Which Undertaker did you enjoy the most? [Archive]

Johnny Vegas

04-16-2009, 11:10 PM

http://static.flickr.com/1242/1357264842_c34818515b.jpg
http://www.joesportsfan.com/jsfpics/columns3/undertaker.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/~UTCallaway/Undertaker40_2.jpg
http://www.hvrsd.k12.nj.us/timberlane/home/student/SamM/undertaker.jpg
http://www.thegreatindiankhali.com/undertaker/images/Undertaker.jpg
http://freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Erberko1/Wrestling/WWF/Champs/Undisputed/066Undertaker.jpg
http://www.caliqo.com/ebay/undertaker/undertaker12.jpg

(Even though the last picture kind of resembles the early UT, he is now more of a technical wrestler)

I personally liked the UT with the purple gloves. That one, around the '93-95', was the best to me.

Juan

04-16-2009, 11:15 PM

I've always been a big Purple Taker mark

The One

04-16-2009, 11:20 PM

American Bad Ass.

Yes, I mark for Biker Taker, what of it!?

TOVO Fact: Tovo doesn't watch TNA anymore.

DarKCentaur

04-16-2009, 11:23 PM

Ministry Taker. He also had the coolest theme of them all

Ol Dirty Dastard

04-16-2009, 11:35 PM

New Taker. Better worker, better feuds... and one of the few reasons I'll tune in if I do.

Ol Dirty Dastard

04-16-2009, 11:36 PM

He's also dropped a bunch of weight and moves wayyyyy better now than he did particularly as the ABA

Innovator

04-16-2009, 11:37 PM

Current Taker, then ABA by a slight margin, then 1997-98 Taker

mike adamle

04-16-2009, 11:41 PM

purple taker was great, ive always marked out for his feud with mankind in 96, so i guess thats why

Ol Dirty Dastard

04-16-2009, 11:45 PM

They always feuded the older Taker with big hosses so his matches tended to suck.... I mean yeah he had some doozies with Hart, Michaels and Mankind... but who hasn't? Only now has he really begin to shine as a worker because they let him go out there and essentially do what he wants which is awesome. He actually legit comes off as a good worker now. Obviously age doesn't make him consistantly have THE BEST matches, and injuries and what not obviously.... but really... if u put him in there with a half decent worker, you're guaranteed some fun that's for damned sure.

There was a while when he was the American Badass where he was soooooooo shit, he couldn't do anything right, then all of a sudden it changed.

The Genius

04-16-2009, 11:46 PM

ministry of darkness taker closely followed by original debut taker when all he did was choke his opponents and then tombstone them.

Ol Dirty Dastard

04-16-2009, 11:51 PM

I was watching some throwback Ricky Steamboat matches, and in one of them the Steamer actually busts out a tombstone :0 it was pretty crazy

RGWhat316

04-17-2009, 12:06 AM

American Bad Ass was probably the most I ever marked out for him, especially at Judgment Day 2000.

7spike

04-17-2009, 01:08 AM

American Bad Ass first. Then the Undertaker before the Ministry of Darkness one, but I forget what he was called back then.

Loose Cannon

04-17-2009, 01:10 AM

I was such a mark for the Ministry angle. one of my favorite angles ever

Heyman

04-17-2009, 02:29 AM

Satanic Undertaker of 1999 was my favorite.

However - I didn't enjoy satanic Undertaker when he formed a brief penis-on-penis alliance with the Big Show.

I loved him when he was the leader of the Ministry....a ministry that consisted of him, the Acolytes, the Brood, Viscera, and Mideon.

Jeritron

04-17-2009, 02:30 AM

Probably the Ministry. Although, the 1998 Taker was amazing to me. I think the 1998 Taker deserves his own representation here, not to be lumped in with the 1996-97 Taker depicted.
When he was a tweener, lone gunmen was great.

I loved the badass at first. For match quality, the current incarnation of Taker may be the best.

I dunno. This is hard. I vote for them all except for 2003 Taker. After his heel turn as the badass, when he turned back to a face was the only time I was bored by him.

Jeritron

04-17-2009, 02:33 AM

Also, you forgot this:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1357264810_2def0618ef.jpg?v=0

LoDownM

04-17-2009, 02:34 AM

Grey/Purple gloves.

johnsmagic

04-17-2009, 02:40 AM

looking these pictures just reminds me how much i hate the spinner wwe title, when are they going to change it again it should be time

Shaggy

04-17-2009, 03:09 AM

Ministry Taker

Boondock Saint

04-17-2009, 04:40 AM

I was such a mark for the Ministry angle. one of my favorite angles ever

Juan

04-17-2009, 04:49 AM

I know everyone has their own preference, but I did not like Biker Taker at all. It totally killed the "mystique," so to speak, of the Undertaker. The whole "Sara" thing didn't help either.

Lord-Of-Darkness

04-17-2009, 05:15 AM

Ministry Taker, followed closely by heel ABA. I loved the whole 'demanding respect' angle.

I pretty much loved any Taker heel run that had some depth. So it doesn't really include his first run.

Which of course ended with the greatest face turn of all time:

Jake Roberts : Whose side are you on any way?!

Taker: Noooootttt yyooouuurrrssss

Genius.

Juan

04-17-2009, 05:25 AM

LOL that was classic

DaveWadding

04-17-2009, 05:49 AM

Also, you forgot this:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1357264810_2def0618ef.jpg?v=0

This would be my answer. :y:

Tazz Dan

04-17-2009, 05:58 AM

Ministry Undertaker.

04-17-2009, 06:17 AM

The Undertaker with purple gloves and boots.

Sting Fan

04-17-2009, 07:19 AM

Heel ABA taker, Draggin Hogan behind the bike, through until the end of that same run.

It had the Hardy Ladder match, Angles vs. Taker vs. Rock I think it was, amazing triple threat. and it was just a good era for him IMO. A better fit with the times.

Nicky Fives

04-17-2009, 07:32 AM

1. Purple Gloves
2. American Bad Ass
3. Original (grey gloves)

04-17-2009, 08:02 AM

American Bad Ass was by far the best.

It really is his best charachter. It fits him perfectly. The deadman thing gets extremely annoying and cliche. His promo's were so much better as the American Bad Ass too.

Volare

04-17-2009, 08:44 AM

"A Decade of Distruction" caught on pretty well too.

The Fonz

04-17-2009, 08:52 AM

American Badass, followed by Ministry, then Current Taker.

Sting Fan

04-17-2009, 09:01 AM

Deadman Inc was a good little slogan too.

AJHayes

04-17-2009, 09:17 AM

I can't say one particular Taker or another. He has always seemed to be what the company needs. His contributions from 93 to 96-97 was what kept the company afloat while new stars were being established.

wwe2222

04-17-2009, 09:22 AM

Ministry Taker
Old School Taker
Current
American Bad Ass

I liked the American Bad Ass concept, but I didnt enjoy alot of what he was doing at the time.

Executioner

04-17-2009, 09:22 AM

I was such a mark for the Ministry angle. one of my favorite angles ever

:y: :yes: loved the angle and loved the themes...i always loved the corporate ministry theme...but never cared for the angle...took too much away from taker

OverTaker

04-17-2009, 09:29 AM

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5314/phenom070id4.jpg

Lord-Of-Darkness

04-17-2009, 09:31 AM

Hasn't Taker actually stated before that he didn't enjoy doing the whole 'Ministry of Darkness' thing?

Xero

04-17-2009, 09:51 AM

Ministry Taker was great, but I have to go with current Taker. In terms of his in-ring work he's miles ahead of his other gimmicks.

Rammsteinmad

04-17-2009, 10:24 AM

Ministry was really cool, and Taker's work now is way above anything else he had done before, but I think my favourite Undertaker was the badass, especially when he turned heel.

He was more believable in the fact that he wouldn't sit up after taking a beating etc, he sold pain, but he was big and intimidating enough to still be the "big dog in the yard".

The Gold Standard

04-17-2009, 10:44 AM

I would have to say the one from 98-00. A little before the ministry and a little after.

ron the dial

04-17-2009, 10:50 AM

ministry taker is my favorite. i'll take all of 97-99, though.

DAMN iNATOR

04-17-2009, 11:01 AM

American Bad Ass.

Yes, I mark for Biker Taker, what of it!?

TOVO Fact: Tovo doesn't watch TNA anymore.

Only good thing about Biker Taker was "You're Gonna Pay"
<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/GKP_ZYBOHQ4&hl=en&fs=1 width=425 height=344 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

Didn't really care for Limp Bizkit's "Rollin'", with the exception of the spooky music at the start and the footsteps and of course 'Taker doing his "DEAD MAN WALKIN'" voice over work...

Also, in those clips during that theme he had, there was a pretty sick chokeslam he did to Cena (see the 1:31-1:33 section)

Anybody Thrilla

04-17-2009, 11:36 AM

Booger Red, Ministry, then current.

Savio

04-17-2009, 11:37 AM

Ministry Taker. He also had the coolest theme of them all

Savio

04-17-2009, 11:40 AM

Hasn't Taker actually stated before that he didn't enjoy doing the whole 'Ministry of Darkness' thing?
Maybe, I remember him saying he didn't like it when Vince joined though.

Anybody Thrilla

04-17-2009, 11:44 AM

He didn't like being portrayed as evil or somewhere thereabouts.

Gerard

04-17-2009, 12:20 PM

Booger Red,

I stll dunno wtf that was meant to mean. I remember jr had been saying it for weeks and when lawler asked him what he meant he just said something about red hair and he would tell him later. :wtf:

For a while i was thinking it might have been one of his previous wcw gimmicks, but nope.

#1-norm-fan

04-17-2009, 12:22 PM

I like the original 'Taker. Just for nostalgic purposes. I remember being generally freaked out by the aftermath of the Yokozuna casket match at the Rumble.

Other than that, current 'Taker is my favorite because of the matches he has been able to put on.

The One

04-17-2009, 12:29 PM

Only good thing about Biker Taker was "You're Gonna Pay"
<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/GKP_ZYBOHQ4&hl=en&fs=1 width=425 height=344 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

Didn't really care for Limp Bizkit's "Rollin'", with the exception of the spooky music at the start and the footsteps and of course 'Taker doing his "DEAD MAN WALKIN'" voice over work...

Also, in those clips during that theme he had, there was a pretty sick chokeslam he did to Cena (see the 1:31-1:33 section)

My reasoning is pretty simple, I simply don't buy gimmicky wrestlers. I know it's unpopular, but I like Kane more without the mask, simply a big guy who's looking for a fight. I like Taker because I could understand a giant bad ass riding around on a Harley. There's a world of difference between an embellished personality and a downright fictional gimmick. I don't like gimmicks. Plus, I mark like a bitch for the Last Ride Powerbomb.

I will say in terms of match quality, his best matches have actually been since his most recent return as the deadman. But in terms of personality and marking out for a guy, yeah it was Biker Taker all the way for me.

TOVO Fact: Tovo prefers the taste of Diet Pepsi to regular Pepsi.

Anybody Thrilla

04-17-2009, 01:35 PM

I stll dunno wtf that was meant to mean. I remember jr had been saying it for weeks and when lawler asked him what he meant he just said something about red hair and he would tell him later. :wtf:

For a while i was thinking it might have been one of his previous wcw gimmicks, but nope.

I have a couple of theories:

*Booger Red meant that he was the type to punch you right on the nose and soak your boogers red with YOUR OWN BLOOD!!!!

OR

*You would be alarmed if you picked out a red booger as opposed to a green or yellowish one. He was the booger that you DIDN'T want to pick (a fight with).

***

Both of these theories are quite dumb, but that's the best I can make of it.

DAMN iNATOR

04-17-2009, 03:56 PM

My reasoning is pretty simple, I simply don't buy gimmicky wrestlers. I know it's unpopular, but I like Kane more without the mask, simply a big guy who's looking for a fight. I like Taker because I could understand a giant bad ass riding around on a Harley. There's a world of difference between an embellished personality and a downright fictional gimmick. I don't like gimmicks. Plus, I mark like a bitch for the Last Ride Powerbomb.

I will say in terms of match quality, his best matches have actually been since his most recent return as the deadman. But in terms of personality and marking out for a guy, yeah it was Biker Taker all the way for me.

TOVO Fact: Tovo prefers the taste of Diet Pepsi to regular Pepsi.

Did you, however see the impact of the chokeslam on that vid from him to Cena at about the 1:32 mark? I'll bet Cena did not know where he was for about 12 hours after that match.

Johnny Vegas

04-17-2009, 04:00 PM

#1 wwf fan, definitely felt the same after the casket match with yoko. I remember not even being able to sleep with the lights off when he did his quick promo on the titantron. crazy freaky

therocksays

04-17-2009, 04:18 PM

american bad ass taker sucked ( in my opinion though), he turned from the prince of darkness into a hillbilly biker, he even said on tv "Yeah i gotta put up with this crap a little bit longer" (talking about the biker gimmic)

Mooияakeя™

04-17-2009, 04:48 PM

In a kayfabe way, early Taker. I mean i was young, and believe things more back then, but that was the mysterious Taker and he played it perfect. I also think Paul Bearer added to this mystique.

In my current capacity (what are we called? MARKS / SMARKS?), whatever, I like corporate / ministry Taker. The whole "IT'S ME AUSTIN" time was an amazing storyline and one of my favourites.

I :heart: The Higher Power

DaVe

04-18-2009, 03:41 AM

Hasn't Taker actually stated before that he didn't enjoy doing the whole 'Ministry of Darkness' thing?

Like Savior mentioned, it was actually more that Taker really didn't like being portrayed as a Corporate Bitch, and it didn't suit where the Undertaker was as a character at that time. He was supposed to be (and was) an demonic beast and outlaw but in the end he was just McMahon's bitch. After the whole Corporate Ministry thing, he returned to being what he was meant to be in the Unholy Alliance.

Anyway, Taker in 98-99 was great, and the current Taker now is a great combination of all his past characters, and puts out the best matches he ever has.

Wasn't the biggest ABA fan. He was pretty much like everybody else.

Rock582

04-19-2009, 10:22 AM

Savio

04-21-2009, 01:43 PM