Your favorite version of The Undertaker [Archive]

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The Naitch

12-21-2010, 10:43 PM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yDnVKnYkcaY/S3tzflT5w2I/AAAAAAAAAYw/sv6_9lR2wOI/s400/The_Undertaker___Paul_Bearer.jpgcirca 1991

http://sportsmedia.ign.com/sports/image/article/898/898706/friday-wrestling-list-top-10-summerslam-moments-20080815012020506.jpgcirca 1994

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/BSTommy/undertaker.jpgcirca 1997

http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/u/undertaker/58.jpgcirca 1998

http://psxmedia.ign.com/media/news/video/_dailywwf/undertaker/undertaker_bio.jpgcirca 1999

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slideshows/394/slideshow_39490/display_image.jpg?x=366433circa 2000-2002

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/304/107/1351417710_cc6edf9e11_display_image.jpg?1279477150circa 2002-2003

http://www.sweetser.info/undertaker/images/wm201.jpgcirca 2004

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/126454/takerhbk400.jpgcirca 2010

Aguakate

12-21-2010, 10:45 PM

"Ministry of Darkness" Undertaker was the best. Loved the look.

Supreme Olajuwon

12-21-2010, 10:48 PM

98-99. His promos were sick, his character kept getting darker and darker, and he had my all time favorite theme

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Jeritron

12-21-2010, 10:50 PM

What Supreme said

The Naitch

12-21-2010, 10:52 PM

Graveler

12-21-2010, 10:53 PM

A sucker for purple, circa 1994

Aguakate

12-21-2010, 10:55 PM

Undertaker circa 200-2002 gained alot of weight.

The Naitch

12-21-2010, 10:56 PM

I like his 2002 theme (Heel)

His 2003 theme is a close 2nd (Face. Same theme as above avec lyrics "You're Gonna Pay")

The Show Off

12-21-2010, 10:56 PM

American Bad Ass.

Furious Beardsley

12-21-2010, 11:34 PM

I like the one where he was called the deadman :shifty:

Schlomey

12-21-2010, 11:38 PM

91 thru 97

Mr. Pierre

12-21-2010, 11:47 PM

I'm gonna go with 1998.

KIRA

12-22-2010, 12:46 AM

I love Taker but I was in love with 98 Taker he was crazy awesome.

SOCCER LEGS

12-22-2010, 02:21 AM

ministry taker would be my first, followed by 2007-2008 taker (when he had recently started using hell's gate and more MMA moves in his repoitare, his matches against edge were great, especially at summerslam 2008)

Aguakate

12-22-2010, 02:23 AM

How can you not love Ministry Undertaker?

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Juan

12-22-2010, 02:26 AM

http://islander31.tripod.com/uthands.jpg

This wasn't his best run, although it did include his feud with Mankind, but it's always been my favorite for some reason.

RKO'em

12-22-2010, 04:47 AM

Ministry Taker fit his character the best. He's supposed to be dead. But no one said WHY they like the American Badass character yet...I know you are out there. I'm calling you out.

Jeritron

12-22-2010, 04:52 AM

I thought the American Badass was great. It really switched his character up, and ultimately probably added years of relevance to his career. It gave the Deadman schtick a rest and allowed it to come back strong and classic.
It also fit far better with the style of that era, and helped humanize the character more.
I grew tired of it towards the end, but I really enjoyed it for the first year or so, and when he turned heel and feuded with Flair.

Basically I'd say both the change to and change back came at the right times.

It's just not my favorite incarnation though.

Jeritron

12-22-2010, 04:58 AM

I also don't see how the 2004 and 2010 versions are any different. Aside from some attire changes, but those occured in like 2005.
Undertaker has pretty much been the same deal since that return. It's really just a self-aware, slightly updated version of The Undertaker gimmick.

I don't think they'll make any further changes. Especially if they haven't since 2005. He's got to be in his final couple years now, and I highly doubt they'd shake it up now.
He'll probably retire in his current capacity. I know people want to see new things, or a throwback to the Ministry, but that's in the past.

I'd fully expect him to be more or less The American Badass in any further appearances he does after retirement though. It'd be more just his on-air persona than any kind of "gimmick."

Swish

12-22-2010, 05:09 AM

The 1999 Version he was more darker

RiX1024

12-22-2010, 05:36 AM

When I started watching wrestling The Undertaker was using his Ministry Lord of Darkness gimmick, maybe I hated it at first but now I think it his best gimmick IMO. it made Kevin Sullivan look like a bitch compared to 'Taker.

Fignuts

12-22-2010, 08:53 AM

Heel biker taker. His promos and interviews were the best he's ever done imo(probably because he wasn't relegated to all this "ooooooo I'll take your soul" nonsense) and he was far more sadistic and twisted than he ever was as the deadman.

The Genius

12-22-2010, 10:06 AM

ministry of darkness taker

Lord-Of-Darkness

12-22-2010, 10:20 AM

Ministry Taker was incredible. But my favourite has to be his Big Evil heel run from the end of 2001 - mid 2002. Loved his run with the hardcore title and later the Undisputed title.

The Naitch

12-22-2010, 01:04 PM

I also don't see how the 2004 and 2010 versions are any different. Aside from some attire changes, but those occured in like

I guess cuz he started using his "Lord of Darkness" attire to the ring again, like in this pic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Undertaker_rey_de_las_sombras.jpg/200px-Undertaker_rey_de_las_sombras.jpg

In 2004 he was strictly using the Chuck Norris hat + trenchcoat combo.

But yeah, like you said, aside from the attire change, there was no real difference

Fox

12-22-2010, 01:21 PM

My first real exposure to the Undertaker was when he returned from his long injury sabbatical at Judgment Day 2000. I'm inclined to go with the heel Red Devil BikerTaker who was kicking ass as the Undisputed Champion and had that awesome match with Jeff Hardy on RAW, as well as several amazing encounters with Kurt Angle.

The Deadman thing I get and it's obviously still over, but I find it too kiddy and cartoonish for today's world. The BikerTaker character seemed real. Like a guy you would meet in a bar who probably sold crystal meth or something and who would fucking kill you if you looked at him wrong.

whiteyford

12-22-2010, 01:21 PM

Big evil, heel taker always worked best for me.

James Steele

12-22-2010, 01:29 PM

Without a doubt, pure evil Ministry Of Darkness Sacrificing Your Shit Demon Spawn Satanic Undertaker is #1. Heel Big Evil Undertaker is #2.

The Naitch

12-22-2010, 01:39 PM

My buddy who thinks wrestling is gay and makes fun of me for watching wrestling actually liked Biker Taker when we were watching his Hell In A Cell match with Brock Lesnar. Buddy thought that Taker was in definitely in a Biker Gang

The Naitch

12-22-2010, 01:41 PM

Michale Cole has the "And I Quote" catchphrase today, but in 2002 I remember Cole used to say..."Big Evil.....RED DEVIL" alot

BigCrippyZ

12-22-2010, 02:04 PM

Ministry Taker was incredible. The slow build up and gradual development to the Ministry and Ministry Taker from 98-99 was my favorite.

The storylines and feuds between Austin, McMahon, Rock and Taker and Ministry vs Corporation was amazing.

Going back and watching some of the clips from 1999, I had forgotten just how great the writing and storylines actually were back then. It makes me miss it even more than I already did, which I didn't think was possible.

Although I did love the return of Taker in 2000 too, and I thought the biker/American badass gimmick was a cool and fresh change of character for Taker.

Lord-Of-Darkness

12-22-2010, 02:13 PM

The Deadman thing I get and it's obviously still over, but I find it too kiddy and cartoonish for today's world. The BikerTaker character seemed real. Like a guy you would meet in a bar who probably sold crystal meth or something and who would fucking kill you if you looked at him wrong.

To be fair, going by what I've read in autobiographies and out of character pictures, Taker pretty much is the American Badass character.

Pretty much like Steve Austin always says, the best wrestling characters are usually just the persons real life persona, with the volume cranked way up.

Emperor Smeat

12-22-2010, 02:50 PM

ron the dial

12-22-2010, 02:51 PM

98-99 by far

Loose Cannon

12-22-2010, 03:19 PM

Lord-Of-Darkness

12-22-2010, 03:25 PM

Ministry Taker as the best with American Badass Taker and Classic purple gloves Taker as my next favorites.

What made his Ministry of Darkness stable amazing was how it was basically Taker, the Acolytes/APA, and then a bunch of nobodies but made it work so that people really believed they were a tough force.

Also, what also made it amazing, was the way that everyone was 'converted', it wasn't just a bunch of heels stuck together with Taker. Hells Henchmen became the Acolytes. Paul Bearer became 'Brother Paul' within the cult, and went back to his old look. Phineas Godwin/ Dennis Knight became Mideon became completely deranged. And of course King Mabel becoming Viscera (loved the kidnapping of Mable at the 99 Rumble, stuffing him in the trunk and driving away, only for him to be converted to the cause on Raw).

The whole thing had so much depth, and its stuff like that I miss the most.

Damn shame they pissed it away with the Corporate Ministry. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome at the time, because all the big heels were together as one. But looking back you have to wonder how much longer the Ministry could have gone on.

Plus, this :

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slideshows/564/slideshow_56482/display_image.jpg?x=176393

and this :

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/256/764/1382011485_53ac76a62d_display_image.jpg?1276388425

were awesome.

BigCrippyZ

12-22-2010, 05:28 PM

Also, what also made it amazing, was the way that everyone was 'converted', it wasn't just a bunch of heels stuck together with Taker. Hells Henchmen became the Acolytes. Paul Bearer became 'Brother Paul' within the cult, and went back to his old look. Phineas Godwin/ Dennis Knight became Mideon became completely deranged. And of course King Mabel becoming Viscera (loved the kidnapping of Mable at the 99 Rumble, stuffing him in the trunk and driving away, only for him to be converted to the cause on Raw).

The whole thing had so much depth, and its stuff like that I miss the most.

Damn shame they pissed it away with the Corporate Ministry. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome at the time, because all the big heels were together as one. But looking back you have to wonder how much longer the Ministry could have gone on.

Plus, this :

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slideshows/564/slideshow_56482/display_image.jpg?x=176393

and this :

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/256/764/1382011485_53ac76a62d_display_image.jpg?1276388425

were awesome.

Hell yeah. To me this is what made the Attitude era so great. The depth of the writing and storylines, was so good. You had DX vs The Corporation vs The Ministry, and even the lower card guys (who you knew would never main event or move up the card too high) had something to do and were involved in a storyline or feud.

The Naitch

12-22-2010, 07:09 PM

That was Russo's doing, making sure the mid and bottom guys always had something to do. Vince McMahon only cared for the main event

The Gold Standard

12-22-2010, 07:24 PM

I'm gonna go with 1998.

BigCrippyZ

12-22-2010, 08:14 PM

That was Russo's doing, making sure the mid and bottom guys always had something to do. Vince McMahon only cared for the main event

If that's the case, then despite Russo's reputation since his WCW tenure, I've got to give him credit for that. To me, that is how you keep things interesting, talent happy, develop characters, see who's talented/going to step up and build stars for the future, by actually giving them time to showcase/something to do. It's something that WWE (and the business in gen) has been missing the last 8-9 years and hopefully WWE is starting to get back to that.

Nightwing

12-22-2010, 08:51 PM

Big Evil was my favorite, or the mid 90s version. I cant stand him now.

Supreme Olajuwon

12-22-2010, 10:59 PM

98-99 was also the time he started calling people "boy" and "son" in his promos which I thought was awesome for some reason.

Loose Cannon

12-22-2010, 11:07 PM

I loved when Taker fooled McMahon by disguising himself as Kane and caught McMahon right in the middle of the ring. McMahon had previously called out to Kane for help

Supreme Olajuwon

12-22-2010, 11:36 PM

Jeritron

12-23-2010, 12:35 AM

98-99 was also the time he started calling people "boy" and "son" in his promos which I thought was awesome for some reason.

This is all hilarious

<object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x6upim?width=&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x6upim?width=&theme=none&foreground=%23F7FFFD&highlight=%23FFC300&background=%23171D1B&start=&animatedTitle=&iframe=0&additionalInfos=0&autoPlay=0&hideInfos=0" width="480" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6upim_chris-jericho-interrupts-big-show-a_sport">Chris Jericho Interrupts Big Show and Undertaker Segment</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/dfzbdfzb">dfzbdfzb</a>. - <a target="_self" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/us/channel/sport">Check out more sports and extreme sports videos.</a>

Seth82

12-23-2010, 12:54 AM

probably during the era of the ministry circa 98-99

was a fun time to be a fan

his run as biker undertaker was interesting too