Punk fan in me was slightly disappointed but the Taker fan in me was happy.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Let's face it, Undertaker is only working match a year so what's the point?

Only Mark Calaway and the company know the reasons for sure, but I suspect he would be happy to retire and WWE keeps asking him to come back. For a few years, they probably wanted it the way things have traditionally been done in WWE; for him to work a full schedule, or some semblance thereof. But when they saw he was ready to call it quits......and rules were being broken for other performers..... they decided having Undertaker appear once a year at the biggest PPV was better than not having him at all.

The Streak is the factor that makes the whole thing feasible. For him to come back just once a year might not be enough to draw folks to buy the PPV, but the streak adds an element of excitement and uncertainty that makes it worthwhile to pay the guy whatever is necessary to reel him in.

Mark Calaway himself might have two motives for his annual appearance: (1) Money, for sure (2) Loyalty to the company that made it financially possible for him to even consider full retirement at his relatively young age. Do you think any of us will be able to retire at 48?

Coming into WM29, Calaway looked better than I expected.....and he came out the same way. This is encouraging, as far as future appearances.

But, yes.....it's all contingent on the Streak continuing. Perhaps in his last match ever, he'll lose. After all, we won't know in advance that it's his last match, so the uncertainty factor remains. But I wouldn't bet on him losing.....ever.

 

[GameOver]

The streak as been said is the main match that sells WrestleMania every year, how does that make it a joke? Maybe people continue to thrive on it not cause they know there's a 99% chance he's gonna win but there's a 1% chance that he wont and you want to be there when it happens.

for the last 6yrs the Streak match has been the best match on the card, basically the only match that is pure wrestling and a simple to digest storyline that anyone can invest in and to paraphrase a great WrestleMania promo which sums it up

Upon the examination of space, Images begin to appear
Images of strange and powerfull forces
But of all the forces in the universe, the two most powerfull
UNdertaker AND!!! The Streak
Man vs Man, Honor vs Honor

It's the Ultimate Challenge, It's WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!!!

 

[Pedigree1]

We all know the streak happened by accident it wasnt by design at all. First time i remember it being a big deal was WM17 when he took on Trips for the first time. No i dont think the streak is a parody at all. It is indeed a Journey not a sprint or a marathon.


Yes Punk deserved the Honor of breaking it but no one on these boards thought for one second taker was going to lose. IF the streak was gonna end,the first time i thought it was in serious jeopardy was WM25. Shawn Michaels and Taker had a match worthy of being talked about 50 years from now. Amazing match and Shawn brought it to taker. I honestly thought this is it the streak is going to end. But no the streak is a Journey,hell they have a DVD talking about it!

 

[ProWrestlingFan]

Yes. The streak is pointless. Every year its the same buildup with the same result everybody knows (Undertaker wins).

Also, when was the last time you personally thought the 'taker had a chance of losing at 'mania?

Wrestlemania 24 against Edge.

 

[BoasterBrownlow]

I look forward to seeing The Undertaker's matches at WrestleMania. The first WrestleMania I watched was WrestleMania XXIV and since then I've paid for every WWE PPV.

The Undertaker's match against CM Punk this year was good, although I did not feel like Punk posed any threat AT ALL to The Undertaker, but the match still stole the show.

The only time I felt that The Undertakers WrestleMania undefeated streak was in jeopardy was at WrestleMania XXVII against Triple H. When Trips hit the Tombstone Piledriver on Undertaker I was like " ", and when Undertaker kicked out I was like " "!

Anyway, the streak will never die. 22-0 next year!

 

[Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D.]

Now I wanna know who has the honor of facing Undertaker next year. It is an honor now for these young guys. Who is going to bust their ass to work with the living legend at WrestleMania 30?!

 

[VinnieSunshine]

The streak isn't a parody of itself, it just...IS. The streak has become Takers thing; Daniel Bryan has "YES/NO", ADR has "SI", Fandango (now) has his music...Taker has "THE STREAK".

Sad to say, Taker has nothing left. The Punk/Taker build-up was crap, and would've been crap HAD Paul Bearer NOT died. I dont know how WWE would've booked it without Bearer passing. Taker isn't going to wrestle matches, and they waited too long to book it.

*WRITERS NOTE* I believe Punk should've challenged Taker after he lost the WWE Title to The Rock. He should've come out saying "I may have lost the WWE Title, but I want another title. I want...the streak." Or maybe someone else wins RR and challenges Taker for the streak.

With any Taker match, aside form an ACTUAL story from Triple H/Shawn Michael's, there is no story. Everyone knows, even casual fans, that Taker is going to win. No one is breaking the streak...yet. However, someone MIGHT. In the end it's what Mark Calloway and WWE decide.

With Taker only wrestling ONCE per year, the streak has become his gimmick. Mark may still play the Undertaker character and they still might ACT like he is "The Deadman", but the character is a shell of what it used to be.

 

[H33LTurn]

The "streak" isn't the reason the majority of people buy Mania or watch his match. Taker has consistently put on high quality matches at Wrestlemania, regardless of his opponents. Whether the match involves three legends of the industry like last years or was preceded by a lackluster storyline which was only made interesting by a real life death, the matches themselves are spectacular. Theres always the talk of who will end the streak, and although I would be surprised if Taker ever lost at Mania, every time its someone like Punk going against him you never really know.

 

[GameOver]

We all know the streak happened by accident it wasnt by design at all. First time i remember it being a big deal was WM17 when he took on Trips for the first time. No i dont think the streak is a parody at all. It is indeed a Journey not a sprint or a marathon.


Yes Punk deserved the Honor of breaking it but no one on these boards thought for one second taker was going to lose. IF the streak was gonna end,the first time i thought it was in serious jeopardy was WM25. Shawn Michaels and Taker had a match worthy of being talked about 50 years from now. Amazing match and Shawn brought it to taker. I honestly thought this is it the streak is going to end. But no the streak is a Journey,hell they have a DVD talking about it!

So every year that he was told to win was an accident? sure the first 9 were meh opponents for the most part but he was still booked to win that wasn't an accident that was by design.

Now yes it's true prior to WrestleMania 21 the streak was only mentioned in passing not a selling point but the people who grew up watching knew he won every year if you didn't thats your problem.

 

[mojmass]

I don't like the idea of ending the streak on one and i mean virtually on one deserve to end it even if that person is going to be a huge star in the future. we had a lot of people that WWE put huge interest in them at first but later they turned into worthless jobbers. so what will happen if someone beat the streak and then they lose interest in him?
you can't trust anyone.
remember two years ago when cm punk started his feud with john cena over WWE title he almost left the company to join tna how can you let a person (or people like this) beat 23 years of solid experience and the most attractive and the most popular thing in your business.
Beating the streak is more than anyone can chew.

 

[JASONIGHTMARE]

Are you people for real? Majority of fans are boooored and fed up . Its boring as hell for the pathetic awful slow paced out of shape beer belly flabbin, leather claddin, mascara wearin Mark Callaway to finally hung up his attire. If GOLDBERG had his streak ended by NASH why not someone worth it like C.M. PUNK? The guy had the title and was the longest reigning champion ever and have him job to underfaker? Please. I hope CM Punk take a permanent vacation and ends up IN TNA the way he was so misused and thrown out of the title picture to make crybaby john semen happy with his brand new toy he can show off geeeez. If STING ever fought underfaker he would have to win he won't job to him he said it. That is one of the reasons why he is a LEGEND

 

[JASONIGHTMARE]

STING would have to help underfaker and carry him through the match It's probably for the best because Sting isn't at a point where he can work a good match, and Undertaker needs all kinds of help, so that dream match could have been a nightmare.