Wrestlemania is an event where no man is above passing the torch. And when I say pass the torch it doesnt have to be because a retirement is approaching, but just to give the rub to someone who is ready to take his already superstar career to the next level. Here is the question in this thread: Is The Undertaker above this? Is The Undertaker ABOVE Wrestlemania itself?
I remember a thread not too long ago asking if it werent for the streak, how many Wrestlemania matches would Taker have lost. I think we all have our own opinions, but for me, the most Wrestlemania passing of the torch atmosphere where he should have lost was to Batista. Thats just one mans opinion. Im sure other people may think Randy Orton, or Edge, but to me, Taker going over Batista with the momentum Batista had, and the way they match up, was the ultimate sign that Taker may be bigger than Wrestlemania. I just think his match with Batista had the most old school passing of the torch atmosphere like the below mentioned epic mania matches.
Here are some examples to further clarify what I mean. Wrestlemania 3. Andre The Giant ALSO had a streak. A 15 year streak of being undefeated. But he was not above passing the torch to Hulk Hogan, and in doing that, taking the already superstar that was Hulk Hogan, into a MEGA superstar at the sacrifice of HIS streak.
Wrestlemania 6. Hulk Hogan never losing at Wrestlemania was the unbeatable babyface champion for years leading up to his match with The Ultimate Warrior. But not even the immortal biggest babyface of all time, Hulk Hogan, was above passing the torch to Ultimate Warrior making the already superstar Ultimate Warrior into a MEGA superstar.
Wrestlemania 12. Bret Hart being the face of the WWE for the past three years .the leader of the new generation, was not above passing the torch to a man he hated, Shawn Michaels, making the superstar Shawn Michaels, more than just a superstar and more than just the new champion, but the new face of the new generation.
Wrestlemania 14. Shawn Michaels not laying down for anybody, the face of the new generation for the past few couple years leading up to his match against Stone Cold was not above passing the torch to Austin, taking the superstar Austin and turning him into the new face of the new generation, ultimately the attitude era.
After this, the torch never fully rested on anybody. I mean, everybody had a major Wrestlemania loss. Austin did not main event as many manias as you may think, but if you count Rock vs. Austin III as a main event, that was his big mania job. Rock had many big mania jobs. HHH did big mania jobs to Batista, Benoit, etc its clear through history that nobody is above a big mania job EXCEPT The Undertaker.
Batista going over Taker (Or whoever you think should have went over Taker) would have took him from superstar to our generations version of a megastar, maybe even the same level as John Cena as far as the face of the company. Just because Taker isnt retiring and will still be in future Wrestlemanias shouldnt mean he cant job until he is ready to retire (and even THAT isnt guaranteed). With the exception of HBKs huge loss to Austin, nobody knew for a fact they were about to step down but they were still forced to pass the torch. Why cant Taker be forced to pass the torch? It seems like the WWE is treating Takers undefeated streak like an NFL season. With Wrestlemanias being more like weeks instead of the Superbowl .as if seeing how many consecutive weeks he can win like the Patriots. But in reality, that is not what Wrestlemania is founded on. Every Wrestlemania is supposed to be epic. And you mean to tell me that not one of those Wrestlemanias, I.E. Wrestlemania 23 against Batista, was epic enough to see the streak end? The only reason for that, and the only reason for Taker being above what no one else is above, is that somewhere along the way, The Undertaker character is booked as something NOBODY has ever been: ABOVE Wrestlemania. Hogan, Bret, HBK, Austin, Rock, HHH .NOBODY has been booked as being above Mania .but I have come to the conclusion that Taker is ABOVE Wrestlemania. While I respect the streak, I cant help but having a problem with somebody being above Wrestlemania, particularly when he SHOULD have lost one or two of those matches from a torch passing standpoint as well as a how they match up standpoint <cough> Batista <cough>.
So I guess the question is, do you think The Undertaker is ABOVE Wrestlemania, and is he the ONLY person above Wrestlemania ever? Personally, I believe the answers to both of those questions is YES.
I remember a thread not too long ago asking if it werent for the streak, how many Wrestlemania matches would Taker have lost. I think we all have our own opinions, but for me, the most Wrestlemania passing of the torch atmosphere where he should have lost was to Batista. Thats just one mans opinion. Im sure other people may think Randy Orton, or Edge, but to me, Taker going over Batista with the momentum Batista had, and the way they match up, was the ultimate sign that Taker may be bigger than Wrestlemania. I just think his match with Batista had the most old school passing of the torch atmosphere like the below mentioned epic mania matches.
Here are some examples to further clarify what I mean. Wrestlemania 3. Andre The Giant ALSO had a streak. A 15 year streak of being undefeated. But he was not above passing the torch to Hulk Hogan, and in doing that, taking the already superstar that was Hulk Hogan, into a MEGA superstar at the sacrifice of HIS streak.
Wrestlemania 6. Hulk Hogan never losing at Wrestlemania was the unbeatable babyface champion for years leading up to his match with The Ultimate Warrior. But not even the immortal biggest babyface of all time, Hulk Hogan, was above passing the torch to Ultimate Warrior making the already superstar Ultimate Warrior into a MEGA superstar.
Wrestlemania 12. Bret Hart being the face of the WWE for the past three years .the leader of the new generation, was not above passing the torch to a man he hated, Shawn Michaels, making the superstar Shawn Michaels, more than just a superstar and more than just the new champion, but the new face of the new generation.
Wrestlemania 14. Shawn Michaels not laying down for anybody, the face of the new generation for the past few couple years leading up to his match against Stone Cold was not above passing the torch to Austin, taking the superstar Austin and turning him into the new face of the new generation, ultimately the attitude era.
After this, the torch never fully rested on anybody. I mean, everybody had a major Wrestlemania loss. Austin did not main event as many manias as you may think, but if you count Rock vs. Austin III as a main event, that was his big mania job. Rock had many big mania jobs. HHH did big mania jobs to Batista, Benoit, etc its clear through history that nobody is above a big mania job EXCEPT The Undertaker.
Batista going over Taker (Or whoever you think should have went over Taker) would have took him from superstar to our generations version of a megastar, maybe even the same level as John Cena as far as the face of the company. Just because Taker isnt retiring and will still be in future Wrestlemanias shouldnt mean he cant job until he is ready to retire (and even THAT isnt guaranteed). With the exception of HBKs huge loss to Austin, nobody knew for a fact they were about to step down but they were still forced to pass the torch. Why cant Taker be forced to pass the torch? It seems like the WWE is treating Takers undefeated streak like an NFL season. With Wrestlemanias being more like weeks instead of the Superbowl .as if seeing how many consecutive weeks he can win like the Patriots. But in reality, that is not what Wrestlemania is founded on. Every Wrestlemania is supposed to be epic. And you mean to tell me that not one of those Wrestlemanias, I.E. Wrestlemania 23 against Batista, was epic enough to see the streak end? The only reason for that, and the only reason for Taker being above what no one else is above, is that somewhere along the way, The Undertaker character is booked as something NOBODY has ever been: ABOVE Wrestlemania. Hogan, Bret, HBK, Austin, Rock, HHH .NOBODY has been booked as being above Mania .but I have come to the conclusion that Taker is ABOVE Wrestlemania. While I respect the streak, I cant help but having a problem with somebody being above Wrestlemania, particularly when he SHOULD have lost one or two of those matches from a torch passing standpoint as well as a how they match up standpoint <cough> Batista <cough>.
So I guess the question is, do you think The Undertaker is ABOVE Wrestlemania, and is he the ONLY person above Wrestlemania ever? Personally, I believe the answers to both of those questions is YES.