The Undertaker: Feared or Respected?

[Coco]

Yes, there's a difference.

For almost two decades, we've been told about how MMArk has earned the respect of every person he's ever come in contact with or entertained. We've been told about how there's never been a more respected man ever in professional wrestling and how he's a leader behind the curtain. However, is this really the truth of the matter? Or are people simply too scared to tell the truth?

For almost two decades, The Undertaker's on screen persona is one that relied on fear and intimidation to win his fights for him. Whether it be as the Deadman or the American Badass, Taker has never failed to intimidate. He's just a scary looking dude with scary words and scary tactics. Is this how he is backstage? Is the much whispered of "wrestler's court"and Taker's ability to "solve problems" a result of people being too afraid to stand up to this big tough biker? Is Taker in fact so badass, so scary, so intimidating that fear has muted his critics and created a false illusion of respect surrounding him?

 

[TwistofRKO]

When you're surrounded by plenty of other talent who believe in their minds that they are capable of winning any altercation, I have to say it's respect. There have been plenty of backstage fights, involving pretty intimidating looking guys. You've never heard a peep around the Undertaker, and there has been nothing substancialy negative reported on him. Most guys, even after their time with the company, have said they enjoyed working with the Undertaker and viewed him as a leader.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

I am simply going to say respected from this point in time. The man is a business person who does whatever Vince needs him to. He has been placed in shitasticular feuds over the years & been given some of the worst opponents known to man & still got the audience to give a damn about the match just for the fact that they are watching one of the greatest in the business. For making the crowd liking feuds/matches with the likes of Khali & Hnery & single-handedly saving them, you have to respect the man for that.

The only thing "feared" about the Undertaker is his gimmick. I do believe that Taker is not like that backstage or outside of the wrestling world. Thus, he is respected.

 

[CM Punk Circa 2004]

The only instance of any backstage issue ive heard from Taker is when Shawn Michaels showed up at a Smackdown Taping high out of his mind and Taker simply told 3H he needed to go, or at least I believe that's how it went. But that's not bad that was certainly a good thing. Taker is the most respected Wrestler ever I can think of that hasn't been a prick to others and played so many politics. Along with Bret Hart there's nobody I respect more, And Foley.

 

[SSJPhenom]

I am an Undertaker mark, sure enough, so the typical thing is to come on here and talk about how he is the best, how he deserves respect, how he is saving SD, but I'm not going to.

I think that 'Taker is both feared and respected at the same time. I believe that he gets the respect that he does because of his amazing ability in the ring, on the mic, and with his character. Believe it or not, he is a total package in professional wrestling because there isn't a thing that he really can't do in the wrestling world. Sure he probably can't do a moonsault, but he comes out and usually gives the fans a dimension of it all. He gives us brawling, submission, techincal wrestling, transition wrestling, high flying (amazing for his size), some chain wrestling, etc.

He seems to do whatever he can for the business. As mentioned earlier, he has been in some pretty shitty situations in his career and has came out unarmed. This speaks volumes for his professional wrestling ability. He isn't all about himself. I dare say you put guys like Hogan in some of the feuds that 'Taker has been in and they probably never would have happened because of egos and if they did happen, I don't think that they would have been as good. A guy that can make a program with Giant Gonzales interesting deserves credit just for that.

Bottom line is, he is an amazing professional wrestler and has done alot for the business by making stars, by being a locker room leader, and by setting a new standard for the term, "big man," in professional wrestling. So does he not deserve respect?

Now on to fear.

There is an interview for those of you that haven't seen it where 'Taker is on Jimmy Kimmel and he talks about how he used to be a, "debt collector," for people. He is 6'10" tall, and he just looks badass. So if I am, oh IDK, Shawn Michaels and this man get's in my face and says, "Do the job!" (referring to WM 14) You better damn well put your money on me going out there and doing the, "JOB!" Bottom line here is: You give me a choice on who I would rather face and you put Vince McMahon in one hand and MMark Callous, AKA, "The Undertaker," in another hand; I think me and Vince are going to talk. However, I don't think that it is fear that get's him respect. When you got guys like Big Show and Great Khali in the locker room, guys in the past like Yokozuna, Giant Gonzales, Kamala, Sid Vicous, and so on in the locker room, there is more to be feared.

I think that the case is that 'Taker comands respect both for the business and for himself and he gives you no choice but to respect him by what he does in the ring and by what he can do (to YOU).

I think it's both!

 

[Coco]

I am simply going to say respected from this point in time. The man is a business person who does whatever Vince needs him to. He has been placed in shitasticular feuds over the years & been given some of the worst opponents known to man & still got the audience to give a damn about the match just for the fact that they are watching one of the greatest in the business. For making the crowd liking feuds/matches with the likes of Khali & Hnery & single-handedly saving them, you have to respect the man for that.

I have to respect a man for wasting his best years on these slugs when he could have spoken up for the best interest of the company and gotten to work with better opponents that would have produce better television? I don't think so. Taker hiding for the majority of his career behind the excuse that he couldn't have better matches because of who he was working with is just a way of covering up how second rate he is in the ring. That Edge feud last year realy exposed this, IMO.

As for those of you who say that people outside of the WWE have spoken up about respecting Taker, does anyone think those people aren't still scared of the Deadman?

Where are the people who agree with me? Are you also too scared to stand up and be heard?

 

[SSJPhenom]

I have to respect a man for wasting his best years on these slugs when he could have spoken up for the best interest of the company and gotten to work with better opponents that would have produce better television? I don't think so. Taker hiding for the majority of his career behind the excuse that he couldn't have better matches because of who he was working with is just a way of covering up how second rate he is in the ring. That Edge feud last year realy exposed this, IMO.

I'm sorry, you must have 'Taker confused with the selfishness of Hulk Hogan or HBK in the 90's. 'Taker is one that takes orders from the higher ups and does what they tell him to do. This is one of the major reasons why he is so respected. I don't think that he hid at all. He beat Hogan one year after his WWF/E debut, only to have Hogan bury him a few days later. Kind of like HHH buried Orton, only it took 'Taker 6 years to get back his ME status and I be damned if he didn't work fucking hard to get it. 'Taker is second rate in the ring? Really? He is a damn sight better than Cena, Orton, HHH, etc and I dare say that he is the second best in ring performer in the WWE right now, second only to HBK. His feud with Edge was great, his WM match was good and their TLC was way better than CM Punk/Hardy.

As for those of you who say that people outside of the WWE have spoken up about respecting Taker, does anyone think those people aren't still scared of the Deadman?

Deadman is just a gimmick. From what I've seen, he is a pretty stand up guy when he is out of character and doing interviews and such. I don't think people outside the WWE have reason to fear him. He isn't going to hunt them down. What better way to bash the opposition then to trash one of it's top stars? Why does Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, and others still pledge that 'Taker is one of the best to work with? Because they're afraid of him? I hardly think so.

Where are the people who agree with me? Are you also too scared to stand up and be heard?

Obviously, you are on your own in this one. 'Taker deserves your respect. If not for his past accomplishments, then for what he is about to do for CM Punk. I take it you like CM Punk, right? 'Taker is getting ready to establish him as, "the guy," on SD! Respect him for that!

 

[The Notorious Big.Pad.Dee]

There's a difference between taking no shit and being a bully. Taker doesn't strike me as someone who would go around looking for a fight, but if you took him on or pissed him off, he's gonna do somthing about it. I've heard stories about Taker giving Matt Hardy a bollocking in front of the entire locker room for refusing to take a chokeslam, but apart from that, I've never heard any stories about Undertaker confronting people backstage. Perhaps he is feared, but if he is, it's as a reputation of someone who will stand up for the right thing, and knock the people who stand up for the wrong thing on their ass.

 

[GOD]

The Undertaker is both feared & respected. Mark Calaway is the most respected wrestlers to ever step into a ring!

The Dead Man is the most feared wrestler kayfabe wise!

Who ever said that him wrking with guys like Giant Gonzalez & other losers was only to hide & cover up his 2nd rate in ring abilities need to go kill them self.

Working with those losers is part of the reason whyhe's so respected! He could have easily said that NO i'm not working with a nobody like them. but he worked with them either way when guys like Hulk HOgan & HBK & HHH would never work with second rate guys like them!