HeadLocker Classic –Jay Shannon
The Dominance of the Undertaker
Our ringside philosopher digs into his file of classics for this portrait of one of the most popular, and dominating, wrestlers of this era.
At Wrestlemania 23, the Undertaker won the World Title by defeating Batista. By taking down Batista, Undertaker brought his Wrestlemania winning streak to 15-0, In this edition of HeadLocker, I want to take a look at each of ‘Taker’s Wrestlemania appearances and evaluate each one for it’s impact on the world of wrestling.
Wrestlemania VII (1991)
Opponent: “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka
After leaving a mediocre career in WCW, “Mean” Mark Callous was repackaged as the Undertaker. Undertaker was paired with manager, Paul Bearer. Both men had actually worked together, albeit on opposite sides, in the World Class territory, years earlier. ‘Taker had been the evil, masked Master of Pain, and Bearer was Percival Pringle III, a face manager. In his first Wrestlemania appearance, ‘Taker faced the legendary Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. While Snuka was in the twilight of his career, it was still a shock to see the Fijian dominated the way he was. This started the streak and it also set Undertaker as a dominate force.
Rating: A
Impact: A+
Wrestlemania VIII (1992)
Opponent: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Many years before Randy Orton took the nickname of “Legend Killer”, Undertaker became exactly that. At his second Wrestlemania match, ‘Taker was involved in a bitter feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Jake had attacked Miss Elizabeth and ‘Taker took exception. Roberts fell victim to an outside-the-ring Tombstone to finish this encounter.
Rating: A-
Impact: B-
Wrestlemania IX (1993)
Opponent: Giant Gonzales
This was the worst of all of Undertaker’s appearances. Undertaker had to try and carry one of the worst wrestlers of all time. This long, plodding match finally ended when Gonzales was DQ’d for using an ether-soaked rag to try and put out the Deadman. This was the only one of ‘Taker’s matches that was won by DQ.
Rating: D
Impact: F
Wrestlemania XI (1995)
Opponent: King Kong Bundy
The Undertaker was embroiled in a bitter feud with Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Corporation. Ted sent his hired gun, King Kong Bundy, to destroy the Undertaker. He failed miserably. A clean pin showed again why the man from the “Dark Side” was and is so dominant.
Rating: B-
Impact: B
Wrestlemania XII (1996)
Opponent: “Diesel” Kevin Nash
The feud began at the 1996 Royal Rumble when Diesel cost Undertaker his chance to win the WWE World Title. Undertaker dominated Diesel so soundly in this match, that soon “Diesel” disappeared and Kevin Nash showed up in WCW.
Rating:A-
Impact: A-
Wrestlemania XIII (1997)
Opponent: Sycho Sid (Justice/Vicious)
This was the first time that the Deadman won gold at Wrestlemania. Outside help from Bret Hart didn’t really diminish the impact of ‘Taker victory. An interesting side note, it was ‘Taker (then known as “Mean” Mark Callous) who replaced Sid in the team known as the Skyscrapers in WCW.
Rating: A
Impact: A+
Wrestlemania XIV (1998)
Opponent: Kane
For months, Undertaker’s little brother, Kane, had been haunting the Deadman. Kane had challenged ‘Taker repeatedly, but ‘Taker refused to fight his own flesh and blood. ‘Taker finally relented and agreed to fight his brother. Kane would end up being the only competitor that ‘Taker has faced more than once at Wrestlemania. Kane is also the only wrestler to endure 3 Undertaker Tombstones in one Wrestlemania match.
Rating: A-
Impact: B
Wrestlemania XV (1999)
Opponent: Big Boss Man
Undertaker’s alliance with Vince McMahon in the Corporate Ministry had collapsed. McMahon, being the vengeful being we all know and love, began to throw everyone and everything he had at ‘Taker. ‘Taker had dispatched them all with relative ease. Vince brought his own, personal bodyguard into play to destroy ‘Taker in the Hell in the Cell match. Not only did Taker drop Big Boss Man with the Tombstone, but he had Edge and Christian assist him in hanging his opponent from the cage. This shocking move caused a lot of negative press for the WWE and, to this day, no one else has been “hanged” in a WWE match.
Rating: B-
Impact: B-
Wrestlemania X-7 (2001)
Opponent: Triple H
Undertaker has faced all 4 members of Evolution at Wrestlemania, and this was the first encounter. Triple H was on a roll and looked posed to destroy the repackaged Undertaker. “Biker” ‘Taker took the fight out of the ring and all over the arena. The end finally came back in the ring, as ‘Taker broke out the new finisher, The Last Ride, from the top turnbuckle. So far, Triple H has never been able to defeat Undertaker in a WWE ring. This was the measuring stick match for the “new” Undertaker. ‘Taker passed the challenge with flying colors.
Rating: A
Impact: A+
Wrestlemania X-8 (2002)
Opponent: Ric Flair
In much the same scenario as his first Wrestlemania, Undertaker was facing a legend in the waining years of his career. The soon-to-be Evolution leader wanted revenge against the American Bad-Ass because ‘Taker had attacked David Flair (Ric’s son) at a training session. While Ric Flair was the crowd favorite in this match, the “dirtiest player in the game” was dominated in the no-DQ match. ‘Taker nearly decapitated Flair with a chair shot before unleashing a Tombstone.
Rating: A-
Impact: B
Wrestlemania XIX (2003)
Opponents: A-Train and Big Show
This was almost a curtain-jerker level match for Undertaker. It was originally scheduled to be a tag team match with ‘Taker teaming with Nathan Jones, but Jones was taken out before the match. ‘Taker took to the ring and battled valiantly against his larger opponents. Despite the odds being stacked against him, Undertaker was really in no danger of losing this one. Nathan Jones did manage to make an appearance towards the end of the match. Taker snatched up the A-Train and derailed him with the Tombstone.
Rating: C
Impact: C
Wrestlemania XX (2004)
Opponent: Kane
There was a tremendous amount of speculation as to just which Undertaker would emerge to face his “brother”. Fans were hoping for the original version of the “Deadman” to glide through the curtain. They were somewhat disappointed, as what arrived, with manager Paul Bearer, leading the way, was a patchwork-quilt version of the various versions of the Undertaker. That patchwork version is what has come to the ring ever since. While Kane began the match screaming “You’re not real”, he found out that the opposite was true. The devasting combo of a Flying Clothesline, a Chokeslam, and a Tombstone put the lights out for the Big Red Monster.
Rating: A
Impact: A+
Wrestlemania XXI (2005)
Opponent: Randy Orton
This was the third member of Evolution to try to dethrone the Undertaker. Randy had the best chance to topple Undertaker, and came very close to doing it. In the end, ‘Taker survived the RKO and reversed an Orton Tombstone to deliver one of his own. Just to show how dominant the Undertaker is, this was the first time anyone had kicked out of the RKO finisher. Actually, Orton has come closer than anyone, with the possible exception of his Evolution teammate, Batista, to beating the Deadman.
Rating: A
Impact: A-
Wrestlemania 22 (2006)
Opponent: Mark Henry
We all expected this to be a flashback to the debacle that we all had to endure 13 years earlier, when ‘Taker faced another plodding wrestler, Giant Gonzales. While Henry’s strength is impressive, his wrestling talent is limited, at best. ‘Taker was able to actually make this match work. This was the first, and only, coffin match to ever be presented at a Wrestlemania. The crowd was stunned into silence, as ‘Taker actually managed to deliver a modified Last Ride to the huge battler. The Deadman put he final nail in the coffin (pun fully intended) by delivering a bone-jarring Tombstone, before rolling the World’s Strongest Man into the coffin.
Rating: B-
Impact: B
Wrestlemania 23 (2007)
Batista
This was the biggest challenge of Undertaker’s 17-year WWE career. Most agree that Undertaker is quickly rushing towards retirement. Would this be a reversed version of his matches against Snuka, Bundy and Roberts? Would the aging legend fall before the younger opponent? ‘Taker came very close to losing several times during this match. When the smoke cleared, Undertaker finished his domination of Evolution by unloading a Last Ride, a Chokeslam, and the trusted Tombstone to defeat “The Animal” and claim the World Title, just as he had done a decade earlier.
Rating: A+
Impact: A+
In Conclusion
The record will likely never be beaten. Edge had a shot, until he lost the Money in the Bank match this year. Looking to the future, who could possibly end the streak? Hulk Hogan? Mankind? John Cena? Edge? All could end the streak, but likely won’t. It’s my personal opinion that Undertaker will enter the WWE history books as the “only man to never lose at Wrestlemania“. Undertaker has been a unique character in all his versions. What better way to announce Undertaker when he enters the Hall of Fame?
–Jay Shannon
Boxworld@SBCGlobal.net
(4/10/07)
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