Undertaker to skip WrestleMania XXIX?
 

Source: PWInsider

New details are coming out about The Undertaker's status for WrestleMania 29 and it's said that The Deadman is not in good shape at all. One thing that wasn't reported after his WrestleMania match with Triple H this year is that the hip replacement he had a few years back was damaged pretty bad.
There is talk that some of the surgical work he has had done over the past few years is really beat up to the point that he's back to square one. Taker had been going to see specialists in New York but he is so beat up now that WWE has been flying the doctors to his home in Texas instead.

There is also a lot of talk within WWE that if he does end up doing anything at WrestleMania 29, it likely won't be a big time physical match like we are used to. As we have noted, there is talk of having Taker work the Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant with the idea he can do a few memorable spots before being eliminated.

Right now The Undertaker is not being figured into any major WrestleMania plans internally. The feeling is if he wants to do it and feels like he can do it, WWE will make room for him. It wouldn't be the first time but it's possible could see The Undertaker skip a WrestleMania in 2013.

Some people within WWE are under the impression that the "end of an era" hype from this year's WrestleMania against Triple H really was the end as far as big time WrestleMania matches for The Undertaker go.

No

It's time :(

I don't mind this one bit. I don't want the Undertaker retiring on an uneven number like 22-0, and I don't think he can, or I can, go through another five years. It's time for him to really step down and give his big Wrestlemania spot to someone on the current roster.

With that said, a Royal Rumble appearance would be a huge mark-out moment for the fans, but will also help get someone over by eliminating him.

Overall, I think this works better for all the parties involved, the Undertaker, the WWE and the fans. :y:

The Miz should come out at Wrestlemania and call out The Undertaker. When Taker doesn't come out, because he's not at Mania, Miz can go on claiming that he "beat" Taker at Mania by forfeit.

No one will be able to take his "big WrestleMania spot" no matter how it's "given" to them. The streak is a million times more over than any title in wrestling. That's the loss that WWE would need to replace somehow more than Taker.

Can't buy into that he would work the Rumble and not Mania, they'd just save him for Mania and have him appear on a couple of Raws beforehand surely.

Actually, that's not a bad idea.

The whole idea of him only working one match a year to defend a streak to me actually makes it less meaningful anyway he should just retire at Wrestlemania it would at least give him one more special moment.

He wouldn't have to bump in the Rumble. He could do a chokeslam or two, then do his bit where he gets clotheslined over the top rop and lands on his feet.

Worked for Jericho with Goldberg.

He's my all time 2nd favorite perofrmer and would much rather see him retire now for good. For his own health and for the sake of match quality.

I bet that what people said about Hulk Hogan...(in 1993)

I do like this idea but think it might be more effective if 'Taker *did* enter the Rumble and was eliminated by Miz (or whoever, has to be a heel but not necessarily Miz).

"Undertaker, I eliminated you from the Royal Rumble and because of that I *KNOW* I can beat you one, two, three in the middle of the ring. I'm challenging you to a match at Wrestlemania!"

*Undertaker doesn't respond, or does respond but refuses to accept the challenge*

"Well, there you have it ladies and gentleman, The Undertaker is GONE from WWE and the last you ever saw of him was him being clotheslined over the top rope by ME. Not only did I eliminate him from The Royal Rumble, but from the entire WWE. The Undertaker is gone once and for all, and I'm the man who did it!"

to touch on what xclaiber said, doesn't it say somethign about the lack of star power in the E if this guy shows up two weeks before mania builds a match out of the clear blue sky with someone and wrestles one match a year to dissapear for the other 11 1/2 months before doing it all again?

Yes. It says that Taker and his streak are on a whole other level than the active, full-time roster. Night and day.

For purely selfish reasons, I hope he decides to compete. This'll be the first Mania I go to, so I'd obviously love to see The Streak continue in person.

I've gone back and forth but I really wanna see the streak end. It would be such a monumental HUGE moment. I feel like you can't rob wrestling fans of that moment that was being built up to for 20+ years and will be remembered forever just so Taker can keep a scripted streak forever. Taker is gonna go down as one of the greatest of all time and "the streak" will go down in infamy regardless.

John Cena turns heel at WrestleMania 30 by cheating to end The Streak.

If he can't show up for Mania, probably not a good idea to have him in the Rumble if it leads to nothing in the end.

Whoever eliminates him won't be given a chance to face him at Mania as sort of Taker's way for revenge. Same goes for if he eliminates anyone of status since they won't have the chance at revenge at Mania.

I think he needs to retire. I'm ready to read his autobiography, as well as see a new documentary about his career, and finally see him in the Hall of Fame making an epic speech. It's time. I like the Undertaker, but I for one am not interested in seeing a 60-something year old Undertaker barely move in the ring one day, or worst, end up in a wheelchair. This is the perfect time to retire. Hell, the guy is already semi-retired and only wrestles once a year. If his body is starting to shut down on him then it may be time to hang up his boots and go out on a good note with his head up.

Ideally, I'd love it if he could just somehow wrestle just one more match at Wrestlemania this year and put The Rock or Brock Lesnar over - Or hell, WWE could totally fuck with the fans heads and let the fans know that it would be Undertaker's last match and make the fans think Taker is going to lose, but then he actually ends. :lol: I would LOVE that.

I also think Shawn Michaels or Mick Foley would be the ideal choices to induct Undertaker into the Hall of Fame. Or Undertaker's long time friend Bret Hart would be another good choice. Or Paul Bearer, but I think a fellow wrestler should be the one who does it. i.e. Someone who was actually in the ring with the Undertaker and helped him make money.

He should never appear at Mania again. Have him wrestle at Survivor Series, making the event bookmarks to his career.

With Paul Bearer and Brother Love.

Why do a remake? It won't compare to the original, especially with all of them looking like Grandfather's. I say create a new memory to end his career.

Undertaker with Paul Bearer at Survivor Series will give fans an opportunity to give a proper send off to both men. If it's billed as a farewell match, Survivor Series will also make more than any other non WM PPV in my opinion. Who wouldn't buy it if the build up was done correctly?

Me.

Why not?

If they wanna do a match with Lesnar, he could conceivably have a good match working an MMA style that wouldn't be as physically risky. He wouldn't need to take the crazy bumps and such you'd expect. A lot of striking and submissions. Just depends on if they wanna go that route.

They could even play up the "broken down old man" angle and have Lesnar ready to just pick the pieces and finish off what Triple H started.

I have zero desire to see a Lesnar/Taker match.

If they went any direction other than what you suggested it would be pushing things too far for my imagination to accept.

They have to do Cena/Taker at WrestleMania. There is no way WWE lets that easy paycheck slip through their fingers.

For every Undertaker match at Wrestlemania, guys like Ziggler, Rhodes, McIntyre, Christian, Ryder, Morrison (when he was around), Sheamus, Bryan, Barrett, etc, get thrown in five-minute clusterfuck matches.

Let the Deadman retire for good and let the new blood really step up on the big stage.

The guy can't keep going forever, let him leave on a perfect 20-0.

I just realized, isn't Miz undefeated @ Mania now? 3-0?

LET THE NEW STREAK BEGIN!

Not really, in the end.

They really do. And I'm gonna catch flack for saying this, but I want Cena to end the streak.

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Talk about full circle. How awesome would it be if they showed this video and made it a vital part of a Taker-Cena WrestleMania build?

I would rather him skip wrestlemania rather than have a weak match just to up his streak

It's still new to me, dammit!

Why? He got over, he didn't get a match till they were in a different company but it still got him over.

Makes sense. He didn't wrestle on X (1994) and XVI (2000) due to injuries. I say save it until WM XXX.

Fake undertaker needs to step in for him.

Damn, this blows.

Other than the 2nd favourite (he's my #1), I totally agree. I don't want him to hurt himself anymore if he really is in such bad shape. And I don't want to see him put on a poor match that leaves a bad taste in peoples mouth just before he retires/goes into the hall of fame.

For all he's done for the WWE and his loyalty I'd say that the streak should be kept intact and unbroken for all time.

I really don't see how that's a "reward".

I also can't see Taker being so selfish and egotistical that he would want to keep a scripted streak as opposed to using a streak he's spent 20 years building up to give pro wrestling one of the most memorable and surreal moments it's ever seen. How often do you get the chance to have a pinfall be as meaningful as a pinfall over The Undertaker at WrestleMania can be? Why would you just never let that moment happen?

The Streak is the biggest draw that WrestleMania has had in a long time. It's a constant "staple" storyline to the best show of the year. The Streak needs to end with either a "This is Taker's last match whether he wins or loses" build, or he needs to lose and leave. There needs to be finality to it either way. We all know that the "End of an Era" build was referring to the last two Attitude era "legends" going at it for the last time, and not referring to Taker and HHH's careers.

I guarantee that majority of the ticket buyers that are willing to dish out hundreds of dollars on November 10th to see Mania are most looking forward to seeing Taker's next match. The day Taker leaves will be a huge hit to WrestleMania and Vince's wallet.

I've given the WWE enough money. They owe ME.

I read somewhere that Scott Steiner may take the streak this year

Its clearly THE RYBACK who should end the streak.

I totally thought that punk would face taker with his belt on the line for respect since there isn't a bigger victory that would get him respect than beating taker at wm. It would easily tie into the attitude era thing that punks trying to do AND punk could take revenge on the shitty match he had with taker where he lost the belt to taker years ago.

What I'm afraid will happen now is they'll give Cena a "one last shot" type match where if he loses no more shots at punk and then he'll win the Rumble to get nother shot and he'll beat him at wm.

Barring sporadic appearances like Raw 1000, I really think he ought to hang it up. The Streak ending at 20-0 is neat and clean and if he keeps going he'd going to cripple himself. He just did 4 years of Mania matches with the two best guys he could ever work with, anything else would be a step down, and after beating HHH in HIAC, losing to a Mix, a Ryback, or a Cena would just soil the whole thing. Leave it on the high note, don't turn him into Terry Funkertaker.

I'd be afraid of that too, the last thing Cena needs is a 'Mania crowd chanting "Luger" at him.

They don't need to have The Undertaker work WrestleMania. You could even induct him into the Hall of Fame this year, have some heels mock him on the main show, have Taker kick their asses as a special appearance, and then build to a match at WrestleMania XXX.

I’ve always said the 20-0 WM mark (no pun intended) should be Undertaker’s retirement match anyway. Put him in this year or the year after’s HoF...guy clearly deserves it.

Still wanna see Taker-Punk and Taker-Cena with one of them winning. Also want to see Taker-Brock, but could the other two are much more important.

If he were to keep having WM matches, I’d prefer it if they didn’t just have him wrestle 1-4 more times. Have him have 5 more matches and win them all, and stop the streak at 25-0.

25 seems like a significant and round enough number for ’Taker to stop on if they decide they don’t want to let him retire at 20, which as I stated before, I clearly think he should.

Taker-Daniel Bryan is also one I would love to see

That would be great. The student avenging his teacher, whom the Deadman retired.

That would actually not be the worst idea in the world. Even his detractors have to admit that Daniel Bryan is a fantastic worker, and one that can get the absolute best out of Taker at this stage of his career. Bryan's current relationship with Kane could also come into play, and make things particularly interesting.

I very much doubt the WWE would do it, but if they absolutely want Taker in a role at Mania, you can do far worse for the man than to put him in there with one of the best workers they've ever had.

20-0 is perfect and should be the end. The Undertaker should just retire unless he wants to lose to CM Punk.

It could also be that he is just resting up for a huge match at WrestleMania 30. This seems like it could be a wedge WrestleMania.

Undertaker hip replacement ..i feel his gave us great matches..when body parts start to go ..it time to go ..sad to hear that ..hope he heals well.

I'd like the streak to remain intact and never broken. It would be the signature accomplishment that Taker will be known for rather than # of World title reigns etc.

Do you seriously think if Undertaker goes 20-1 or 21-1 that "The Streak" would just be forgotten? It would be fucking stupid not to use this to make a new star. That is how the business works.

But who is worthy enough to beat the Undertaker? Unless it's going to be the next Rock then I think the streak should remain as is. I honestly don't see John Cena, C.M. Punk or Randy Orton as being as big as they are in ten years. They are in *right now* but what about in the future? I think if they were going to be icons, they'd be there by now. Guys like Hogan, Rock, and Austin are household names. i.e. Plenty of non-wrestling fans know who they are, and only that kind of a wrestler should beat the Undertaker. WWE just needs to find a young wrestler who will one day be in the same league as Hulk Hogan.

I'd say Brock Lesnar is the *only* guy even a little bit close enough to be that guy because of his MMA background and he'd be the only man I'd be alright with ending the streak. I also still think it's time for Undertaker to retire.

A lot of the time yes, but not everything has to be done just to get someone over.

I think people overestimate just how much the win would get someone over. Yes it would be a huge notch on their fake sport highlight reel, and the few months after would be huge for that person. But wrestling fans these days are fickle, and after those few months, the excitement would start to level off, and it would be business as usual.

What I'm saying is you don't need to break the streak to get a guy over, and it's not going to add enough to any superstar, to where it's worth breaking the streak.

Let the guy have his legacy. No, the streak wouldn't be forgotten if it was broken, but it wouldn't be quite as cool.

And as I said, wrestling fans are fickle. 10 years later, fans may not look at the streak breaker any different than the other main eventers throughout history. But Taker's undefeated legacy would stand the test of time.

You know how those guys got there? By beating other guys who were over and having iconic matches.

Cena is the "icon" of this era. There's no reason why he shouldn't get a win over Taker at WrestleMania at some point and accomplish the impossible. The streak will always be a big deal and a huge part of the history of WWE and Taker's "seemingly unmatchable feet" regardless of whether it ends or doesn't. There's no reason not to use it to give the guy who carried your company on his back for 10 years that monumental win that forces him into the upper echelon.

You’re right, other than the fact that they have no plans to turn Cena heel and how ridiculous it would be to turn a once-a-year wrestler heel just for 1 match. I’d also like to note that I’m not in the slightest interested in a “may the best man win” face vs. face streak match where both guys do something similar to Rock/Hogan post-match at WM x8 with all kinds of hand-shaking and posing and back and forth with the showing of “respect” and “sportsmanship”. A ’Taker WM match has never ended like that before and there’s no reason to ever do it period, just like there’s absolutely no reason to destroy the defining piece of Undertaker’s legacy -- EVER.

Agree wholeheartedly. It would be nice to see Cena get his signature moment for all the hard work he's put in.

Because Cena defeating JBL at WM 21 to win his first WWE Championship doesn’t count, and neither does beating HBK at WM 23 to keep the WWE title. :roll:

... Who said anything about anyone turning heel?

He put Triple H's arm over his shoulder and helped walk him down the aisle after the match last year! lol. The end of it was all about respect and sportsmanship.

lol what DAMN iNATOR? The last 4 Taker WM matches have been face v face.

And then against Batista as well in 2007, so 5 of the last 6.

That too.

I thought the second HBK vs Taker streak match had HBK playing as a heel but in the sense of when HBK was a "heel" against Hogan and not as a full blown heel.

Same period where he eliminated Triple H because he was obsessed with being the only one to go after Taker and then cost Taker his title when he knew he couldn't get revenge at Mania if Taker still had the title.

James Steele is correct.

James Steele is also a complete faggot, who can't take his shit-stained cock out of Shawn Michaels ass long enough to form his own fucking opinions.

Hey Jimmy....how does Shawn's ass taste, you fucking prick?

> 8 - (

I think someone is a little jealous...

You sold me.

Taker's last match doesn't have to be a Wrestlemania Streak match either.

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Hey Noid...can you tell Jimmy Steele to do what this guy did? =P

Chill out Ronic. No need to get your knickers twisted over a few comments made about wrestlers on the internet.

:y:

You're right and I know it. Afterall, where would Hogan be if Andre never jobbed to him at Wrestlemania 3? After all these years, I still sometimes think like a mark - i.e. I just hate seeing Undertaker lose, especially to Cena or C.M. Punk because I don't care for Cena's gimmick and C.M. Punk just gets under my skin. :) (Which means he does his job well.)

The only two young guys I'd be comfortable seeing Undertaker job to would be (again) Lesnar because I've always been a mark for big guys, or Randy Orton just because I truly believe he can go very far in the business and he is the legend-killer and there is no bigger legend in the business today then the Underaker. If Orton could "kill" the Undertaker (i.e. retire him) Orton's status as a legend-killer and a heel would be huge.