Great idea! In fact, it's so good, it's been the same Wrestlemania storyline with the Undertaker for the last 4 years.
Actually, on second thought, nevermind. I'm tired of that "I respect you, but I'm going to do something no one else can do" story. Haven't we grown tired of that yet?
Very tired of it. But the guy refuses to retire, so they have to keep going with it. I wasn't saying that personally favor that storyline, just that if they wanted to do it, that's how they could do it with two part timers. I think the hype would be epic if it was Rock/Taker...not because I necessarily want it to happen, but because of the hype it would generate. We know the reaction the Rock gets, we know the reaction Undertaker gets...even if we don't see either of them until late January 2013, I think it would be huge.
No, because Cena is still an everyday performer, and Rock can still give him a rub.
I am not sure I believe that. I do believe Cena gets the win because it's best for the current WWE product, but will it really benefit Cena personally? When he wins, the same people critical of him now will be critical of him next week Monday, claiming that the only reason he won was because it's scripted, they need to protect the PG era, etc. This relates back to the idea behind the "Cena can't win" thread in the non-spam section. He is already the top dog in the WWE, beating the Rock won't really elevate him any further than he already is. It's not Cena that will benefit from the rub by beating the Rock as much as it will be the current WWE as a whole, validating the PG era against the ridiculously over-glorified Attitude era. But, Cena personally? Not convinced he needs it.
Against the Rock? Yes, I take it for granted. What's the point in having Undertaker lose the streak against the Rock? Rock doesn't need the rub, and he's not a full-time superstar. If Undertaker was working against someone like CM Punk, then sure, the ending might be unknown. But just like for the past three Wrestlemanias, and this year's Wrestlemania, there is no point for Undertaker to lose.
Not saying he won't lose this year, just saying it would be a waste of his streak to have him lose to Triple H...or Rock.
Someone who can leverage that win into becoming a better draw. Undertaker's WM streak is one of the biggest draws to the WM card every year. Why would you waste that on people who can't use the rub?
Combining these, because I think they are all related...
No point for who? The WWE, or for the Undertaker? I guess it depends on if the Undertaker feels he has the right to call his own shots when it comes to the streak or not. I think if he were to lose at Wrestlemania, it would be 100% his choice, against the opponent 100% of his choosing. If he feels he can only lose to a contemporary of equal stature, then that's what will happen. Not that he is Hulk Hogan with total creative control and is abusing it somehow, but I think the WWE is accepting of the fact that the Undertaker calls his own shots. If I were him, and I am not, and in his position, if I wanted the streak to end, it would be to a fellow legend, not someone else. Selfish? Perhaps...but with what he has invested in the streak, can he trust someone outside of a select few to be worth losing to? The Undertaker is very prideful, protective of his image.
The problem is this, as I see it:
A lesser wrestler would benefit the most from the rub, but might not be worthy of it in Mark Calaway's view.
An equal wrestler to the Undertaker wouldn't benefit at all from the rub, but presents the best argument for being capable/worthy of doing it.
You think the rub is more important, based on what would provide the most benefit to the WWE, I think the worthiness of the opponent is, based on my impression of Mark Calaway's belief of his own place in WWE history. Okay, we can agree to disagree on that.
After Cena beats the Rock, Vince doesn't need to validate the PG era any more. He can have a holdover wrestler like the Undertaker lose the streak to another holdover without damaging his product, and I don't think Undertaker would agree to end the streak against any of the full time wrestlers now, except for Cena, possibly. If it's going to ever happen (and it might not) I think it would be to someone the same as him. A Triple H, a Rock, someone who has accomplished just as much as he has, from the same time period, a guaranteed HOF'er just like him, etc...one of his contemporaries.
Essentially, IF he is going to lose, it's going to be easier for him to agree to lose to someone just as big a legend as he is, than it is to agree to lose to CM Punk, Sheamus, or someone like that, and I think Undertaker would have no qualms about refusing to job to anyone he doesn't think has earned it.
