Report: Concern over The Undertaker's health

[Honkey_Kong]

We're a week past Mania and Taker got banged up pretty bad. Before we start throwing retirement around, let's give it some time for Undertaker to heal. If it were rumble time and he's still like this, I'd start to agree with you guys.

He was in a lot better of shape this for WM30 than he was at WM29. He had a concussion for most of the match and still pulled it off.

And as far as the comments about NBA players retiring at 40 and baseball players in their 30's. The difference between those sports is the other players are trying to exploit those guys weaknesses. In professional wrestling, both wrestlers are trying to work around the other guy's weaknesses and highlight their strengths. So it's still possible to put on quality matches in their 50's. Look at Terry Funk's ECW run.

 

[babinko]

Yall make me chuckle. When everyone was showed that really aging picture of Undertaker sporting a nice grey goatee 2 weeks before his first appearance no one on here said a peep on here about his health. Everyone defended him saying how there is no concern and he will be fine for WM. Guy comes back and truly showed his age. How can all of you be so blind. His match last year vs Punk was already showing how much he slowed down. Those matches vs HBK and HHH he put everything into it and rightfully should of retired when they said it was an End of an Era. 20-0 would have been perfect to walk out on. Taker is done. Its over. He should go into the Hall next year and then quietly leave. Taker has done so much for the fans over the years we shouldn't expect anymore from him.

 

[Dragonslayer]

As a huge Taker fan, I never wanted the streak to end, and, as hindsight is 20/20, the "End of an Era" match would've been the perfect way to go out, win or lose. The drama that HHH, HBK and Taker created (remember the Sweet Chin Music into Pedigree-spot?) was impossible to replicate, with any following challenger.

The match vs CM Punk seemed forced, and while it still was an "OK" match, it was nothing special, especially compared to the Taker/HBK showdowns.

This year was really bad, for obvious reasons... Taker showing his age, then the concussion that really ruined the pace of the match, and the surprising but way too unceremonious ending of the Streak.

I suppose Taker is done, but personally, I am still wishing that he could go for one "last ride" at WM 31, and I would love for that match to be against John Cena, as the biggest star of his generation.

Fantasy booking incoming: Taker comes out on RAW, issues a statement about the ending of the streak, and how there is no reason for him to be there anymore. Enter John Cena, who - as a face - commends him for his accolades, but shows him the 21-1 picture from WM30 and asks Taker: "Is that really the way you want to go out?"

So Cena challenges Taker to his last match at WM31, with no streak to defend anymore, but with a chance for redemption and for Taker to prove that even at the end of his career, he "still got it" and can still hang with the "best" (of the current generation). It would be a more deserved "send-off" match, in the vein of HBK's or Ric Flairs, where you knew HBK/Flair would lose and retire, but it was still a great match. The same could be done with Taker/Cena, and it wouldn't even matter if Taker went over in the end, or lost to Cena as well.

He'd probably lose, as it would be the old school way, but it would diminish the heat on Brock Lesnar for ending the streak I guess. Personally, I would love to see that match, and in the end Taker somehow defeats Cena, and retires with a last victory at WM. But even with a loss, it would be ok - but in that case, that match needs to headline WM, and even in defeat, Taker should get the proper sendoff he deserves.

So, fantasy booking over, and back to reality; a reality where Taker is most likely done for good at this point due to health reasons. But damn, it's just such an unfitting way to end this amazing career.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

There is the part of me that wants The Undertaker to have another match at next years Wrestlemania, win and then announce that he is retiring the next night on Raw, taking in the applause of the fans. Or even announce in advance that he is retiring at Wrestlemania, go into the HOF the night before and then have his final match at the big show. I don't want to see him go out like he did against Lesnar.

However, the man is nearly 50 years old. His body has been battered for around 30 years and he looks like a guy who needs to call it a day. I don't want to see him dragging his wrecked body out for sub-par matches and putting his health at risk. It takes him a year to recover from his WM matches now and that says it all. He's got a lot of outside interests, both personal and business, a beautiful wife and kids and doesn't need to wrestle again.

If its really going to be a risk to his health then I say he never wrestles again. He's done enough for us.

Thank you 'Taker!

 

[Jonyboyuk2]

So you hate the Undertaker?

The man is done. He's done enough. He's 48 years old. His body can't handle wrestling at a high level anymore. He's given more than enough to his fans and to the business already. AND he just suffered a major concussion that could affect his health for the remainder of his life.

But you still want him to trot out again next year to get his win back? Then go another year and do the IWC "dream match" against Cena?

If he did that... what type of shape do you think he'd be in after that?

Personally I think he got out one year too late. He looked the weakest I've ever seen him in the buildup to WM this year and considering how well he's done avoiding injury in the past, you've gotta figure the fact that he wasn't as physically ready as he used to be might have played a role in him getting hurt in the end.

If he ever has another match again, I hope it's just short nostalgia matches like you see the other old guys do. Preferably not even that.

He's earned the right to sit back, rest, and enjoy life.

That is totally unfair dude. If the Undertaker is injured then of course - COMMON SENSE would suggest NO he should not wrestle. But if he is good to go then I was merely adding ideas to how it could be worked! Terrible thing to suggest someone work whilst injured.

I have been a Taker fan since I watched his debut on WWF Wrestling Challenge in 1990. I was 7!

 

[OYDK]

Taker will be back imo whether we want to see him or not and honestly IF he decides to wrestle one more match, I won't call him an idiot or a has-been because if HE thinks he can still go one more, than so do I. We have to take in account that yes Undertaker is aging and he didn't look that great, but it's not like he was fat or THAT skinny, his physique looked good but his face looked a lot older than his 48 years. Also must take in account that yes Taker didn't look in the ring, but the man had a concussion and probably didn't know what the hell was going on. Taker won't leave the WWE like that, believe me.

I think Taker can come back and look a lot better than he did last year if he can work with a safe worker such as Sting or Cena.