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**Theo Dious** · 03-21-2007, 01:18 PM

Ok, I know this is turning into a "Taker Streak" thread, so let's review.

"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
Definitely a credible and worthy opponent, seemingly picked to give some credibility to their newest monster. A basically solid match by a fearless monster heel and an etablished veteran.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Another good, credible veteran, and a great payoff to a well-built feud that was seemingly a quick solution to another unexpected Warrior disappearance. Taker gets over well by surviving 2 DDTs.

Giant Gonzales
God this blew. Probably the worst Taker match in WM history, if not ever. Taker wins by DQ after a large man in an airbrushed suit of muscles introduces chloroform into the match. Taker undersells the chemicals, but so what.

King Kong Bundy
IMO this match weakened the Undertaker when he needed the aid of his pudgy little manager and his urn to win it. At least Bundy was a NAME, and not just a beast in a hairy suit.

Diesel
For a slugfest between a couple of guys without a lot of technical skill, this wasn't bad. A big man's brawl that saw Taker absorb two Jacknifes, it was about as good as could be expected.

Sid
A hastily thrown-together title match, and worse than most that didn't involve Hulk Hogan. Especially by the standards of the previous year, it was a crappy match between two big lugs, and it didn't help that Taker seemed to need Bret Hart's help to win the match.

Kane 1
The culmination of months of excellent buildup, and proof that Glen Jacobs had finally found a gimmick that would stick. Too short, perhaps, but an excellent match between "brothers."

Big Bossman
Thing not to do at a PPV: Position a high-profile gimmick match in the middle of the program. Thing not to do at Wrestlemania: Take a multiple-time champion and one of the biggest guys in your company and stick him in a match with a lame-ass midcarder. Thing never to do: Have the victor's manager and henchmen apparently commit murder at the end of the match. I was never able to figure out if the Ministry or the Corporation were supposed to be the bigger heel, but either way, to see a man swinging motionlessly from the ceiling at the end of the match had to have scarred my mind. Add to that that it was a shitty use of HIAC in the first place.

HHH
Two of the best ring psychologists the WWE has ever seen in a violent, non-stop battle. Not much more to say about that, except that it was fantastic.

Ric Flair
Why exactly the Undertaker had any interest in beating up old men and their sons is beyond me, but by the standards of a couple of aging wrestlers, this wasn't too bad. Watchable, not spectacular.

A-Train/Big Show
Undertaker vs a shaved ape and an unshaved ape. WWE's attempt to groom Nathan Jones for something big blows up in their faces as the Undertaker takes on two slow-ass beasts, and then he pins the LESS credible of the two. Ugh.

Kane 2
Again, far too short, but a good match between the two. The good part of this was the buildup to Taker's return, and the added return of Paul Bearer made it even more enjoyable.

Randy Orton
A good match and good with the legend-killer business and all, but the timing of this match was pretty bad. Orton was already struggling to recover from a poorly conceived face-turn and now he turns heel only to lose to the Undertaker. The only good part of this was that the resultant feud that lasted most of 2005 proved that WWE is, in fact, still aware of the definition of long-term booking.

Mark Henry
High points: Seeing Mark Henry get Last-Ride-ed, Tombstoned, and put in a box. Low points: Every other moment of this match. Being a casket match was probably the ONLY thing that made it even slightly watchable.

Batista
Ok, so this hasn't happened yet. But I think we all know what we're going to get. With two guys who can work when they want to, this ought to be something similar to Taker/Diesel and Taker/Sid. Given that this is a planned main event instead of the last-minute business that Taker/Sid was, it ought to be watchable, but I don't think that Batista is deserving of ending a legendary win streak.

So out of all that, who is most worthy? Probably Kane. He's the only one who has given us a good match, let alone two, that wouldn't completely piss all over Taker's legacy in doing so.

Thank you very much.

03-21-2007, 01:18 PM	#20
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Ok, I know this is turning into a "Taker Streak" thread, so let's review. "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka Definitely a credible and worthy opponent, seemingly picked to give some credibility to their newest monster. A basically solid match by a fearless monster heel and an etablished veteran. Jake "The Snake" Roberts Another good, credible veteran, and a great payoff to a well-built feud that was seemingly a quick solution to another unexpected Warrior disappearance. Taker gets over well by surviving 2 DDTs. Giant Gonzales God this blew. Probably the worst Taker match in WM history, if not ever. Taker wins by DQ after a large man in an airbrushed suit of muscles introduces chloroform into the match. Taker undersells the chemicals, but so what. King Kong Bundy IMO this match weakened the Undertaker when he needed the aid of his pudgy little manager and his urn to win it. At least Bundy was a NAME, and not just a beast in a hairy suit. Diesel For a slugfest between a couple of guys without a lot of technical skill, this wasn't bad. A big man's brawl that saw Taker absorb two Jacknifes, it was about as good as could be expected. Sid A hastily thrown-together title match, and worse than most that didn't involve Hulk Hogan. Especially by the standards of the previous year, it was a crappy match between two big lugs, and it didn't help that Taker seemed to need Bret Hart's help to win the match. Kane 1 The culmination of months of excellent buildup, and proof that Glen Jacobs had finally found a gimmick that would stick. Too short, perhaps, but an excellent match between "brothers." Big Bossman Thing not to do at a PPV: Position a high-profile gimmick match in the middle of the program. Thing not to do at Wrestlemania: Take a multiple-time champion and one of the biggest guys in your company and stick him in a match with a lame-ass midcarder. Thing never to do: Have the victor's manager and henchmen apparently commit murder at the end of the match. I was never able to figure out if the Ministry or the Corporation were supposed to be the bigger heel, but either way, to see a man swinging motionlessly from the ceiling at the end of the match had to have scarred my mind. Add to that that it was a shitty use of HIAC in the first place. HHH Two of the best ring psychologists the WWE has ever seen in a violent, non-stop battle. Not much more to say about that, except that it was fantastic. Ric Flair Why exactly the Undertaker had any interest in beating up old men and their sons is beyond me, but by the standards of a couple of aging wrestlers, this wasn't too bad. Watchable, not spectacular. A-Train/Big Show Undertaker vs a shaved ape and an unshaved ape. WWE's attempt to groom Nathan Jones for something big blows up in their faces as the Undertaker takes on two slow-ass beasts, and then he pins the LESS credible of the two. Ugh. Kane 2 Again, far too short, but a good match between the two. The good part of this was the buildup to Taker's return, and the added return of Paul Bearer made it even more enjoyable. Randy Orton A good match and good with the legend-killer business and all, but the timing of this match was pretty bad. Orton was already struggling to recover from a poorly conceived face-turn and now he turns heel only to lose to the Undertaker. The only good part of this was that the resultant feud that lasted most of 2005 proved that WWE is, in fact, still aware of the definition of long-term booking. Mark Henry High points: Seeing Mark Henry get Last-Ride-ed, Tombstoned, and put in a box. Low points: Every other moment of this match. Being a casket match was probably the ONLY thing that made it even slightly watchable. Batista Ok, so this hasn't happened yet. But I think we all know what we're going to get. With two guys who can work when they want to, this ought to be something similar to Taker/Diesel and Taker/Sid. Given that this is a planned main event instead of the last-minute business that Taker/Sid was, it ought to be watchable, but I don't think that Batista is deserving of ending a legendary win streak. So out of all that, who is most worthy? Probably Kane. He's the only one who has given us a good match, let alone two, that wouldn't completely piss all over Taker's legacy in doing so. Thank you very much.