Can You Still Dig It?

3/14/2015 8:27:03 PM

I hate to sound like either Booker T’s entrance or the Iron Man Three’s closing credits clip here. First and foremost, I’m not writing this post to diss the Undertaker. In fact, he’s one of my favorite wrestlers in the World Wrestling Entertainment, especially if it’s about their biggest program named WrestleMania.

Though last year was perhaps the most surprising moment of them all—his loss to a ruthless athlete named Brock Lesnar. It was so shocking it even overshadowed the overhyped-but-underdelivered Andre the Giant memorial battle royal, as well as Daniel Bryan’s sojourn to championship.

Yes, he just got mortalized.

Did anyone saw that coming, aside from Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman? 

If you carefully studying the tale of accounts prior to their last showdown at WrestleMania XXX, it appears like the shirt Brock wore (Yes, that “EAT SLEEEP CONQUER REPEAT” get-up ) during that fateful RAW episode in late January 2014 served as its premonition to the upcoming fight.

And to be fair enough, it was barely addressed and advertised as the other matches for WM 30.

Over the course of time when I started following WWE, I saw some of Taker’s WrestleMania’s 22 matches—including the last three against Lesnar, CM Punk, and Triple H. And obviously, though sadly, things are really different this time around.

The Undertaker is not as physically strong as we used to see years ago. He’s nearly five decades old, had a concussion on his last-to-date pro wrestling match ever, and a history of injuries in nearly all parts of his body in over two decades of competing in the squared circle. 

So to say that can The Undertaker still get it on the WWE ring can be nearly questionable for that matter. Maybe, because the last match was more of a physical than a storyline-related one. Seriously, I never (if not rare) spotted any signs of plot in the match itself; it was all heck of a promo from both players. If you’re not convinced, better watch this video (though I suggest you allot 51 minutes of your day here).

Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 30... by watchwwelive

Hey, in addition you can even notice that there’s no “urn” showcased along the way; neither a sign of subtracting the late manager Paul Bearer from the equation or was it requested by Taker himself.

After seeing the battle though, can he still have the wraths to deal with superstars just like that? Considering that even Vince McMahon, the WWE chairman, accompanied the fallen superstar to a hospital after suffering a concussion in the early going to the match. Watch this WWE 24/7 clip.

Now, it’s not about killing the career of some legendary wrestlers, nor how schooling the current and recently-left superstars; but moreover, of seeing how the Undertaker deal with a certain Bray Wyatt, a present in-ring performer who used to play mind games just like him?

Just a few weeks ago on WWE Fast Lane, the former patriarch of the Wyatt Family unleashed the challenge; mocking the world in the process by displaying Taker’s typical-yet-aesthetically special entrance.

And eight days later, after series of never-ending mocks, on Monday Night RAW, a sign of “challenge accepted” appeared despite the Undertaker’s physically absence from the program.

Perhaps, something that he and Sting have in common when it comes to putting up such statements.

Switching gears for a while though, it was also speculated since last year that Taker would face the WCW’s premiered icon at WrestleMania 31 instead of Wyatt. And that rumor surfaced even further after Sting’s signing at the WWE a half-year ago.

And mind you, even the Franchise himself did not wish for that myth to be mortalized by the Beast Incarnate.

Going back to the Taker-Wyatt angle, this will be the question: whose wrestler will be intimidated in the battle of creepy psychological warfare? One thing will be proved here though, and it sounds like a commercial of that multivitamins supplement: “What you mind can conceive, your body can achieve.”

But with that frame loaded with history of injuries inflicted on the veteran Deadman, can he really put up a fight? Can he really fare up against Bray Wyatt physically-wise speaking? Wrestling’s always been like that: entertaining people by doing crazy stunts and moves, while inflicting pain on both the opponent and himself in the process. It’s no joke doing such. And as for Taker’s case, we could not be concern on his well-being.

We might all know that Taker (most likely) might earn a victory over Bray because we don’t want Sting to lose on his first WWE match; and also, for him to rebound over his shocking loss. But… what if the otherwise happens? It’s like that idiom “lightning strikes twice” coming into life if that’s the case.

And by the way, how will the booking and creative pool fare up Taker’s entrance? Since WrestleMania play button (as the people from the Smark Gilas-Pilipinas call it) will start as early as 3:30 in the afternoon live at the Levi’s Stadium in Sta. Clara, California, I am pretty sure that they could not do this type of entrance they once had against Giant Gonzalez at WrestleMania IX held 1993 at the Caesar’s Palace.

Well, there’s only one way to find out: watch the WrestleMania. And it will happen in 15 days at the Silicon Valley!

P.S. I highly suggest Vinny Mac should rehire Justin Roberts for this segment. Seriously, I still prefer his voice of saying “FROM DEATH VALLEY, WEIGHING TWO HUNDRED NINETY-NINE POUNDS: THE UNDEERRRRRRRRTAAKEEEERRRRRRRR!” right there than either Lilian Garcia or Eden.

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions