How should the WWE set up the Undertaker send-off?

[CM Steel]

The legendary Undertaker is coming to the final days of his career in wrestling. After the infamous streak being broken by Brock Lesner at Wrestlemania 30 it's very likely that the Undertaker will retire within next year. The epic match-up between the Undertaker and Sting has no purpose now. Unless the WWE sets up the match between the two legends at either Summerslam or Survivor Series of this year with the Undertaker going over Sting to redeem his big lose at Wrestlemania 30 with a victory over the Icon Sting. Or even hold the match off until Wrestlemania 31 in the Bay Area. With the Undertaker retiring the night after WM on RAW much like how Ric Flair's "retirement" send-off went. The whole Wrestlemania weekend should center around the Undertaker much like the same thing six years earlier with Ric Flair.

What do you think and how would you set up the Undertaker's retirement send-off?

 

[rge2010]

I think Taker should get his send off at Survivor Series. The place where it all started 24 years ago. I suppose Cena, Sting and Kane are all front runners.

No point Taker returning to Wrestlemania now until his HOF induction and he can appear but having a match at Mania makes little sense considering he finally lost to Lesnar.

 

[THE CEREBRAL Viper 1986]

i say let him retire in 1 of his trademark matches i for would love to see him retire in a casket match against bray wyatt perfect way for taker to get his sendoff and also a perfect way for bray wyatt to be solidified in the ME picture

 

[Un-Bo-Lievable Jeff]

I think it would be good to have a match huilt up that the Undertake is past it. He has nothing left and then he has a match at say 'Summerslam' although if it could be kept to Mania then I would do that.

Whatever the match, it turns into a situation similar to the casket match when 7-8 guys came out to stop Undertaker. Can't remember the exact match. Against the odds, Taker pulls of the win and the ring is cleared with Taker still completely out in the ring.

Suddenly the lights go out and the Gong hits. The smoke appears and the blue lights come. The druids come out pushing a casket down to the ring, carry Taker and put him in the casket. They push it back up the ramp, when the lightning bolt hits the casket and it falls apart, showing the Undertaker is gone. No explanation, no ending speech as Taker, just gone.

There is the option he appears as himself rather than his character, on Raw the next night just as a thank you to the fans and a chance to say goodbye.

 

[BenChillin]

Undertaker will be milked many Wrestlemania's to come. If we get a last match, it WILL be at Wrestlemania. Then we'll have the hall of fame induction a year later.

Keep that legacy going.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Taker's always been someone that's always stayed in character when he's been on screen, so I always figured they'd have him go out in a similar means. Even though I'd never expected the streak to end, the scenario I always pictured if it did simply involved Taker lying in the ring a beaten, broken man. As he's lying in the ring unconscious, the gong hits and out come the druids wearing their robes & carrying lit torches. They weren't wearing their hoods, but rather they had their faces painted in a way in which you couldn't see their faces, maybe black with a number of fictional occult symbols painted in red or white to contrast with the dark paint. While most are carrying torches, a few could be carrying his duster or one of his various cloaks. The druids surround the ring with torches while a few of then enter the ring and spread Taker's cloak, or duster, or whatever over his prone body.

As this happens, the "chanting" begins but I thought it'd be cool if WWE had some of the Divas dressed in some sort of strange outfits, like some sort of pagan priestesses/warriors, that could conceal their identities with masks and or ritual paintings. The chanting that's being played are recorded female voices with one of these "priestesses" being Michelle McCool in disguise, though her outfit marks her as maybe a "high priestess." The priestesses enter the ring and surround Taker and the "chanting" changes into different chants than what was being played as the "high priestess" kneels beside Taker, who's symbolically dead at this point, and lightly cradles his head in her lap.

As this is happening, a few more druids come out from the back with this ornate litter that looks as though it's made of human bones, which it isn't of course and that'd be obvious, with a bed of black satin atop it. The priestesses exit the ring and stand beside the litter as the druids enter the ring and gently move Taker's body out of the ring and onto the litter. The priestesses walk beside the litter, each with a hand resting on it, while a couple of male druids begin slowly pushing it away from the ring. The "high priestess" walks in front of the funeral procession as the thunder & lightning effects are cranked up extremely loud. The other druids follow the procession still bearing torches until they reached the top of the stage where the litter is set atop a trap door that'd lower down underneath the stage. As the litter is lowered, lightning strikes the area around it, creating this sort of wall of flame, though nothing too outrageous or dangerous.

That little scenario sort of put me in mind of the role The Valkyries played in Norse mythology where they'd wander the battlefields to escort fallen warriors who'd died a heroic death to Valhalla, the Viking idea of heaven where the honored dead would fight all day, retire to Odin's great hall by night to eat, drink and fornicate before starting over again the next day. In Taker's case, they were essentially laying the "Lord of Darkness" to rest after having fallen in battle.

 

[MrGameTime]

The people who are saying Taker is done and Lesnar at WM30 was his last match have no idea.

Undertaker had 1 bad match in the last 6 and he's suddenly going to retire? just because the streak has ended dosent mean Taker has finished.

I think we will see Sting vs Taker at WM31 then Taker vs Bray or even Rock at WM32 and then a send off against the top man in the company Cena at WM33.

You think how older Hogan was when he faced of against rock at WM18. Taker will be used a good few more times before hanging up the boots.

 

[IT Factor]

People assume that Taker's WM 30 match was his last simply because "The Streak" was broken. And while I still think that was the wrong decision, I don't think it is the ending that WWE would have envisioned for Taker nor would it be the ending to his career that he or fans wanted. Sting has expressed interest in working Mania against Taker and that would be a more fitting retirement match for him. It'd be a dream match in which Taker wouldn't be pressured into winning just for the sake of keeping the streak intact. Then WWE could promote the next few appearances as Taker's last and it would give him a proper sendoff. Look at what WWE did for the send-offs for Flair and HBK and imagine bigger than that. That would be what I would expect for Taker's farewell and anything less would be insulting to a guy of his legendary status....

 

[laodaron]

This is specifically the ending that he wanted. He planned the match. He choreographed it. He also suffered a concussion and Lesnar had to carry him through it.

He has never shied away from the fact that if he couldn't go any longer, he would never stay in the ring and have a single match past his abilities. He's done, and that's why he chose to lose, with grace. If only all of his fans had that.

Also, Taker will NEVER have the Flair, HBK, Edge, etc. retirement. He believes in the gimmick, the character, and the business. He doesn't do shoot interviews or even very many documentary commentaries. He prefers to be "Undertaker" as much as possible, so coming to the ring and crying for 30 minutes to start out Raw just isn't going to happen.

 

[Mongoose McQueen]

If The Undertaker is indeed done, it was a forgettable way to do it. I still think John Cena vs The Undertaker should happen regardless of The Streak being broken, that match next year at WrestleMania would be epic.

 

[toddmb]

I think he's had his last match already, guys...The guy is beat up and he just looks old out there... I don't want to see another match where he looks like he did this year. Just put him in the hall of fame and pay your respects. He's done his job, he doesn't need to be diving over the ropes for us anymore. I think that may have been his last one, I think he wanted to go out on his back.

 

[kadroan]

The legendary Undertaker is coming to the final days of his career in wrestling. After the infamous streak being broken by Brock Lesner at Wrestlemania 30 it's very likely that the Undertaker will retire within next year. The epic match-up between the Undertaker and Sting has no purpose now. Unless the WWE sets up the match between the two legends at either Summerslam or Survivor Series of this year with the Undertaker going over Sting to redeem his big lose at Wrestlemania 30 with a victory over the Icon Sting. Or even hold the match off until Wrestlemania 31 in the Bay Area. With the Undertaker retiring the night after WM on RAW much like how Ric Flair's "retirement" send-off went. The whole Wrestlemania weekend should center around the Undertaker much like the same thing six years earlier with Ric Flair.

What do you think and how would you set up the Undertaker's retirement send-off?

Interesting idea. Taker vs. Sting is a money making match. I don't think I've seen anybody suggest this but how about a Brock vs. Taker rematch.

It would be an opportunity to redeem himself and if he loses to Brock again, a great way to send him off just like how it was with Shawn Michaels and Taker.

They could hype it as Taker never beating Brock in his career, this may be his last match, he may be the favorite.

 

[MMA Mark]

Bray Wyatt. It would be a travesty if they never had any interaction in my opinion. A Buried Alive match would be a fitting end. Harper and Rowan double chokeslam Taker into the grave and then pull the lever while Bray kneels just outside the grave. Just before they pull the lever though, Taker drags Bray into the grave with him and they are both buried. Eventually Bray somehow digs himself out from the grave and celebrates by playing in the dirt and laughing maniacally.

 

[ShawnBronald]

I think he's had his last match already, guys...The guy is beat up and he just looks old out there... I don't want to see another match where he looks like he did this year. Just put him in the hall of fame and pay your respects. He's done his job, he doesn't need to be diving over the ropes for us anymore. I think that may have been his last one, I think he wanted to go out on his back.

Maybe, maybe not. But one thing so many people fail to recognize is that while Undertaker is, in fact, old, he didn't look bad in his match against Lesnar because of age. He looked terrible because he sustained a severe concussion early on in the match. Go slam your head on the floor really, really hard and try to go about your normal routine and see how you look. I'm guessing you'll appear 'old' as well.

Undertaker is not in the prime of his youth and has obviously lost a step or two the past few years, but I don't believe he's done. I doubt he wants our last memories of 'The Undertaker' character to be that of a stumbling and dazed old timer. He can still give us a decent match (especially with the right opponent). I don't believe he went from giving us great matches with HBK, Triple H and CM Punk to suddenly not being able to stand. That just doesn't happen overnight.

Mark Calaway has too much pride in the character of The Undertaker to go out looking the way he did. He owes it to himself, the character and, most importantly, the fans, to give us (at least) one final match with him at the best he can possibly be. I truly believe we will get Sting vs Undertaker (quite possibly at 'Mania, but who knows) and probably Undertaker vs Cena, Wyatt and/or Reigns before all is said and done. Those guys wrestle a much less physical style than Lesnar and I'm positive with Undertaker's normal planning, they can have a 3.5 star match at the least.

Finally, unless Undertaker suffered some sort of career ending injury, I highly doubt he'd have his last match and no official retirement announcement would be made. Believe me, WWE will milk his official retirement for all it's worth. He maybe even go on a 'farewell' tour. I don't mean wrestling a full schedule, but appearing more frequently to give fans one last chance to see him. There is great money in an illustrious career like Undertaker's ending and WWE will get the most out of it (subscribe to the WWE Network for only $9.99 a month to relive all of your favorite Undertaker memories!!!!).

 

[Catacomb]

not every wrestler needs a big sendoff. if the rock wrestled his last match he didnt get a sendoff, just did the job on the way out, like it should be. same goes with austin. taker losing to brock was the best way to end that character. if wwe had druids come out you might think it would be the setup for takers return, but instead taker just walked away, like so many legends have done before him

 

[HatchetMan84]

I think taker will wrestle again but he is "done" in the sense that he is not going to be "taker". He will be a shell of the man who was once taker. Taker knows nothing else other than wrestling so i wonder if he will be one of the "legends" who come back and wrestle a 5 minute match and get all their signature moves in....in that capacity Taker could still go another 5 or 6 years maybe. As someone else on here said if Bret Hart could come back and "wrestle" so could Taker...

There are alot of rumors that it was Vince who decided to end the streak, and not Taker as some suggested. Apparently Vince saw the shape taker was in and decided this year was the last mania for taker. Taker was rumored to have initially argued with Vince as he felt the streak should continue but was said to have accepted losing with no hard feelings.

Many on here say that taker is a guy who will not hang around past his prime, disrespect his character, etc... It can be argued that Taker has already held on past his prime, but perhaps he didn't really know how far he was gone until this year.

I'm under the impression that at least for the time being the WWE are proceeding with a "wait and see" approach with Taker. Most severe head injuries like taker suffered usually make the most improvement within the first few weeks. I feel like if Taker was in a bad way, we'd hear something about it by now....

 

[laodaron]

Everything he has ever said about retiring was that if he was no longer physically able to perform to the level the fans expect, he would retire immediately. The Undertaker is done, and please stop referring to him as Mark Callaway as if you're his fucking friend and agent speaking for him.

 

[ShowOffHEEL]

I hope Taker has one more match because I want to see him live at 'Mania 31 if I get there.
Him walking through the smoke at the end of his match with Brock was fitting, but I feel like there is something missing. He deserves a final sendoff and the only way I see it happening is maybe at Survivor Series, where it all started, and he can come out, do the pose, leave his hat in the ring and walk away with everybody lining up side by side along the ramp and stage.

That would give me goosebumps and I think that would be a great ending to what I believe is the greatest WWE Superstar of all time.

Put him in the Hall of Fame if 'Mania 32 is in Dallas and have it centered around him.

 

[JJ15776]

I think taker will wrestle again but he is "done" in the sense that he is not going to be "taker". He will be a shell of the man who was once taker. Taker knows nothing else other than wrestling so i wonder if he will be one of the "legends" who come back and wrestle a 5 minute match and get all their signature moves in....in that capacity Taker could still go another 5 or 6 years maybe. As someone else on here said if Bret Hart could come back and "wrestle" so could Taker...

Actually, Undertaker has been doing everything but wrestling for 10-11 months out of the year for the last four years. His interests in real estate are well known. While there are many people who "know nothing else other than wrestling," Undertaker is not one of them. Not even close. He's the furthest from that you can get.

IThere are alot of rumors that it was Vince who decided to end the streak, and not Taker as some suggested. Apparently Vince saw the shape taker was in and decided this year was the last mania for taker. Taker was rumored to have initially argued with Vince as he felt the streak should continue but was said to have accepted losing with no hard feelings.

Heh, no. There was a rumor that Vince made the decision, which was only reported in one place and was contradicted by every other site, but even that rumor said nothing of Taker arguing or disagreeing in any way. The bottom line is it was Undertaker's decision. Vince would've let him go to WrestleMania 40 if he wanted to. We know that because we know Undertaker wanted Brock to end the streak back in 2011, after they had their confrontation at a UFC event that was supposed to lead to a match but didn't. So if Undertaker wanted him to end it then, clearly he would want him to end it now.

IMany on here say that taker is a guy who will not hang around past his prime, disrespect his character, etc... It can be argued that Taker has already held on past his prime, but perhaps he didn't really know how far he was gone until this year.

Nah. This was the first and only match where he was clearly over the hill, and he lost, so he clearly knew he was done. The fact that he was going to lose, and it would be his last match, may well have played a part in the fact that he just wasn't in as good a shape as he's been in previous years. But, again, he hasn't wrestled a match outside of WrestleMania in 4 years. He's only made one appearance on WWE TV outside of WrestleMania season in that time, and that was the 1000th episode of Raw. And there's no indication he ever will again. So clearly we're not talking about a guy who's hanging around and refusing to stop.

II'm under the impression that at least for the time being the WWE are proceeding with a "wait and see" approach with Taker. Most severe head injuries like taker suffered usually make the most improvement within the first few weeks. I feel like if Taker was in a bad way, we'd hear something about it by now....

I'm sure his head is fine...and to be fair, there's really nothing for the WWE to "wait and see," because they know he's done and never wrestling again. That's what he told them sometime in the last year. That's why they set up the match with Brock Lesnar, his hand picked opponent to end the streak and his career.

As for his send off, we do have to remember that he's never going to wrestle again, so any send off will not involve a match. My guess? We already saw his send off. Him walking up the ramp at WrestleMania XXX to a standing ovation from everybody, including the announce teams, was a heck of a send off. IMO, the next and last time we see him will be at next year's HOF ceremony. And that'll be it.

 

[Hem]

I believe that it should end at Survivor Series, sure the Undertaker is known best at WM but they can center the story as Taker will not go out on a loss and he will redeem himself at Survivor Series, the place that the legend was born and that shall be the place where the legend shall rest in piece.

Undertaker wins his match against whoever is the biggest name in wrestling at that time or even Sting as a dream match that puts a stop on two of the biggest careers in pro wrestling history. However I think it'd be fitting if Sting wrestled one more match prior to that match so that his record in WWE isn't simply that of a loss.

The night after Survivor Series there is a "Undertaker Retirement Celebration" where each man he has beaten at WM comes out on the stage and they all do the signiture Undertaker thing by going on their knee like Taker. It ends with Brock Lesnars music hitting at last, he comes out to the ring and goes in and hugs Taker.

You run a Undertaker special on the WWE network for the next two or three days, make the most of his retirement etc.,

He then gets inducted into the hall of fame that year as the leading man and is inducted by Kane or Vince

 

[MMK]

I know in most instances when a guy is retiring he comes out to the ring and says goodbye, but I wouldn't mind if we simply never saw Undertaker ever again until the day he is inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

The loss to Lesnar at Mania was so shocking, if Undertaker were to simply disappear and never be seen in the ring for a few years I think it would add to the mystique of his character.

People would constantly be wondering where he is and is he ever coming back? In fact I don't think they should ever announce that Undertaker is retired UNTIL he is inducted into the Hall Of Fame and that shouldn't happen for a while. Let the character rest in peace, so to speak, for a few years.

 

[TDFG]

Two final matches at Survivor Series & WrestleMania XXXI would be a fitting end but again it's all down to WWE & Undertaker.

Ideally, I'd like to see Undertaker & Sting vs Brock Lesnar & Cesaro at Survivor Series with Sting vs Undertaker at WrestleMania XXXI.

 

[Robbo89]

I think the Undertakers retirement/Send off could be held without the Undertaker even there.

Ive always said his last match should be against his biggest rival.....His brother Kane.
have a story play out where Taker disapproves of Kane's "Corporate" side and says that he wants to beat the suit out of him at survivor series in a buried alive match. And if he cannot do it, then he has nothing left to live for and will retire.

Kane (Who hasnt wrestled since his match at Extreme Rules) agrees to the match and says that he will gladly become the monster one more time just to end his brother once and for all. And once he decimates his brother he shall return to doing whats "best for business"

Survivor Series comes around and its a back and forth match between the two with both looking like they could potentially pull off the victory.

Have Taker win the match but be beaten so badly that he cannot walk (Wrestlemania 27 style) and he "collapses" into the grave....both men are buried in the grave. Both men's in ring careers, and one of the best feuds in WWE history finally over.

The next night on Raw, have the exact same grave site set up with candles and flowers surrounding it and superstars giving their memories of the undertaker through the evening.

Another scenario.....same match and story but If wwe wanted to have Taker make an appearance the next night then possibly have him bursting through the grave and heading to the ring. He could make a speech about all the people he has faced and his time to go back to the underworld has come, he will now finally Rest In Peace before laying down on the mat with his hands across his chest.
Druids come to the ring and carry the Undertaker to the back.