Who will The UNDERTAKER put over when he retires?

[chefmike78]

The Undertaker has a tremendous amount of pull and respect in the WWE. He’s an old school guy that believes in respecting the business and knowing where you spot is in the company. The Undertaker will say who he wants to end his career and where it will happen. So, who will it be? I’d put money on Cena or Orton if it happens in the next year or so. If it goes longer look for a 2nd or 3rd generation talent like Rhoades or DiBiase if they turn out to be quality. Where will it be? I can’t imagine any where else but Wrestlemania. End the streak, end the career and begin the rest of a career as the guy who took out Taker. Whomever it will be they’ll be slated to be the #1 guy for a while. That’s a huge career to “end”.

 

[The Shockmaster]

Ending the streak at wrestlemania would kill everything "the streak" means. I mean look at the patriots does anyone even dare talk about there 17-1 season. And the answer is no...if you end the streak at WM it will be the same as the patriots losing at the superbowl. There will be buzz for a month or two and then the Undertakers biggest accomplishment/ the biggest in wrestling history will fall into obscurity.

I believe someone beating him will have almost the opposite effect of putting them over. Undertaker is so over with everyone that in peoples hearts no one really wants him to be defeated at WM. They get excited but i guarantee it would be silent after the match.

Bottom line is he shouldnt lose at WM ever and if anything leave and put someone over at a pay per view(most likely summerslam). IMO I would love to see him just retire and not do it because he lost. He is one of the greatest and deserves to go out with dignity and not a retirement match.

 

[mayankeagle]

I don't get it why people want the Undertaker to lose his last match at Mania and end the streak. Face it, the streak will never end. I said FACE IT! He has already pushed many guys in his entire career - Kane, Mankind, Austin, Lesnar, Angle, Orton, Kennedy, Batista, Edge, the list never ends. He does not have to go down in his last match like Flair or HBK did, because he is different - his character is also different. It needs to be preserved, and the streak needs to be preserved because it is the only untarnished thing left in the world of pro wrestling. It will never be broken - I say it again, NEVER be broken, because if it were to be broken then it would never have been created so big in the first place. It cannot be broken simply because he deserves it, and because it cannot ever be recreated. If Trish Stratus can retire on a winning note, so can Taker and he will.

 

[mister_b1LL]

I'm gonna throw in an idea here. It always seems that all the big stars go out at WrestleMania. Austin, Rock, Flair. But considering that whether Undertaker wins or loses his last match at WrestleMania, fans are gonna go nuts with the decision, might I suggest a different approach?

It is well known that the Undertaker had his start in the WWE by being on Ted Dibiase's team at Survivor Series in 1990. I personally think that if there is any other place worthy of the Undertaker's retirement besides WrestleMania, look no further than SS. It would probably get Survivor Series it's credibility back as one of the Big Four in that really big moments can also happen there. It would be cool if he started his career at the Series and ended it at the Series.

As for somebody who could retire him. It does have to be somebody young. I'm gonna say Drew McIntyre. If they really are high on D-Mac, they should be pushing this guy to the moon. However his push has kinda been whittled away and the fans are not really digging him. If there's anything that could save Drew's career right now, it would be if he could retire the Undertaker. I like Drew, unlike most people, and I would like to see him have a long term future, even if it does mean sacrificing the Undertaker to him.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Taker is not losing at Mania. If he does, it could quite possibly be the dumbest thing WWE has ever done.

Why does he need to lose his last match? I don't care if it's at Mania, or on an episode Raw. He doesn't NEED to lose at all. Just being in the ring with The Undertaker and having a great match is enough of a push.

The Undertaker has dominated so many men in his career, I wouldn't find it believable he lose his last match. That's how one of the most dominating figures in pro wrestling history goes out? With a loss?

I want to see him win his last match. I don't care if it's against Sheamus, Cena, Orton, or the freakin' ShockMaster. His legacy is more imporant that putting over some young guy. Everyone says the same shit, over and over again. "Put over the young guys, Taker." "Stop being selfish." "Blah...blah....blah." He has put over more people in his career (as a face) than any superstar I can remember. He has given this business enough, and deserves to go out on top. What this boils down to is a bunch of fanboys not wanting to see "the old guys" win a match, plain and simple. And it's beyond annoying.

 

[Vintage]

I would love someone to ask Jim Ross this question on his blog. I think his opinion on this matter would be rather enlightening. I'm shocked my opinion is in the minority frankly but then again I'm not looking at this as a fan. You can't think of it that way because if that's the case, nobody would ever lose their last match.

Some random responses to things ppl have said so far :

I have absolutely no problem with the streak remaining intact, but I don't see how 1 loss invalidates the entire thing. I would think the point of highlighting the fact he never loss at Wrestlemania is that it will indeed be a big deal when/if he looses. Obviously it wouldn't be a clean win, nor can it be.

Leaving at Summer Slam is a valid option and one I'm not opposed to. History dictates though WrestleMania is the safe bet. That match is a guaranteed draw, most people would order Mania just for that alone and that's the big money show.

Football streaks are different from Takers for the simple fact that if you don't win the Superbowl you didn't get the job done. Taker built this streak over 20 years, not 1 season so it means a hell of a lot more. However it goes to prove my point of the significance of ending the streak since nobody talks about the Patriots 18 wins but the Victory the Giants had over them when it counted. They are the only team to win all the regular season games since the season was expanded so they still have a legacy. Nobody will ever come close to Takers record at WM and that would be his legacy, much like how Ric flair is known for being a "16" time champ, not a 16 time loser.

HHH shouldn't be the one to end it, he should be the next one in line to lose actually. It makes sense storyline wise.

Every legend deserves to go out on top, unfortunately many of them end up having formal retirement matches, usually with some kind of retirement stipulation. At the end of the day it's about PPV revenue, that's a guaranteed draw. You know what's going to happen, it's about how it happens. As long as it's done in a credible way.

The WWE has done stupider things, 2 things that immediately pop into my head are Savage never beating Hogan and McMahon getting embarrassed for 15 minutes by Bret Hart. That last one should have never happened the way it did. Should he have lost, yes, but it didn't do a damn thing for either man unless the point was to retire McMahon and make amends for screwing him over so the WWE universe can finally move on which is what I hope was their intention.

 

[Vash21]

I would vomit if John Cena were to go over Taker at Mania. I would rather the streak never end than have someone like Cena end that streak.

Berrett, Sheamus, or Orton would all be good choices to end the streak.

Orton would be the best choice, he has been built into the Legend Killer, what better to reinforce that title than to have Orton go over Taker at Mania.

Again would vomit if Cena were to go over Taker at Mania.

 

[TheAnimal]

Taker has put a number of people over in the past and will most likely do so again before he is done, but i think he will be triumphant in his last match/maybe even feud. The guy deserves it. He has given back a lot so he should have that.

I think he may feud with Sheamus, Miz, even DiBiase before he retires and that would instantly move them up a notch. Just having a PPV match with The Undertaker and looking competitive in it will instantly move people up a notch by the rub of being in the ring with him. Kennedy came in and looked great with the Undertaker but a mix of WWE/him dropping the ball messed that up.

So last match Taker is on top, but BEFORE he retires he will put at least 1 out of Swagger, Sheamus, Miz and DiBiase, either by them defeating him or an excellent feud.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

The Undertaker should lose to somebody on the roster who really needs the boost when the time comes. Giving somebody who is already established the win over the Undertaker or who has little time left in the 'E is a massive rub gone to waste. There are plenty of midcarders in the WWE that can transition to the main event with a huge push, and beating Taker when he retires is something that will skyrocket the aforementioned push. Thinking ahead, Alberto Del Rio might be sufficient answer considering he'll only be pushing the last days of his sophomore year in the WWE.

If we were to pick someone right now, assuming Undertaker was retiring tomorrow, one logical choice would be to have Ted DiBiase Jr. take him out for good due to the history of DiBiase Sr. bringing in Undertaker in the first place. It would bring the entire story full circle and nostalgia for the older fans. He'd benefit well from the push and can go to the big time as he is already tailor made to head there in the future. Drew McIntyre is another star that could really use the boost. If the Undertaker is willing to put him over, a guy that many people in the back have complained about (as well as the corporate guys losing faith in him), he'd have people start opening up to him. This counts for the fans as well, who are just starting to accept Drew as a heel.

In all honestly, this shouldn't happen at WrestleMania as him losing there is quite stupid. Somewhere like SummerSlam would benefit from it as a lot of people tune into the event and would give something for the fans to remember. Simple really.

 

[The Crock]

The Undertaker will not lose at Wrestlemania. His streak is far too great for it to end after all those Wrestlemania's. I think that we'll probably see him put over John Cena because, of course, John Cena is the WWE's poster boy. He'll probably lose somewhere like SummerSlam because that is a big stage and it gets a lot of ppv buys for Vince and the Streak will stay alive so it's a good solution.

 

[Vash21]

DiBiase Jr is about as exciting as spit drying on a sidewalk. I really thought when Legacy fell apart that he could be something great, but he hasn't done a darn thing since then. I just about laughed my ass off when he came out with the million dollar belt. I didn't even care for that belt when his daddy carried it and I actually remember watching that happen. Paring him with Maryse is helping his character though. Eye candy is always a good thing.

The Miz has a way to go yet. I know I am in the minority there but I think he still needs some more work. His mic work is great but he needs something, can't quite put my finger on it.

Again would vomit if Cena is slated to over Taker at the end.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Of course, Undertaker putting someone over in his last match presupposes that he's going to lose. If he is fighting for the title that night, we'll be thinking:

"Well, he'll lose this one and bow out graciously."

Personally, I think if he fights for a championship in his last match, he'll win it......and retire the next day, vacating the title in an emotional final appearance on RAW. If he doesn't fight for the title, he'll still bow out as a winner.

I've often wondered if Undertaker never loses cleanly because the Creative team feels that his legacy would be tarnished if he did......or if Mark Callaway has a say in it and has decided he will never lose a fairly contested match. At any rate, someone long ago made the decision that Undertaker cannot lose at Wrestlemania, and it's amusing to see it speculated each year if his glorious streak will come to an end.

I believe he will win his last match.....and not have to put anyone over.

Mrs. Goldust

 

[Ferbian]

Mustang Sally said it perfectly, who's saying Undertaker will put anybody over in his last match, or when he retires?

He could simply retire after a feud, not putting anyone over in the process, because he's not feuding with anybody, as well as he could come out the winner of the feud and only put the opponent over by making him look good without winning.

I don't see why someone thinks Undertaker will be loosing in his final match / feud to put someone over, just because there's been people that have been retired before through being defeated.

And even those who have been retired before through defeat doesn't necessarily put anybody over through the fight, did Shawn Michaels put Undertaker over? did Ric Flair put Shawn Michaels over? no.

Due to my lacking past with wrestling (not having watched before 2009, but I know of it, just not all) I don't believe anybody but Triple H have truly been put over through retiring someone, that being Mick Foley, who didn't retire either way.

I think the only way Undertaker will put anybody over in his final feud / match will be through making them look good, but ultimately not winning, and for those speculating if it'll be at Wrestlemania, that only solidifies the thought that Undertaker couldn't possibly loose his final match.

 

[Hazardous]

why does taker have to lose for someone to be put over? look at HBK 2 years ago, he went on the rest of the year saying how he ALMOST ended the streak, and he got even bigger from it! (if that was possible for him) as long as it is an EPIC match, taker does not have to lose for his next victim to get a huge boost. take someone like..say.. the miz. if he took taker to the limit, and still lost at the end of the night, you KNOW the next night he would be saying how he came closer than anyone to ending the streak, and it's all up from there. i think i speak on behalf of all the attitude era fans when i say this.... if cena were to end the streak, i would stop watching WWE on the spot. the streak will never end, nor will it be beaten. and in a few years, when they are announcing the HOF of 2013, maybe 2014, in the undertakers video package, that will be the big part of it, "he was undefeated at WM" for how many years he has put into the company, sticking by Vinny mac through all the bad ratings, horrible story lines, and being screwed out of title, after title, not to mention losing a match to vince himself? there is no way even vince could do the ultimate F-U to him and end whats taken 20 years to make.

 

[kofifan23]

I had two choices in mind, ted debeose jr. or the miz. Miz has been on a big push by wwe and thats just what he needs to put him over the top. Debeose would be perfect because his father brought taker in so jr. can be the one to take him out.

 

[Morpheus101]

I honestly don't see The Undertaker putting anyone over when he retires. I think WWE will keep his Wrestlemania winning streak intact and Undertaker will go out in style at a Wrestlemania event, just like HBK did (only Undertaker will win to keep the streak intact).

What purpose would it serve to have Undertaker lose his winning streak to someone? Sure, it'd be one hell of a badge for another WWE superstar to have (to say they retired the Undertaker), but that would be a bit of a spit in the face of his almost 20 year legacy and at this stage, it'd be pointless.

Also, WHO would he put over exactly? Cena and Orton are already "over" enough and having either of them beat Undertaker in a final match would not be worth it. If there were another similar "monster" character coming through the ranks, that might be one option, but there really is no one and Kane is heading towards the twilight of his career himself, so it won't be Kane.

Maybe Wade Barrett could be an option, depending on how the whole Nexus thing pans out (of course they are going to be responsible for what happened to The Undertaker, so that sets up a feud straight away).

 

[Mizamania]

I dont think undertaker will have to put anyone over when he retires but if i had to choose i would go with cm punk because they already have tension built up around there last rivalry and if punk won that would secure him as a major player and a top main eventer up there with cena and orton