After Mania Undertaker will work on Smackdown!

**jasonvoorhees** · 02-14-2004, 09:57 PM

Prowrestling.com
The Rock's WWE Return, WrestleMania, 'Taker-WWE
Story By: Niel Stephens
February 14, 2004

It appears that The Rock will only making a couple appearances before his tag-team match at WrestleMania with Mick Foley against Evolution members Randy Orton and Batista. Last year, The Rock said that he�ll be playing a major role in the company from January 2004 through till March, however as we�ve all seen he didn�t live up to this. He will definitely return before WrestleMania and make a few appearances to hype his and Foley�s match up at WrestleMania, however it�s likely that these appearances will be taped vignettes.

WWE aren�t missing out on The Rock financially as Mr.McMahon is The Rock�s Holywood agent and receives good payouts from all his movie deals. So Even though The Rock isn�t appearing in WWE, he�s still making a significant amount of money for the company.

Once the Undertaker does return to WWE, he will once again be working full time on the Smackdown! Brand, not part time as many would have expected.

News Derived From The PWTorch

**Fryza** · 02-14-2004, 10:04 PM

I thought he was leaving after 'Mania?

**jasonvoorhees** · 02-14-2004, 10:16 PM

Now you see he won't leave, and maybe that means he will fight Kurt Angle for the title.

**The CyNick** · 02-14-2004, 11:04 PM

Well, to me this isn't really news, Ive been saying all along that Taker was staying on Smackdown. People assumed that because Kane is on RAW that would mean Taker is jumping, see what what happens when you assume things?

I think Taker's next program will depend on where they go with Taker's character. If the gimmick is still hot after Mania they might as well stick with it, and least do a tour of the country with Taker playing the old gimmick. As Ive said before, there is an outside chance it could do some business on the house shows.

He will still be a babyafce, so he'll have to work a heel, which means Cena and Guerrero get off of 'put over Taker duty' at least for now. That leaves either Brock, Eddie or Show for Taker. If they are smart they will protect Kurt and Brock, and just feed Taker Big Show. However, Brock will look strong coming out of Mania, so I could definately see them going with a Brock-Taker program. Taker has done a couple of JOBs for Brock, so I could see this as payback time. Obviously that would be a stupid idea, because Brock should be kept strong as a challenger for Eddie (assuming he gets the title), but the WWE doesn't always (re ever) do whats right, so.

An outside chance is that the WWE would give a massive push to Matt Morgan and put him in a fued with Taker. Again, that would also be a bad idea, because A)Morgan is too green for that spot and B) he will have to JOB to Taker and that will pretty much kill any chance he has of being a main eventer for the next couple of years. Who knows, maybe they'll bring over kane to SD and just let them fued for a few months.

**ilt_undertaker** · 02-14-2004, 11:06 PM

**Corkscrewed** · 02-15-2004, 02:43 AM

I assume UT jumps because I like to assume the worst and possibly get pleasantly surprised.

If he stays on SD!, I hope he's still the Dead Man for a little bit. I'd love to see that entrance again!

02-14-2004, 09:57 PM	#1
jasonvoorhees THE KING OF DA STREET&NET Posts: 240	After Mania Undertaker will work on Smackdown! Prowrestling.com The Rock's WWE Return, WrestleMania, 'Taker-WWE Story By: Niel Stephens February 14, 2004 It appears that The Rock will only making a couple appearances before his tag-team match at WrestleMania with Mick Foley against Evolution members Randy Orton and Batista. Last year, The Rock said that he�ll be playing a major role in the company from January 2004 through till March, however as we�ve all seen he didn�t live up to this. He will definitely return before WrestleMania and make a few appearances to hype his and Foley�s match up at WrestleMania, however it�s likely that these appearances will be taped vignettes. WWE aren�t missing out on The Rock financially as Mr.McMahon is The Rock�s Holywood agent and receives good payouts from all his movie deals. So Even though The Rock isn�t appearing in WWE, he�s still making a significant amount of money for the company. Once the Undertaker does return to WWE, he will once again be working full time on the Smackdown! Brand, not part time as many would have expected. News Derived From The PWTorch

02-14-2004, 10:04 PM	#2
Fryza Fthagn? Posts: 10,042	I thought he was leaving after 'Mania?

02-14-2004, 10:16 PM	#3
jasonvoorhees THE KING OF DA STREET&NET Posts: 240	Now you see he won't leave, and maybe that means he will fight Kurt Angle for the title.

02-14-2004, 11:04 PM	#4
The CyNick Make the IWC Great Again Posts: 8,922	Well, to me this isn't really news, Ive been saying all along that Taker was staying on Smackdown. People assumed that because Kane is on RAW that would mean Taker is jumping, see what what happens when you assume things? I think Taker's next program will depend on where they go with Taker's character. If the gimmick is still hot after Mania they might as well stick with it, and least do a tour of the country with Taker playing the old gimmick. As Ive said before, there is an outside chance it could do some business on the house shows. He will still be a babyafce, so he'll have to work a heel, which means Cena and Guerrero get off of 'put over Taker duty' at least for now. That leaves either Brock, Eddie or Show for Taker. If they are smart they will protect Kurt and Brock, and just feed Taker Big Show. However, Brock will look strong coming out of Mania, so I could definately see them going with a Brock-Taker program. Taker has done a couple of JOBs for Brock, so I could see this as payback time. Obviously that would be a stupid idea, because Brock should be kept strong as a challenger for Eddie (assuming he gets the title), but the WWE doesn't always (re ever) do whats right, so. An outside chance is that the WWE would give a massive push to Matt Morgan and put him in a fued with Taker. Again, that would also be a bad idea, because A)Morgan is too green for that spot and B) he will have to JOB to Taker and that will pretty much kill any chance he has of being a main eventer for the next couple of years. Who knows, maybe they'll bring over kane to SD and just let them fued for a few months.

02-14-2004, 11:06 PM	#5
ilt_undertaker Sexy Posts: 5,443

02-15-2004, 02:43 AM	#6
Corkscrewed Posts: 18,357	I assume UT jumps because I like to assume the worst and possibly get pleasantly surprised. If he stays on SD!, I hope he's still the Dead Man for a little bit. I'd love to see that entrance again!