Will Undertaker wrestle before Wrestlemania?

[closet_fan]

So we saw the beginnings of Undertaker's role on the Road to Wrestlemania when he came out during HHH's "almost" firing of Johnny Ace on RAW Monday. We still have several weeks before UT has to wrestle and go for 20-0.

But I ask: will we see the Undertaker in an actual wrestling match before then? Or will we see a bunch of vignettes, ring mic work and backstage spots with him involed and that's the ONLY thing we see.

Or SHOULD he wrestle?

 

[HBsam31]

I cant see him wrestling. It seems he is brought back for one reason and one reason only, and that is to have his mania match. I don't think they would want to risk him getting hurt before the big show. I think it will be a bunch of promos trying to get HHH to fight him again this year and that will be it. I honestly don't think he should wrestle. He has become an attraction for mania and i think it should stay that way.

 

[Tattooed Jesus]

No absolutely not. He is not even scheduled for another RAW appearance until Feb 20th, so even doing a bunch of backstage spots doesn't seem likely at this point.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

No chance. He can barely do one match a year, let alone two. They want to build the excitement for his first time back in the ring so why waste it with some pointless match on RAW?

He'll probably do a couple of promos so we'll see him in the ring but no chance of an actual match, IMO.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I don't think he will and I don't think he should for one reason what if he gets injured his last match should be at Wrestlemania not SD, Raw or EC because IMO one more injury and I think he'll leave. Although if he stays fit then WM will be his last match.

 

[Jonno ziggler]

The closest we will see undertaker wrestle before wm28 is if he were to tombstone his opponent or something..he's pretty much only good for 1 match a year now so why waste it on raw or smackdown..

 

[juggalotus]

Not a chance. If he gets back in the ring before Wrestlemania, it will only be for promos, and I'm fine with that. Its part of the whole mystique of the Undertaker for the past few years that he only wrestles once a year at Wrestlemania

 

[satanklaw]

well I am the only one so far who thinks he will and should have 1 match before WM, if it is just a tag match or something like Jericho did before Royal Rumble. It would be good to show him in the ring so people remember what he can do before the big match, it could just be a squash too something to get him warmed up for the big one

 

[matthewchamilliard]

hope not all it would do is take away from the anticipation of the match... even no one wants to HHH vs. UT again even if Shawn is the special ref

 

[JUSTINMFNBEEMER]

i still dont get why anyone wants to see him wrestle, hes an old mand for god sakes, he had to wear a wig that fooled almost nobody. let him go. people complain about how former stars "come back" and take away spots for younger talent, yet nobody chews when taker shows up. seriously, he shows up for the pay day then leaves, yet people chew about the rock showing up once in a while. heres a fact, "the actor" has been on more shows in the last year and a half then taker has been on in the last two years! pathetic, i seriously hope he does wrestle before mania, breaks his hip, and f's off for good

 

[IHW]

I think seeing Taker in a main event squash on SD! would help ratings.

That being said, Taker should wrestler one, JUST ONE, match before Mania, for ratings sake.

 

[Cabana]

I agree with the general sentiment that Taker won't appear in-ring before WM, but I think that if pressed, he could probably work a *very* light schedule (something on the order of 1 match ever 1-2 months.)

It wouldn't be that hard to protect him in-ring, expose him only to the safest workers (Cena, HHH, Orton, Ziggler), and keep his matches light (tag team matches, punch-kick brawling.) I think that the biggest issue is that Taker doesn't strike me as content to hobble along in a very limited capacity. He'd rather wrestle only when capable of performing at or near the level we're accustomed to seeing from him. Given that, Taker can only muster a few more matches.

I think Taker will go to 20-0 at this year's Mania, and I think we'll see him retire at either Summerslam or at next year's Mania. I definitely think he'll make one more person famous before he goes. Ziggler, Rhodes, and Barrett are perfect fits. Ideally, I'd like to see Taker lose out to someone this summer, and then lose the streak at next year's Mania before retiring. He's more than capable of losing two straight feuds and still giving a massive rub.

 

[juggalotus]

i still dont get why anyone wants to see him wrestle, hes an old mand for god sakes, he had to wear a wig that fooled almost nobody. let him go. people complain about how former stars "come back" and take away spots for younger talent, yet nobody chews when taker shows up. seriously, he shows up for the pay day then leaves, yet people chew about the rock showing up once in a while. heres a fact, "the actor" has been on more shows in the last year and a half then taker has been on in the last two years! pathetic, i seriously hope he does wrestle before mania, breaks his hip, and f's off for good

He's not a former star, he's a current star. He never really left for good. Why can't you just sit back and watch a legend do what he does best? I'd like to see you try to wrestle with the full time schedule that some of the younger stars do after wrestling for the past twenty or so years.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I doubt it. The Undertaker's injuries have really caught up with him over the past couple of years. He'd been known to work hurt much of the time, often pushing back taking time off to rest up or to have surgery. But, as he got older, injuries kept piling up and eventually overtook him. Taker suffered a shoulder injury a while back that he waited too long to have surgically repaired and, because of that, doctors informed him that he'd probably never regain full strength in that shoulder even with surgery.

Taker said himself in a promo that all he has left is the streak and that's true. He's a 7 time World Chammpion, a 7 time tag champion, Royal Rumble winner, been involved in some of the most memorable feuds, matches, angles & storylines in WWE history, he's possibly the most respected and well thought of veteran in wrestling today. Taker's legacy is already secured and has been for a long time now. He's one of the rare talents that comes along in wrestling that eventually becomes so respected and revered by insiders and fans that he's completely above championships. At WM, Taker has defeated wrestlers that have, overall today, won a total of 76 World Championships.

The streak has become a special attraction for WrestleMania and, I think, the idea is that Taker will continue to wrestle only once a year at that event. WWE has built Taker up over the years as this mystical character, almost like something of a force rather than a man in some ways, and having him show up once a year only to defend his streak makes people even more excited to see him. There's only one first day of summer, there's only one 4th of July, there's only one Christmas Day and only one time when Undertaker laces up the boots.

If by some chance Taker does wrestle, it'll probably be in a tag team or six man tag match that would probably be a ratings draw and would allow them to protect Taker while his teammates did most of the work.

 

[Vee Dub Represent]

Well, the short smart answer is he should. However as a long time fan my faith in WWE has dwindled so sharply that I really have no faith at all in them doing that so probably not. Considering neither he nor Hunter wrestle on a full time basis anymore, 8 weeks is a long long time to build this up considering we all pretty much know how its going to end. They did however plant a seed that Hunter doesnt really see him as a threat anymore, so I would roll with that, and have someone challenge him at EC. Miz or Dolph would be perfect for it or shit even Barrett, but get them involved, basically have them come out with the mindset that he is past his prime and they will prove it. Then, here's the crazy part... they actually beat him one on one at EC, which would create the mindset that maybe he doesnt have it anymore and at the same time the ego of the kid who beats him goes through the roof for wrestlemania. This is creative booking that would help 2 builds out and at the very least put a little bit of doubt in peoples minds, you know, get a storyline going being this... even though yes we all know that at the end of their match no matter what happens between now and then Undertaker will be standing in the ring with a giant 20-0 pyro sign going off behind him. But its so much better than just rolling him and Hunter out to videos, pyro, sign points and promo's for the next 2 months. Thats how I feel anyways, then again, I work at an electrical shop and the real writers for WWE know what they're doing so there is probably a reason for that.

 

[JUSTINMFNBEEMER]

He's not a former star, he's a current star. He never really left for good. Why can't you just sit back and watch a legend do what he does best? I'd like to see you try to wrestle with the full time schedule that some of the younger stars do after wrestling for the past twenty or so years.

i was a skateboarder for 15 years, i tore and broke lots of parts, and at the end of the day i realized i cant do it anymore, so i stopped. i dont show up once a year at the local park and give it a go then never be seen till a year later. everybody needs to look in the mirror at one point of their life and realize your not as young as you used to be. like you said, twenty years hes been the dead man. well i think he needs to realize its over, hell man, go knock up your wife, have a family, and stay out of the spotlight while you can still walk. taker is so ingury prone nowadays he should be happy he can still walk. take your wig and go home.

 

[King of the Words]

I doubt he will, but I do see a way for him to have one match before Mania 28 without really having to do much. Undertaker could tag up one last time with Kane and take on Triple H. and John Cena. Cena and Kane could do the majority of the in ring work, and you could probably have the Game pinning Undertaker at the end of the match to show that the streak is in trouble. I wouldn't mind seeing this on Raw after the Elimination Chamber.

 

[TheAllStarBlogger]

No chance at all,we will definitely see him cutting a couple promos & we may see him Chokeslam or Tombstone Triple H after he has a match,IF he has a match,which I don't see either. I would absolutely LOVE to see Undertaker & Kane Vs Triple H & Shawn Michaels,since Kane brought the mask back.

 

[Wrestlemania 20-0]

maybe Taker was not wrestle when Wrestlemania Revenge tour in France in Paris.his many injuries does not advantage him he wrestle 1 or 2 matchs and that's all,time to him to prepared his retreat future and his inducted at HOF.

 

[Stein Lager]

I hope not. They risk him getting hurt. I'm hoping for more of a storyline this year and some good promos from 'Taker and his chalanger.

 

[#hamler]

No. He shouldn't wrestle. The fact that The Undertaker comes back once a year to put on one of the best matches on a Wrestlemania card makes him a treat. Why devalue that treat by having him compete in a wothless match on Raw or Smackdown? He shouldn't.

i still dont get why anyone wants to see him wrestle, hes an old mand for god sakes, he had to wear a wig that fooled almost nobody. let him go. people complain about how former stars "come back" and take away spots for younger talent, yet nobody chews when taker shows up. seriously, he shows up for the pay day then leaves, yet people chew about the rock showing up once in a while. heres a fact, "the actor" has been on more shows in the last year and a half then taker has been on in the last two years! pathetic, i seriously hope he does wrestle before mania, breaks his hip, and f's off for good

Completely stupid. The Undertaker's body is beat up because he's been wrestling 20 years. During those 20 years, he’s certainly entertained more fans than your typical WWE Superstar. Fans that truly appreciate and respect him. Regardless of age, Undertaker can still put on one hell of a match. Undertaker is synonymous with Wrestlemania; that's why he's back. Look at the last few Wrestlemanias, The Undertaker's match has saved them from being complete shit. He's still capable of performing in an excellent match and every year, he proves so. Until Undertaker can stop putting great matches, he’ll always be welcomed on my Wrestlemania card.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with The Undertaker getting a spot on the card when he's certainly one of the main reasons Wrestlemania is so big nowadays. A Wrestlemania without The Undertaker is just another WWE pay-per-view. Don't knock The Undertaker because he knows how to rest his body. At his age, injuries can come with any bump he takes; and he takes those bumps for you and the rest of the WWE's fans. Lets see how many of the young guys nowadays actually stick around long enough to cement their legacy like The Undertaker has.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

If by "wrestle," you mean "squash" or "backstage segments," then probably. Other than that, I never expect him to be anywhere other than Wrestlemania. He's been doing this for years now. He doesn't even need to wrestle. Everyone knows how good he is. Putting over stars for free would make him look weaker for WM, and just squashing people would do absolutely nothing, and would be a waste of time.

 

[BouncierSlinky]

I agree with most of the people here in saying that 'Taker only wrestling once a year at Mania would most likely be for the best. It adds to the mystique and value of the Streak.
However, you have to think about it, a whole year off away from the ring, SHOULD he have a match or two to work off any ring rust that's more than likely there? I'm not a superstar, but I doubt wrestling is as easy to pick up again as riding a bike.
So,with that being said, I think that we'll see Undertaker in one (or maybe more) tag matches or interferences just to get himself ready for the big one.

 

[#hamler]

However, you have to think about it, a whole year off away from the ring, SHOULD he have a match or two to work off any ring rust that's more than likely there? I'm not a superstar, but I doubt wrestling is as easy to pick up again as riding a bike.

When you've been wrestling near 25 years, I think it comes naturally to you. The Undertaker has proved time and time again he's still got it. Every Wrestlemania, you can look for ring rust; it isn't there in the Undertaker. He still manages to hit his spots, sell real well, and put on one of the best matches on the 'Mania card. Not that it matters here, but ring rust can be taken care of outside of the live ring or before a live show. Not on Raw or Smackdown. However, The Undertaker hasn't seemed to have rusted one bit even though he wrestles once a year.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Highly doubtful. His career is essentially over; the fact he hasn't stepped in the ring since last WM certainly points to that. I don't think he's decided to resume his career now, he and the company just want him to do one more Wrestlemania so he can add victory #20 to his "glorious" streak.

If WWE plans to have him fight in the main event at WM, they're convinced everyone already knows and cares enough about Undertaker to buy the PPV; wrestling a preliminary match or two would do nothing to add to his legend.

To that end, he'll probably show up a few times in the ring as he did this past Monday night.......issue a few threats, roll his eyes up in his head, maybe even take an unanswered swipe at whomever is standing in front of him. But he isn't wrestling any matches......there's no need.

Even if this year's WM isn't his last match, we'll only see him once a year from now on. He'll be WWE's version of Santa Claus, showing up only on one specified day a year for a single purpose. If he does this, maybe he can last until he's 60.

Hell, if you could make a living by working one day a year.....wouldn't you?