Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 Year In Review

Welcome to another Year In Review. Like I said last year, I would do another post reviewing the year in Sports. This year has had its fair share of twists and turns for the good, bad and the ugly. From deflated football controversies, the death of a Sports legend, a UFC upset, etc., you name it, more than likely it happened in 2015. Either way, like 2014, this year gave us plenty to talk about. Ladies and Gentlemen the review of 2015.

January:

  • The year starts off on a sad note with the death of Iconic Sports Anchor Stuart Scott following a battle with Cancer. He was only 49 years old. 
  • The New England Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl after a controversy that involved Brady and the equipment staff deflating 11 of the 12 footballs for the AFC Championship Game vs. the Indianapolis Colts. 
  • Roman Reigns wins the Royal Rumble only to get booed by the fans in Philadelphia. Fans even threatened WWE with the hashtag #CancelWWENetwork
  • WWE Announces that "Macho Man" Randy Savage would finally be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 
February:
  • The New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX after Russell Wilson throws an INT in the end zone instead of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch. 
  • WWE Superstar Seth Rollins falls under Social Media scrutiny after nude photos of him were leaked on Twitter. 
March:
  • Running Back DeMarco Murray signs a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles
  • The Undertaker makes his WrestleMania return after Brock Lesnar ended his Streak the year before. Taker defeats Bray Wyatt in his return. 
  • Seth Rollins wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31 by cashing in his MITB Briefcase during the Main Event of Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns. Rollins nails Reigns with the Curb Stomp for the victory. 
  • Duke, Wisconsin and Kentucky started the March Madness tournament at number 1. 
April: 
  • Duke Men's Basketball Team wins the NCAA Championship by defeating Wisconsin. 
  • Florida State QB Jameis Winston is drafted first overall in the midst of controversy off the field after being accused of rape while as a student on campus. 
  • Stephen Curry is named the NBA's Most Valuable Player.
May:
  • Floyd Mayweather defeats Manny Pacquaio after years of build up and speculation. 

June:
  • The Golden State Warriors defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their first NBA Championship in 40 Years. 
  • Wrestling Legend "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes passes away at 69. 
  • Former Olympian Bruce Jenner made a gender transformation and revealed himself as "Caitlyn" Jenner. This took place in the same month where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gay Marriage all across the United States.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. 
July:
  • Team USA Women's Soccer Team wins the World Cup by defeating Japan. 
  • FIFA came under fire as they were rocked by a criminal investigation. FIFA president Sepp Blatter stepped down
  • Dez Bryant signs a 5-year $70 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. 
  • Giants Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul burns hand while playing with fireworks. 
  • Kevin Garnett returns to the Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Paul Pierce signs with Los Angeles Clippers
  • On the 4th of July, WWE hosts a special show in Japan called "Beast in the East" exclusively on the WWE Network. 
  • John Cena and LeBron James receive great reviews for their roles in the movie "Trainwreck". 
  • Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan is fired by WWE after a sex tape was leaked that recorded him using racial slurs. Hogan's name, merchandise, etc were immediately removed from the WWE website. He was essentially removed from their history books. 
  • "Rowdy" Roddy Piper passed away at 61. 
August:
  • WWE hosted three events at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn for three straight day: NXT Takeover in Brooklyn, Summerslam and Monday Night RAW. 
  • Arrow star Stephen Amell steps in the ring for Summerslam. 
  • Seth Rollins defeats John Cena at Summerslam thanks to interference from Jon Stewart (LOL). 
  • The Undertaker defeats Brock Lesnar to avenge his loss at WrestleMania XXX. 
  • The Dudley Boyz return to WWE the night after Summerslam. 
  • Judge drops charges against Tom Brady surrounding "Delfategate". Brady's suspension was then lifted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. 
  • EA Sports releases Madden NFL 16
September:
  • Baseball Legend Pete Rose met with MLB to discuss possible reinstatement. Rose was banned in 1989 following controversy where he bet on games. 
  • Jerome Bettis, Charles Haley and others were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 
  • NBA Legend and Hall of Famer Moses Malone passes away at 60. 
October:
  • 2k Sports releases NBA 2k16 and WWE 2k16. 
November:
  • The Kansas City Royals win the World Series by defeating the New York Mets 4-1. This was the Royals first World Series win in 30 Years. 
  • NBA Legend Kobe Bryant announces his retirement from Basketball after 20 Seasons. 
  • LeBron James becomes youngest player in NBA History to reach 25,000 Career Points.
  • NFL Legend Peyton Manning becomes the NFL All-Time Leader in Passing Yards'
  • WWE Pays Tribute to The Undertaker by Celebrating his 25 Year Anniversary. 
  • Holly Holm delivers the ultimate upset as she defeats Ronday Rousey at UFC 193 in dominating fashion to capture the UFC Women's Championship. This was the end to Rousey's streak. 
  • Washington Nationals Star Bryce Harper wins NL MVP. 
  • NFL Defensive End Greg Hardy had his charges expunged (removed) in the midst of photographic evidence of him assaulting ex-girlfriend. 
  • Wrestling Hall of Famer Nick Bockwinkel passes away at 80. 
December:
  • Serena Williams wins "Sportswoman of the Year" for Sports Illustrated. 
  • The Movie "Concussion" premieres to shed light on the NFL's alarming epidemic of Concussions. 
  • Philadelphia Eagles fire Head Coach Chip Kelly. 
  • Charles Woodson announces his retirement from the NFL. 
  • Seth Rollins wins the Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year. 
  • Roman Reigns wins the WWE Championship in Philadelphia, the same place where he won the Royal Rumble.
  • Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon passes away at 83. 

This wraps up my review of 2015. This was filled with moments that made us laugh, cry as well as think. Time to look forward to 2016. 



Tuesday, December 22, 2015

2015: Year of the Shield




When you think of 2014-2015, the most frequent players in WWE have been the rising stars of the Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose). Throughout their tenure, these three have made a huge impact in their own way. As the Shield, they were a dominant force to be reckoned with. They left a trail of destruction. From John Cena, The Rock, Undertaker, etc, the Shield spared no one. The Shield won every title except for the WWE Title and the IC Title. Even when the group split, they were still highly featured in storylines. As we know, Roman was the muscle of the group. Ambrose was the voice. Rollins was the workhorse.



Fast forward to 2015, each star has made their own separate mark as singles competitors. With the exception of John Cena, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar, the former Shield members have been the biggest standouts from start to finish. Now, time to take a look at their journeys through the year.

Roman Reigns:


Roman Reigns has been a central figure for the WWE throughout the year. From the time that he won the Royal Rumble, Roman has been under the microscope of the Wrestling Community. Like him or hate him, Reigns has been a talking point. Reigns went from being prematurely positioned as The Rock/John Cena 2.0 by being in the Main Event of WM 31 to enduring a roller coaster ride to the top of the mountain. Fans in Philadelphia booed Roman out of the building when he won the Royal Rumble. Even when The Rock raised his hand, the fans still were not happy because they looked at Roman's journey as too predictable. The fans all across the IWC could clearly see Vince's plans for him to be the face of the company and they rebelled. The backlash against Roman was among the most intense that I ever witnessed for anyone besides John Cena. They felt that WWE was forcing Roman to become a megastar when in their eyes he was not their ideal choice (ex: Daniel Bryan). Like the year before with Batista, the fans were dissatisfied because WWE did not let their Internet Hero Daniel Bryan win the Rumble. Fans even threatened to cancel their Network Subscriptions (how many REALLY did it?). To make matters even worse, Reigns defeated Bryan at Fastlane to keep his spot as number 1 contender for WrestleMania. People that were anti-Roman were only supporting him because they did not want to see Brock Lesnar hold the title any longer. As a result of the heat from the fans, WWE pulled the plug on crowning Roman as WWE Champion. Instead, they pulled the trigger for Seth Rollins to cash in his Money In The Bank Briefcase as he pinned former Shield colleague Roman Reigns to win the WWE Championship. After the carpet was pulled from under his feet at WrestleMania, Reigns participated in the MITB Ladder Match. Instead, Bray Wyatt cost him the match as Sheamus won the Briefcase. During this time, Roman was severely scrutinized by the IWC for his lack of mic skills. They continued to make fun of him and count him out because they thought he was too green. Fans thought he was more style than substance and heavily compared him to Cena. After losing his shot to be the number 1 contender, Roman went into a feud with Bray Wyatt that reached its culmination at Hell In A Cell as Reigns conquered his enemy. Along the way, Roman worked hard to improve himself in the ring as he delivered better quality matches compared to where he was after the Shield split. Many fans still were not satisfied. When Rollins was sidelined due to injury, people started to put their stock in another Ring Of Honor Alum, Kevin Owens. The Roman hate was so out of control that fans cheered when Sheamus cashed in his MITB Briefcase at Survivor Series to defeat him for the Title. I can understand someone supporting a Kevin Owens, but Sheamus?! That is ridiculous. People were so bent on hating everything about Roman that they picked someone who is basically a caricature as WWE Champion. Clearly, Sheamus was not the answer as WWE went back to the drawing board with Reigns. The night after TLC, Roman Reigns wrestled Sheamus in Philadelphia. Vince McMahon booked the match with the stipulation of Reigns being fired if he did not win. So, it was meant for him to win that night. After multiple times of being close and falling short, Roman finally reached the mountain and stayed there. That night, Reigns defeated Sheamus to recapture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Roman won the title in the same building where the fans booed him at the Royal Rumble 11 months earlier. Roman's journey came full circle from winning the Rumble in January to winning the Title in December in the exact same arena. Instead of boos, Roman was greeted with cheers from the crowd. Roman's friend Dean Ambrose and his cousins The USO's came to the ring to celebrate with him. Not to sound like a cliche, but it was great to see this journey reach a happy ending at the end of the year. Losing at WrestleMania turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Reigns, because it gave him time to make adjustments to improve. The WWE probably wanted to test Roman to see how he could handle adversity and he has clearly passed this test. 2015 ends with the rise of the Roman Empire.

Seth Rollins:



The Self-Proclaimed "Architect" of the Shield has enjoyed a banner year as he has built upon his success from last year following the Shield's breakup. Seth entered the year as the MITB Winner with the opportunity to cash in at any event. He was involved in the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble involving Brock Lesnar and John Cena. In that match, Seth brought everything he had to the table and put everyone on notice about his abilities. Even in a loss, he showed how effective he can be in the Main Event. However, Rollins was caught in a controversy earlier in the year when he was caught in a Twitter Scandal. Seth's girlfriend leaked out nude pictures of him on Twitter. He became the Social Media Punchline all around the world. It looked as if the biggest push of Seth's career would be derailed because of this controversy because of how ignorant this mistake was. However, Vince McMahon, Triple H and the higher ups still stuck with their plan of keeping Rollins in their back pocket as future Champion. If this happened to anyone else, their career could be over. Not in the case of Rollins because WWE did not issue any punishment towards him. Instead, Seth apologized on Twitter. Even though Seth was not punished, this was a lesson for him to "Keep his Money In the Bank". Fast forward to WrestleMania. WWE is in panic mode from the outrage of the fans towards Roman Reigns. At the last minute, they push the Panic button by sending Rollins to the WWE Title Match to cash in his Briefcase. Seth delivers the Curb Stomp to Roman as he pins him to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It was a crowning moment and a form of redemption for Rollins as he closed the show holding the WWE Crown above his head. It created the spark that WrestleMania needed to create headlines for their main event. WrestleMania is all about the unexpected and this was the right moment. Rollins would fight off challengers from Dean Ambrose to Randy Orton. However, the big issue that faced Seth was how he was made to look weaker with J & J Security and Kane bailing him out. It made him look like he could not win any of his battles on his own. It felt like WWE was going to have them by his side forever to cover him. Rollins always had the ability, but the booking was weak. To make things worse, WWE banned the Curb Stomp. Instead, he had to use the Pedigree. Seth was becoming one of the heel champions that was made to look weak instead of looking strong while cheating. (Ric Flair, Edge, etc) Things changed when Brock Lesnar stepped into the picture and destroyed J&J Security and Kane. Seth proceeded to turn on Kane going into his title defense with Brock at Battleground. Once the chains came off and Rollins was on his own, his matches could be more respected. Seth's match with Brock ended in No Contest as Undertaker returned. Seth's next opponent was John Cena. Rollins had a fantastic match with Cena at Summerslam as he defeated him for the US Championship, making him the WWE World Champion and US Champion. Seth's reign as US Champion was short lived as Cena defeated him at Night Of Champions to win back the title. On the other hand, Rollins defeated Sting that same night to keep the WWE Title. Rollins would defeat Kane at Hell In A Cell to remain Champion. At this rate, it seemed as if he could have broken CM Punk's record of 434 Days as WWE Champion (I was supporting him). Unfortunately, Seth's reign came to an end thanks to an injury at a House Show during a match with Kane. Rollins spent 221 Days as WWE Champion. Nonetheless, Seth enjoyed an outstanding year. For much of the year, Seth was World Champion and dominated the Main Event Storylines. He proved that he could perform an outstanding match even in the midst of poor storylines and booking in between. When J&J Security were taken away, Rollins was able to shine brighter and carry himself better as Champion.

Dean Ambrose:


Dean Ambrose has been on quite a roller coaster in 2015. Early in the year, Ambrose was in the chase for the Intercontinental Title. The booking was awful (as usual lately) with multiple wrestlers stealing the title from R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler, Bad News Barrett to Ambrose himself. This was to set up for the IC Title Ladder Match at WrestleMania 31. Daniel Bryan ultimately won the title, but would forfeit due to injury. Dean would then set his sights on John Cena's US Title as he entered the Open Challenge. From the time that the Shield split, Dean could not win a Pay Per View Match. Finally, he defeated Luke Harper at Extreme Rules. Dean would then have a great match with former Shield member Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber. Ambrose nearly had the match won, but Rollins got himself disqualified for shoving the referee. At Payback, Ambrose wrestled in a Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship that included Seth Rollins (Champion), Randy Orton and Roman Reigns. Dean would soon team with Roman Reigns to feud with the revamped version of the Wyatt Family (w/Braun Stroman). At Night of Champions, Dean and Roman added Chris Jericho as their mystery partner. However, they would lose to the Wyatt Family. When Seth Rollins vacated the WWE Title due to injury, Dean joined the Survivor Series tournament for the vacated title. Ambrose would lose to Roman Reigns in the finals. Ambrose recently became the number one contender for the IC Title as he feuded with Kevin Owens. At TLC, Ambrose defeated Owens to become the new Intercontinental Champion. 






In August 2014, WWE Network aired a special about each of the Shield members on the start of their singles journey since they disbanded. This would lead up to Summerslam. Their was also a DVD called "The Destruction of the Shield". Dean Ambrose himself said that they would own this business. So far, you can say that they have owned 2015. Collectively, they have dominated. On their own, they are on their journey to greatness. I have always been a fan of the Shield, and I would like to see them do great things on their own. 

Friday, December 11, 2015

Third Quarter NFL MVP

With 12 games down and 4 left to go, I would like to present the Award for the 3rd Quarter NFL MVP. Some things have changed, some have remained the same. We have seen teams and players stay the course. At the same time, there have been teams and players that have fallen slowly fallen off the course during the grueling 16 game season. This is the time where teams are either clinching their division or fighting for playoff contention. Now, I would like to present those players that have been the brightest stars in the 3rd Quarter of the Season.

Cam Newton:
Completions: 218
Attempts: 374
Percentage: 58.3%
Passing Yards: 2,797
Touchdowns: 25
Interceptions: 10
QB Rating: 93.2

Cam Newton has been turning things up another notch towards the final stretches of the Season. While his numbers as a passer might not be as polished and refined as some of his peers, Cam Newton has improved by his own standards with a QB Rating of 93.2. Newton is making himself known as a leader in other ways besides passing, such as scrambling and his sheer will to be the best that he can be. Cam's intangibles as a leader are the things that are really carrying this team to the highest heights possible as they remain undefeated (12-0). Along the way, Carolina has slaughtered the likes of the Titans, Redskins, Cowboys, and division rival New Orleans. Newton continues to keep his play steady while being the general of an undefeated team. Carolina also holds a victory over the Packers led by fellow MVP Candidate Aaron Rodgers. Cam continues to be a hero for his team.




Tom Brady:
Completions: 323
Attempts: 507
Percentage: 63.7%
Passing Yards: 3,912
Touchdowns: 31
Interceptions: 6
QB Rating: 102.8

Tom Brady continues to keep his production strong in spite of a recent two-game losing streak at the hands of the Broncos and the Eagles. Brady has maintained a very firm and consistent pace throughout the season. New England continues to be the toast of the AFC, especially within their division. The Patriots continue to outclass the rest of their division. Brady continues to climb the ladder of NFL History as he just surpassed Dan Marino on the Career Touchdowns List. Tom's numbers have been shaky as his QB Rating has fluctuated between the 90s and 70s in these last four games.

Andy Dalton:
Completions: 252
Attempts: 381
Percentage: 66.1%
Passing Yards: 3,191
Touchdowns: 25
Interceptions: 6
QB Rating: 107.4

Andy Dalton continues to be the silent choice in the MVP Race. After a two-game losing streak, the Bengals rebounded with two straight victories over the St. Louis Rams and division rival Cleveland Browns in dominating fashion. In the loss against the Texans, Dalton experienced his lowest QB Rating of 61. Meanwhile, Andy enjoyed his best QB Rating of 146.8 in the game against Cleveland. The Bengals are still the cream of the crop for the AFC North at 10-2. Out of the top MVP Candidates so far, Dalton has the best QB Rating (107.4) with a completion percentage of 66.1%. The Red Rifle continues to be a very sharp shooter.



Aaron Rodgers:
Completions: 260
Attempts: 426
Percentage: 61%
Passing Yards: 2,957
Touchdowns: 26
Interceptions: 5
QB Rating: 97.3


Aaron Rodgers continues to maintain his case among the MVP Race. Despite his team's roller coaster ride lately, Rodgers continues to produce at an elite and efficient rate as a QB. Aaron is stuck in the middle when it comes to his case as MVP. On one end, he has better numbers than Cam Newton, who is gaining more coverage for MVP. On the other end, Green Bay is four games behind the undefeated Carolina. The Packers are 8-4, and are holding on to their division lead by a thread with the Minnesota Vikings at a very close second with 8-5. Rodgers has gone from being my choice for 1st Quarter MVP (first 4 games) to slowly falling in the ranks. At least he is still in the conversation, so that helps. 


My 3rd Quarter NFL MVP goes to: 

Cam Newton:



When it comes to being a difference maker for the success of his team, Cam Newton is the MVP for these last four games. His pure leadership mentality has elevated this team even when he has had games that were not his best. It also helps that Newton is a double threat as a QB. Cam also leads the NFL in most rushing yards for a Quarterback. The Defense is great, but there is no telling where the Offense would be or where the team would be without Cam's presence. He has been a sensation all across the NFL not only for his popularity, but for what he means to this team as well. While looking for ways to help his team improve, Cam has found many ways to improve his game and these last four games have been proof. 



Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The Legacy of Kobe Bryant




An NBA Legend has announced his retirement. Now, Kobe Bryant is on his farewell tour after 20 storied NBA Seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant has been one of the most polarizing and influential stars in NBA History. On one side, you have those who love and adore him for his brilliance on the court along with his many accolades (5 rings, 2 Finals MVP's, etc). On another side, there are those who revile him like a classic wrestling villain such as Ric Flair for a number of reasons. There are fans that don't like his imitations of MJ (another story), his selfishness, his scandal from Colorado and how he was the main reason for Shaquille O'Neal being forced out of LA. Then, you have those in the middle who look for a fine line to draw between his greatness as a player and his frosty attitude.



No matter what, Kobe Bryant was a player made for the spotlight as he has created a fan base that is similar to a cult like following. Although Kobe is heavily criticized for his direct imitation of His Airness, he has also carved his very own unique place among NBA History. From the time that he first became a starter for the Lakers in 1998-99, Kobe has evolved tremendously into a more complete all-around player. As we all know, Shaq was Batman in Hollywood for the Lakers while Kobe was Robin. Eventually, Kobe transformed into Nightwing. Just like Dick Grayson, Kobe turned on the Leader of the Dynamic Duo. As we know, the rest is history. Bryant went through his share of turmoil in those three years without Shaq before the Lakers poached Pau Gasol out of Memphis as Bryant desperately needed a new Big Man to take some of the weight off of him. Bryant would later win two more championships, but this time as the leader of the pack. Even though Shaq was the leading cause of most of Kobe's championships, Bryant has transformed into a true alpha dog star in his own right. Many have argued that Kobe should have more than 1 MVP Award. Even Shaq himself believes that Kobe should have more MVP's along with himself. Instead, Steve Nash has two, but that's none of my business.



Kobe is currently third all-time in Career Total Points, as he is the only player to ever play 20 Seasons for one NBA Franchise. Kareem spent his first 6 Seasons in Milwaukee before playing 14 Seasons in the Lakers Purple and Gold. Bryant holds many team records from points, minutes, games, steals, etc. Bryant's hand prints are all over the teams record books. His longevity is remarkable along with his fearlessness and competitive will to win. His resume, track record and persona have all kept him among the elite for many years. Over the course of his career, Kobe has practically reinvented himself. When you talk about legends that defined their generation and transcend history, Kobe's name is in that discussion. Next to Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant is one of the superstar players that shaped the 2000's Decade of NBA Basketball.

When I think of the Legacy of Kobe Bryant, I think of someone who graduated from being the sidekick to a megastar. I think of someone that has added layers to his game and has become a chameleon in the NBA. On the other hand, I also think of someone who has let his ego get the best of him and his team many times, especially near the end. Someone who was too caught up in himself to the point that he ran off another Alpha Dog Player that was the Key to their initial success. Still, I have to respect his commitment to excellence and wanting to be the best competitor that he could be. The Legacy of Kobe Bryant is that of a very Complex Genius. Complex, but still regarded as a Genius nonetheless. Despite his flaws, nobody can take away Kobe's legacy and what he has meant to the Game of Basketball.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Undertaker: 25 Years of Destruction (Greatest Matches)


Over the Course of WWE History, there have been gimmicks that have come and have fallen. Many fell victim to the changing times in an industry that is constantly evolving. However, there is one gimmick that has been able to adapt with the forever changing landscape. There is one character that is able to whether the different storms that have come against wrestling while still standing strong. That legend is the Undertaker. For 25 Years, The Phenom has seen it all and done it all. Recently, I purchased the Book "25 Years of Destruction". It is a great encyclopedia that chronicles the transcendent career of one of the wrestling world's iconic attractions. It stays true to Kayfabe form and is very comprehensive as it gives the blow by blow details on the Phenom's legacy and his influence on the landscape of wrestling as we know it today.



Western Mortician (1990-1994):




Undertaker made his debut at Survivor Series being accompanied by Brother Love as a mystery partner for Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Team. He made an impact pretty much from the time that he walked in the door. The Deadman was very impressive in his debut, taking out Koko B. Ware and Anvil with his classic Tombstone Piledriver. By early 1991, Brother Love announced that he could no longer guide the career of the Undertaker. That night, he introduced the man that would forever be linked to The Phenom, Paul Bearer. Undertaker and Paul Bearer were a perfect combination for each other. Paul's face was just as pale as Taker's. Plus, he carried an urn. Undertaker started his path of WrestleMania destruction by decimating Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. During this period, Taker would also end his matches by placing his opponents in body bags. In the Spring of 1991, Undertaker would feud with Ultimate Warrior. The most significant moment of the feud came when Undertaker stuffed Warrior inside of a casket. Many thought Warrior was actually dead. That shows the impact of a character like The Undertaker. He would also align himself with Jake "The Snake" as Roberts feuded simultaneously with both Warrior and Randy Savage. At Survivor Series, Undertaker surprised everyone by defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship. However, The Undertaker surprised everyone when he stopped Jake "The Snake" from attacking Savage and Liz with a chair. Roberts asked him what side he was on. Taker answered "Not yours". This would change the perception of Undertaker from being an ominous villain to a protective figure that the fans would soon love and respect. Undertaker would vanquish Jake at WrestleMania VIII. During this time, Undertaker would start to refine his look. He would go from having a mullet to growing his hair out to make him look even more mysterious. Taker would then feud with Harvey Wippleman's henchmen such as Kamala and Giant Gonzalez. These were not quite the best dance partners for Undertaker, but he made the most out of what was fed to him. At Survivor Series, Undertaker dominated Kamala in the first-ever Casket Match. Taker would run into a roadblock with Giant Gonzalez in what would be the worst match of the Streak at WM IX. However, The Phenom put the Giant away once and for all at Summerslam '93. At the 1994 Royal Rumble, Undertaker challenged Yokozuna for the WWF Championship in a Casket Match. Yoko was known for having a fear of Caskets, which played right into Taker's advantage. When the Phenom was on the verge of putting the 550+ pound champion in the Casket, Crush, Adam Bomb, Diesel and others attacked Undertaker and put him in the Casket to help Yoko win the match. However, this would not be the last of the Undertaker. 

Highlights:

WWF Debut at Survivor Series

WrestleMania debut: 
Undertaker made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania VII, where he made short work of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. 

Feud with Ultimate Warrior

Survivor Series 1991: Defeated Hulk Hogan for WWF Championship

WrestleMania VIII: Defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Royal Rumble 1994: Casket Match vs. Yokozuna for WWF Championship



Deadman Rises (1994-1996):



Undertaker emerged from his grave just in time for Summerslam to battle Ted DiBiase's counterfeit version of the Undertaker. He claimed that his Taker was the real version he claimed responsibility for introducing the Deadman to the WWF in 1990. Paul Bearer did not believe Ted's claim to have the real Undertaker. Bearer had been around Undertaker long enough to know who he really was, and he could tell the difference between the original and the imposter. Paul brought his Undertaker to battle DiBiase's Undertaker at Summerslam. The Real Undertaker returned at Summerslam, but with purple gloves and the purple tie as opposed to his traditional black and gray combination. Taker's appearance took on a better quality with darker hair, a goatee, more tattoos and even paler than before. The two Takers started the match staring each other down. The match told a great story as Undertaker conquered his counterfeit counterpart with the Tombstone Piledriver for the win. He overcame the likes of Kama and King Kong Bundy from the Million Dollar Corporation. After conquering Diesel, Undertaker was faced with an opponent whose gameplan he was not prepared for. That opponent was Mankind. Undertaker was wounded both physically and psychologically. Never before had an opponent gained a mental edge on Undertaker until Mankind came on the scene. To make things worse, Paul Bearer betrayed Undertaker at Summerslam.


Highlights:


Defeated Yokozuna in a Casket Match (Survivor Series 1994)

Defeated Diesel (WrestleMania XII)

Started feud with Mankind

Introduced the Buried Alive Match

Defeated Mankind (Buried Alive 1996)




 Lord of Darkness (1997-98):


By the start of 1997, Undertaker would dawn a new look. He would do away with the traditional image that fans have associated with him (Mortician) into a much more gothic image. He would sport a black v neck with black spandex along with black crosses. Instead of the classic gloves, he would exchange those for black leather gloves with holes for the fingers. Instead of the classic Undertaker black trenchcoat, he would wear a long black leather sleeveless robe. Taker would also get rid of the hat. However, Undertaker would bring back his classic attire for a special occasion at WrestleMania 13. The Streak was not even a topic of conversation at the time, WM 13 was the first time that Undertaker was in the Main Event during his WrestleMania career. To celebrate, Taker wore the gray gloves and tie for this special moment. That night, he defeated Psycho Sid to capture his second WWF Championship in six years. The match was not among Taker's best, but the moment where he held the belt high was more than enough. This period was when Undertaker enjoyed his longest title reign as WWF Champion from WrestleMania 13 to Summerslam. As Champion, Taker would fight off challengers from Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vader, and others such as a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley. In May 1997, Paul Bearer attempted to rejoin with Undertaker by using an ultimatum of revealing a "deep, dark secret" about his past involving his brother Kane. Taker was troubled with this secret for months as he continued to feud with Bearer. In July, Undertaker defeated Vader in a Casket Match. He would ultimately lose the WWF Title to Bret Hart at Summerslam after Special Referee Shawn Michaels nailed him with the steel chair. Shawn promised to call the match down the middle, because he said that if he did not, then he would not wrestle in the United States anymore. Bret Hart made a similar promise. Taker already had his hands full with the news about Kane, but he had another problem to deal with as this started a feud with him and Shawn. Michaels himself had problems with Bret, and he made another enemy out of Undertaker. When the fans thought they could present sympathy to Shawn, they were wrong. HBK admitted that he meant to hit Taker with the chair. This led to Undertaker challenging Shawn Michaels to the first ever Hell In A Cell Match at Badd Blood 1997. This match was made to determine the number 1 contender for Bret Hart's WWF Championship. The match was absolute warfare and was another revolutionary element of wrestling history from both Taker and Shawn. Just as Taker was ready to put the final nail in the coffin for HBK at the end of the match, Kane arrives with Paul Bearer. The Big Red Machine rips the door off of the cell and climbs into the ring to stare down his older brother. Kane gives Taker a Tombstone Piledriver so that HBK would pick up the win. Undertaker had two feuds running at the same time. Taker would challenge HBK for the WWF Title at the Royal Rumble in a Casket Match. It seemed as though Kane was on his brother's side against DX. However, that was not the case as The Big Red Machine costs The Deadman the Championship. After the match, Kane locked him in the casket and set it ablaze. When the casket lid was reopened, The Undertaker disappeared. Two months later, he returned and decided to fight Kane at WrestleMania. Undertaker defeated Kane at WM XIV and once again at Unforgiven in an Inferno Match. Undertaker would also rekindle his feud with Mankind as he defeated him at King of the Ring in an HIAC (Hell In A Cell Match). He would also win the World Tag Titles with Stone Cold. He would also challenge Austin for the WWF Title at Summerslam. Taker would later join with Kane to form the Brothers of Destruction as they would both challenge Austin for the Title.

Highlights:

Defeated Psycho Sid for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania 13

Started feud with Shawn Michaels

Wrestled in first ever HIAC (Badd Blood '97)

Started feud with Kane

Defeated Kane at WrestleMania XIV

Defeated Mankind at King of the Ring '98


Ministry of Darkness (1999):


By 1999, Undertaker's character took on an even more sinister twist than before. He became more of a cult-like leader of a group called the "Ministry of Darkness". This version of Taker was known for some very infamous moments in WWF/E History. First, he hung Stone Cold on his Undertaker symbol as if he was crucifying Austin. This moment put WWF in very hot water with the media. Parents and others were outraged because it was a very controversial moment. As times became edgier, so did Undertaker. You can't talk about the "Attitude Era" and not bring up how much controversy they created. He hung the Big Boss Man with a hangman's noose after he defeated him in a Hell In A Cell Match at WrestleMania XV. Taker also abducted Stephanie before Stone Cold saved her. During this time, Undertaker defeated Stone Cold to win his third WWF Championship. He would also team with Big Show to win the Tag Titles from The Rock & Sock Connection. 

Highlights:

Defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship

Won WWF Tag Titles with Big Show


The Biker Era (2000-2003):



The Undertaker made his long awaited return to the WWF at Judgment Day 2000. Only this time, he returned in a way that was non-traditional of the legendary gimmick. In the middle of the Ironman match between The Rock vs. Triple H for the WWF Title, The Undertaker arrives on a motorcycle blasting Kid Rock's music. The fans explode with cheers as Taker clears the ring with Chokeslams and a new finishing move called The Last Ride. Instead of the typical Undertaker ring attire that signified death, The Phenom wore sunglasses, jeans, a scarf and a leather jacket while riding Harley Davidsons. At this time, Undertaker started to talk more. He claimed that he would make his opponents "famous". This was closer to Mark than Undertaker. Not only did he become more humanized but he also put on some extra weight to be honest. During his matches, Taker would wrestle in jeans or leather pants. He would also start to wear the larger black gloves similar to the gloves that they wear in UFC. This would fit in line with Taker being more of a brawler. This version of Undertaker gets mixed reviews. Not my favorite version, but I along with others prefer this over the Ministry version of Taker. During this phase, Undertaker wrestled in the 6-man HIAC Match at Armageddon. He also defeated Triple H at WrestleMania X7. Undertaker would also make Diamond Dallas Page another notch on his belt during the time of the Invasion of WCW/ECW. The Brothers of Destruction would win the WCW Tag Team Titles during the Invasion as they helped Team WWF defeat The Alliance. After the Invasion, Undertaker returned in his Biker form, but as a heel. He would also cut his traditionally long hair. Taker defeated RVD at Vengeance for the Hardcore Title before losing it in February 2002. This version of Undertaker was known as "Big Evil" as he went everywhere demanding respect. Undertaker attacked The Rock and nailed him with a Tombstone on a car backstage. Ric Flair tried to reason with Taker but only made things worse. Undertaker attacked David Flair, which drove Flair past his limit. Flair challenged Big Evil to a match at WrestleMania 18. Undertaker would win as he pummeled the Nature Boy, closing the match with the Tombstone Piledriver to extend his streak to 10-0. Undertaker would defeat Steve Austin at Backlash to become the number 1 contender for Hulk Hogan's Undisputed WWE Championship. At Judgment Day, Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan to become a four-time WWE Champion. This was the second time Taker defeated Hogan for the Title. The first time was 11 years earlier at Survivor Series. Much like their first match, Taker won with interference. Only this time, it was from Vince McMahon. Taker would hold the title until Vengeance where he lost to The Rock in a Triple Threat Match involving Kurt Angle. After losing the title, Undertaker would find a new rival in the rising phenomenon known as Brock Lesnar. Taker challenged Lesnar for the WWE Title. After their Match at Unforgiven went to a no-contest, Taker and Brock took things inside of the Cell at No Mercy. Their match was a bloodbath with Lesnar winning to retain the title. Taker would close out this gimmick with a Buried Alive Match vs. Vince McMahon at Survivor Series. When Taker had the win in the palm of his hands, in typical little brother fashion Kane interferes. 

Highlights:

Defeated Triple H at WrestleMania 17

Won WCW Tag Titles with Kane

Helped Team WWF defeat The Alliance

Defeated RVD for Hardcore Title

Defeated Hulk Hogan for WWE Championship


2004-Present:



After losing the Buried Alive Match at Survivor Series 2003, The Undertaker resurfaced at the 20th Anniversary of WrestleMania (WM XX) on March 20, 2004, at Madison Square Garden. That night, he gained his revenge on Kane, as he defeated his younger brother with the Tombstone Piledriver for the second time on the grandest stage of them all. Taker returned in Deadman form, as he made his entrance with the classic druids. This version of Undertaker has become a hybrid of the classic Taker gimmick mixed with the Biker because he still does the Last Ride. Early on, he also wore the leather pants like the Biker version. Over time, Undertaker has added new weapons to his arsenal of moves. With the inspiration of UFC/MMA, Undertaker has added a Submission hold to his repertoire (Hell's Gate). It is similar to the Triangle Holds in UFC. After defeating Kane, Undertaker would feud with the likes of Booker T, The Dudley Boyz, and JBL throughout 2004. A new, hungry young challenger would look to make a name for himself at the expense of Killing a Legend like Undertaker. That young man's name was Randy Orton. In 2005, Randy Orton was hungry to prove himself and to prove to WWE that he was truly a Legend Killer. From Sgt. Slaughter to Shawn Michaels Cactus Jack to Ric Flair, Randy defeated them all. Now, his biggest test stood in the form of the 6-10 300 lb mythic giant known as The Undertaker. Randy would do his best to show that he was not intimidated by Taker's famous mind games. Orton even gave Jake Roberts the RKO to show that he was ready for Undertaker. At WrestleMania 21, Randy put up a great fight but was killed by the Legend of the Undertaker. Orton would become another statistic of the Streak. Randy would feud with Taker for the rest of the year until the Deadman defeated him at Armageddon to settle the score. Undertaker would also defeat Mark Henry in a Casket Match at WrestleMania 22. In 2007, The Undertaker accomplished something that he had never done before during his illustrious career in WWE. He won the Royal Rumble. Taker drew number 30 and finished as one of the final two men in the Rumble with Shawn Michaels. The fans enjoyed a mini match between them before Taker sent his long-time rival over the top rope. Undertaker was on his way to WrestleMania, as he decided to challenge Batista for the World Heavyweight Title. At WrestleMania 23, Undertaker defeated Batista in a very intense battle to become WHC (World Heavyweight Champion). This was the first time in 10 years that Undertaker left WrestleMania as a Champion, the first time being WrestleMania 13. During this time, Undertaker became the Cornerstone for Smackdown, making him one of the feature stars with the likes of Edge, Batista, and Randy Orton. The quality of his matches greatly improved, especially at WrestleMania. UT and Batista feuded throughout the year over the WHC. When Taker defeated Batista in a Steel Cage Match on Smackdown for the WHC, Edge cashed in his MITB Briefcase on a wounded Deadman. Edge speared Taker to win the Title. Undertaker transitioned from feuding with Batista to feuding with The Rated R Superstar. Taker defeated Edge to regain the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 24 to close the show. Their feud would come to a close at Summerslam, where Undertaker defeated The Ultimate Opportunist in a Hell In A Cell Match. After finishing off his feud with Edge, Undertaker turned his sights to long-time rival Shawn Michaels. They continued what they started in the late '90s. Only this time, the stakes were higher. This was a battle of who was the bigger WrestleMania Legend as Shawn Michaels stepped up to the plate to battle the Streak in a War of Light vs. Darkness. UT and HBK delivered back to back classic WrestleMania Matches as Taker was victorious in both while he sent HBK into retirement at WM XXVI. Taker would feud with Shawn's long-time friend Triple H in back to back WM matches including an HIAC Match at WM XXVIII (End of an Era) with HBK as the Referee. Taker would also defeat CM Punk at WM 29 to defend the honor of Paul Bearer. At WM XXX, the Streak came to a crashing end at the hands of Brock Lesnar. Taker would take a hiatus only to return at WM XXXI to defeat Bray Wyatt before returning to his business with Brock Lesnar. Taker's feud with Brock would pick up again when he cost Lesnar a chance to win the title at Battleground. Undertaker would defeat Brock at Summerslam before Lesnar would defeat him for the last time at Hell In A Cell. The Brothers of Destruction teamed up to defeat the Wyatt Family at Survivor Series. This looks like Taker's farewell. Much like Shawn Michaels, this has been a time where Undertaker has produced some of the best matches of his career.



Highlights:

Defeated Kane at WM XX

Feuded with Randy Orton

Defeated Randy Orton (WM 21)

Won Royal Rumble 2007

Defeated Batista for WHC at WM 23

Feuded with Batista

Feuded with Edge

Defeated Edge at WM 24

Defeated Shawn Michaels at WM XXV & XXVI

Defeated Triple H at WM XXVII & XXVIII

Defeated CM Punk at WM XXIX

Feuded with Brock Lesnar 



Innovator:

Undertaker's influence goes beyond his WrestleMania Streak. Taker was an innovator when it came to Specialty Matches. His gimmick introduced Casket Matches, Buried Alive Matches, Boiler Room Brawl, Inferno Matches and HIAC.

Casket Matches:
vs. Kamala (Survivor Series 1992)
vs. Yokozuna (Royal Rumble 1994)
vs. Yokozuna (Survivor Series 1994)
vs. Kama (In Your House- 7/23/95)
vs. Kama (Summerslam 1995)
vs. King Mabel (Seasons Beatings)
vs. Goldust (Beware of the Dog)
vs. Vader (7/21/97)
vs. Shawn Michaels (Royal Rumble 1998)
vs. Kane (10/19/98)
vs. The Rock (5/17/99)
vs. Heidenreich (Royal Rumble 2005)
vs. Randy Orton (No Mercy 2005)
vs. Mark Henry (WrestleMania 22)

Buried Alive Matches:
vs. Mankind (Buried Alive 1996)
vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (Rock Bottom 1998)
w/Big Show vs. Rock & Sock Connection (RAW 9/9/99)
vs. Vince McMahon (Survivor Series 2003)
vs. Kane (Bragging Rights 2010)

Inferno Matches:
vs. Kane (Unforgiven 1998)
vs. Kane (RAW)

Boiler Room Brawl Matches:
vs. Mankind (KOTR 1996)

HIAC Matches:
vs. Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood 1997)
w/Stone Cold vs. Kane & Mankind (RAW 6/15/98)
vs. Mankind (KOTR 1998)
vs. Austin vs. Rock vs. Triple H vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rikishi (Armageddon 2000)
vs. Brock Lesnar (No Mercy 2002)
vs. Randy Orton (Armageddon 2005)
vs. Batista (Survivor Series 2007)
vs. Edge (Summerslam 2008)
vs. CM Punk (HIAC 2009)
vs. Kane (HIAC 2010)
vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 28)
vs. Brock Lesnar (HIAC 2015)

Title History:WWF Championship:11/27/91-12/3/913/23/97-8/3/975/23/99-6/28/995/19/02-7/21/02World Heavyweight Championship:4/1/07-5/11/073/30/08-5/2/0810/4/09-2/21/10World Tag Titles:7/26/98-8/10/988/22/99-8/30/999/9/99-9/20/9912/18/00-12/21/004/19/01-4/29/018/19/01-9/17/01WCW Tag Titles:8/9/01-9/27/01Hardcore Title:12/9/01-2/7/022007 Royal Rumble Winner




Undertaker has enjoyed some of the greatest matches and feuds in WWE History. In honor of his 25th Anniversary, I have compiled a list of his 25 Greatest Matches. They range from the quality of the match itself, the storyline surrounding the match and the significance involved. Ladies and Gentlemen, here are Undertaker's Top 25 Matches.

Top 25 Matches:
1. vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 25)
2. vs. Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood 1997)
3. vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 26)
4. vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 28)
5. vs. Kane (WrestleMania 14)
6. vs. Mankind (KOTR 1998)
7. vs. Edge (WrestleMania 24)
8. vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 27)
9. vs. Batista (WrestleMania 23)
10. Royal Rumble 2007
11. vs. Kurt Angle (No Way Out 2006)
12. vs. Bret Hart (Summerslam 1997)
13. vs. Edge (Summerslam 2008)
14. vs. Brock Lesnar (No Mercy 2002)
15. vs. CM Punk (WrestleMania 29)
16. vs. Hulk Hogan (Survivor Series 1991)
17. vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 21)
18. vs. Edge (One Night Stand 2008)
19. vs. Mankind (Boiler Room Brawl)
20. vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle (Vengeance 2002)
21. vs. Mankind (Buried Alive 1996)
22. vs. Brock Lesnar (HIAC 2015)
23.  Survivor Series Debut
24. vs. Diesel (WrestleMania XII)
25 vs. "Undertaker" (Summerslam 1994)


Undertaker has been one of the single most influential figures to ever step into a squared circle. He has changed the perception of Big Men in Wrestling. There was no other Big Man/Giant before him that wrestled the way that he did and accomplished what he did. The Phenom is a one of a kind character that will only be seen once in a lifetime. Enjoy it while you can, because we will never see another star like this again in our generation. As far as the Book, I would give it 5 out of 5 Undertaker WWF Championships. I would give it 10 Tombstone Piledrivers out of 10.




Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Legends with JBL (Undertaker's Rivals Review)



In the midst of "Undertaker Week", JBL hosted a Special Edition of his "Legends with JBL" where he has a roundtable discussion with some of the Undertaker's greatest opponents (Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Triple H). Everyone including JBL has a strong respect for The Undertaker. All four of them have their share of history with the Deadman.

JBL starts off by calling The Undertaker a Legend that transcends his sport as he compares the Phenom to Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky. I believe that many can make that case for Taker as he deserves to be in the conversation. JBL names Taker's accomplishments along with the Streak before introducing legends from Austin, HBK and Triple H. This is a great panel with men that also have decorated careers and have enough experience with Taker to share a candid discussion.

Longevity:
The Discussion starts when JBL transitions from accomplishments to longevity. Austin, HBK and The Game have all had great careers but did not have the staying power that Taker has. Austin is the first to talk about Undertaker's longevity by going back to their time coming up together in the business. Stone Cold speaks highly of how The Undertaker was able to maintain his character for so many years and how he has been able to carry himself professionally. Shawn Michaels talks about how there were skeptics of Undertaker when he first came in and how they thought that he would burn out quickly. However, Taker proved them wrong.

Transformations:

Triple H mentions how Undertaker was able to transform to keep up with the different eras. This is a testament to how dedicated Taker is to his craft. He has witnessed the Hogan Era, Bret Hart Era, Attitude Era and the time beyond that because he knew how to adapt to a constantly changing landscape.

(Side note: Another Hogan reference. I guess it is fine as long as you don't give him the spotlight.)

Stone Cold brings up how kids were legitimately scared of Undertaker. Shawn talks about how Undertaker's character was thought to be short lived. JBL goes through the different transformations and how those could have been career suicide. However, Taker was able to bring authenticity to the character because of his commitment. The Undertaker is somewhat of an extension of the man behind the character, but with theatrics included. HBK mentions how those transformations can be a credibility killer to anyone else.

Overlooked Gem:

Austin talks about Undertaker's come up in the USWA and WCW and how Vince was able to see what those promoters could not see and that is when "the cash register opened". JBL wonders how promoters like Jim Herd and others could not see Undertaker's value because of his size and presence. He says that those promoters missed 25 years on a money machine.

Shawn Michaels says that some of those same promoters have told everyone else the same thing. He says that Undertaker was able to make the gimmick work because of his quiet and cool nature which is part of what makes the character who he is. Mark himself is very reserved and stoic, so he is able to keep that core when playing the part. Part of what made Undertaker successful is that he was able to hold part of the steering wheel behind the gimmick.

Stone Cold says that Undertaker was able to remain his top spot because he paid his dues along with natural ability.

Ring Presence/Skill:

Now, the panel talks about a huge element of what makes Undertaker stand out: his athleticism. Triple H talks about Undertaker's different cadences in the ring from how smooth he moved in the ring and how he carried himself.

Arrival in WWE/Consistency:

JBL did his homework and talks about how Paul Heyman was trying to get Bruce Pritchard to get Undertaker a job in WWE. Taker had an injured hip but still went on to have a match with Lex Luger at the Great American Bash. That match is what caught Vince McMahon's attention. John says that he did not think that The Undertaker gimmick would have worked in WCW. Nobody knew what to do with him.

Triple H agrees that it would have been hard for the gimmick to work in WCW. The character has to be handled properly, and that is one thing that Vince and Mark have both been able to do for so long.


Loyalty:

JBL brings up the mid-90's timeframe where wrestlers were jumping ship to WCW and how devastating it would have been if Undertaker left.

Stone Cold talks about how scared he was when Bret Hart left for WCW. He says that the good thing in the whole situation is that Undertaker stayed in WWE. Austin said that he was not sure how Taker's career would have gone if he went back.

Shawn talks about how Taker wanted to prove everyone wrong in WCW. He shares a story about how he wanted to go, but Vince said that it would not work creatively.

JBL shares the story about how Kevin Nash tentatively tried to reach out to Undertaker. Everyone talks about Undertaker's loyalty because nobody believed in him in WCW and he was grateful for Vince giving him the shot to become the star that he is now.

Experience with Undertaker:

JBL shares the story about his first match with Undertaker and how Taker went out of his way to make him look better. He talks about how frightened he was by the bright lights of the WWE when he saw Taker's entrance and Shawn's WM 12 entrance. JBL talks about how Taker gave him the nod.

Stone Cold talks about his first match with Undertaker and how he tried to strategize his gameplan for the match. When the lights went out for the Undertaker's entrance, Austin's mind went blank.

Another funny story that JBL shares is that during his first match with Taker, he was giving him stiff punches. Taker yells "Do I owe you money?" and everybody starts to laugh. John thought that he was fired. Shawn says that Taker used that same line and said "Get Shawn back in".

JBL talks about how he picked Rey Mysterio as his opponent for his last match out of respect for Eddie Guerrero. Then, he asked Shawn if he picked Taker as the opponent for his last match. Shawn says no, but was presented the idea of a rematch from Michael Hayes. HBK said that it just felt right. He says that when you are in the ring with someone, you somehow become closer with them.

WrestleMania XXV:

JBL talks about when The Undertaker asked Michael Hayes where his match with Shawn Michaels was on the WrestleMania XXV card. Hayes tells him it was fifth. Taker laces his boots and says, "Let's raise this to another level". Shawn shares the same story. He says that when Taker looks up at Michael and says "Fifth, out of how many?". When he finds out, he tells Shawn they would raise it to a new level. The discussion transitions to the Iconic match of Taker vs. HBK.

JBL moves to Triple H and brings up how tough it had to be for him and Randy Orton to follow the blockbuster match that Taker and Shawn had. Even Triple H himself knew that he was dead in the water. Hunter says that within 15 minutes of the match, Randy walked into the dressing room. He tells Orton, "Dude we are screwed" (He used another word). Trips knew the impending doom of his match with Orton. Austin says "Great Match, Bad Timing".

Triple H says he was torn because he knew he was doomed, but he still had to tell them how great they were.

Greatest Match:

This had to be the lightning rod topic of the show. JBL asks the inevitable question. Was Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV the Greatest Match of all-time? (A large consensus believes it is, even WWE named it that)

The Panel says that it is a very subjective topic, because you could choose from a variety of matches from Savage vs. Steamboat or Flair vs. Steamboat, etc. They go into what it really means to have the greatest match of all-time because it is hard for 10 people to get together and agree on what is really the greatest match ever. If it was hard for all four of these veterans to decide, imagine how it must be for writers, etc.

Shawn Michaels says that it was good enough just for him and the others on the panel to just be mentioned in the conversation for greatest of all-time.

Stone Cold shares his own story of having to follow an Undertaker match. He brings up how he had to follow Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring 1998 (Hell In A Cell).

Triple H compares wrestling to music. It is like deciding the greatest song of all-time.

End of An Era:

The discussion transitions to the "End of an Era" Match at WrestleMania XXVIII when Triple H wrestled Undertaker inside of the Cell with Shawn Michaels as the Guest Referee. JBL wants to know if that was their proudest moment with Undertaker. Triple H said yes. Austin chimes in and says how great they told the story of the match and the bond that they shared.

HBK said that it was the most enjoyable moment.


Breaking Character:

The Panel talks about times where they tried to make Undertaker laugh, including a time where they wanted him to do the Spin a Roonie (Taker Roonie) after a Monday Night RAW event. Vince and the fans wanted Taker to break character, but he refused. Even Vince himself could not get him to break, but that shows the respect Taker has for his character and the business.

JBL mentions the different backstage Kliqs in wrestling at the time from "The Kliq" to Bret Hart and his Canadian Kliq to Undertaker's "Bone Street Krew". Austin said that those Kliqs were a shoot and he was never part of one. He tells a story that Undertaker was so tired that he actually slept in the Undertaker casket. People started standing around as Taker got up and never said a word.

Triple H talks about how he saw Undertaker sitting down getting his ribs wrapped up and fighting through the pain. JBL talks about how Taker endured so much punishment and never sold any of it (never complained).

Stone Cold tells the story about how Undertaker knocked him out with a headbutt during their Summerslam '98 match. Austin finds himself on the announce table as Taker gave him the leg drop off the top rope. Steve said that he was not very proud of the match because he did not believe that he performed to the level of his standard or Taker's. JBL brings up how Taker broke his coccyx bone after landing through the table.

Austin talks about how intimidating Undertaker is because of his size. He says that Taker becomes even more intimidating when he is on the top turnbuckle. Steve shares a story in Kuwait where he made Undertaker laugh during the match.

JBL tells a story about when he got drafted to Smackdown he was given lines of jokes to make Taker laugh. He couldn't do it.

Layfield compares Undertaker's respect to Andre The Giant. Triple H says that when he got married to Stephanie, the one guy that he went to for advice was The Undertaker. HBK wanted to find out how Taker felt about the Montreal Screwjob. Shawn and Triple H talk about how Vince gave Taker the facts about the Screwjob, and he understood the business aspect.

Wisdom:

The Panel talks about Undertaker's wisdom and cool demeanor. He calmly analyzes a situation before giving sound advice. Taker was very calm and collected while HBK and Austin were very reactionary. They give Taker respect for putting up with his share of bad opponents (Giant Gonzalez). He NEVER complained.

Backstage Stories (Wrestler's Court/Fight with Kurt Angle):

The Group talks about how Undertaker was always the judge of "Wrestler's Court" and how it was meant to be funny but raised the morale of the locker room.

Taker has the ability to raise the morale and maintain the locker room.

Triple H talks about how Undertaker's ear was bleeding after Austin's knee brace hit him in the ear during their match at Insurrection. He says that at the Airport, Taker actually washed his ear off before a plastic surgeon came to repair the ear. On the plane, Undertaker sees Kurt wrestling Vince, and he chokes Angle out. Kurt was on top of Vince, and Taker made Kurt tap out.


The End of the Streak:

Another hot topic is the End of the Streak. JBL wants to get everyone's opinion on the Streak. Everyone was in total disbelief. Austin said that he had a beer in each hand during the match. When Brock's hand was raised, Steve said that his eyes grew wide just like the fan in the front row with the glasses that everyone makes memes about.

Stone Cold said that The Streak ending was good in helping advance Brock Lesnar, but he believes that it should have never ended. They also talk about how the Streak took on a life of its own. Vince originally did not have a plan for Taker to go undefeated when he won his first match. It just became a snowball effect. Shawn Michaels was the main person that brought that up.

Taker's farewell:

The Discussion ends with JBL trying to figure out the best way for Undertaker to give his farewell. Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold talk about when it was their time to end their careers. Shawn said that he felt more closure from WrestleMania XXVI than he did at WM XIV because he was able to leave on his own terms after his last match with Taker. Shawn was not able to do that in his match with Austin. Stone Cold said that he and a few other people in WWE knew that WM XIX with The Rock would be his last match. Triple H said it best. It is ultimately up to Undertaker to decide how he wants to retire.

Overall, I was highly impressed and very satisfied with this Interview/Discussion. Each of them has shown that they are historians. JBL has clearly done his research while using his own experiences with Taker. Triple H takes great pride in knowing his history, as it is always clear when he sits down for candid interviews like this and the one that he did on Austin's podcast earlier this year. It is also refreshing to see him away from the Authority character on WWE programming.

This is just what I expected from four guys who were each rival of Undertaker at some point in their career. JBL himself always speaks with an expression of gratitude and honor when he talks about The Undertaker. He is a Taker fan for life. Each of them has had their share of wars with The Deadman and carry the battle scars whether they won or lost.

I give this 5 out of 5 Undertaker WWE Championship Belts.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Let's Dance (vol. 4- Ric Flair)


Over the course of his remarkable 30+ year Career, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair has had his share of great dance partners that he has had amazing chemistry with. Flair knew how to dance with the best while also bringing others to his beat. When you have won 16 World Titles along with other accolades, you have to have some great opponents along the way to produce outstanding matches. Ric did that and then some.

Now, I would like to explore and discuss the Greatest Dance Partners of the Nature Boy's Career:

Harley Race:


Length of Feud: 1977-1985

Featured Matches:
Texas Death Match
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (6/10/1983)
Steel Cage Match (Starrcade 1983 "A Flare for the Gold")

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

In order for Ric Flair to emerge into the Main Event Star that he became, he had to overcome the man that stood tall on the NWA Mountain, Harley Race. Both Flair and Race were a very sharp contrast of each other. Harley Race was hard-nosed and hard-hitting with very methodical promos. He was very sturdy and blue collar in every way.

He was even one of the first wrestlers to wear tattoos before they even became cool. Meanwhile, Flair was very flamboyant with the way that he wrestled, the way that he dressed and the way that he talked. Harley was the ultimate predecessor for Flair to defeat. They had a series of matches from the early 70's going into the mid-80's when Race was starting to slow down. Race even put a bounty on Flair's head. That is how serious this feud was.

The feud reached its apex at Starrcade 1983 when Ric Flair defeated Harley Race to win the NWA World Title in a Steel Cage Match. This will forever be known as the passing of the torch for Flair's career. Ric won the title before, but this was the official confirmation that he would carry the company going forward. Harley would briefly win back the title, but ultimately Flair would have the last laugh.



Dusty Rhodes:



Length of Feud: 1977-1987

Featured Matches:
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (9/16/1981)
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (1/1/1982)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1984)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1985)
Steel Cage Match for NWA Championship (Great American Bash 1986)

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

The Classic Story of the Working Class Common Man vs. The Limousine Ridin', Jet Flyin' pompous Villain. It was a tale of Rags vs. Riches. Dusty represented the hard working, lower to middle-class common person. Flair represented the high-class, snobbish socialite that lives a lavish lifestyle while looking down on others. Dusty and Ric have a history dating back to the '70s.

Flair patterned some of his styles after Dusty in a roundabout way. In fact, Flair won his first World Title from Rhodes on September 16, 1981, in Kansas City, MO. They would have a number of matches in between, but no real storyline until 1984. Dusty challenged the winner of the Flair vs. Race match from Starrcade '83. As we know, Naitch won the match.

Their feud would soon start to build as they would collide for the NWA World Title at Starrcade 1984 (Million Dollar Challenge). In that match, Boxing Legend Joe Frazier was the Guest Referee. This was not exactly their best match together because Frazier called for the bell when Dusty's eye was covered with blood.

This would transition the feud into Starrcade 1985, which is known for Dusty's passionate "Hard Times" promo heading into the match. This match made up for the year before as it was executed in a much better fashion. The match was at a very solid but intense pace. In spite of interference from Arn and Ole Anderson, Dusty picked up the win to become champion after pulling Flair in with an inside cradle.

However, the decision was reversed by referee Tommy Young. The outcome was changed for Dusty to win by DQ after interference from the Andersons. This launched the Four Horsemen in January 1986. Their feud would reach its peak and pretty much blow off at the Great American Bash in 1986 inside of a steel cage. I would say that this was the best match that they had together because Dusty was able to get his ultimate revenge on Flair with no Horsemen involved. Rhodes defeated Flair to officially win the NWA World Title for the third and last time.

This feud was carried by great matches but an even greater and more intense storyline. Flair and Dusty danced to different beats, but they were still in sync with each other.



Ricky Steamboat:


Length of Feud: 1977-1994

Featured Matches:
Chi-Town Rumble (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions VI (2 out of 3 Falls for NWA World Title)
WrestleWar '89 (NWA World Heavyweight Title)
WCW Spring Stampede '94 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)

Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9.5/10


Like his feud with Dusty, this was a clash of two different morals. Steamboat was the clean-cut, straight-laced family man who wanted to do things the right way. Meanwhile, Flair was the opposite. He was all about glitz, glamour beautiful women and living on the wild side. The one thing that they had in common was that they were both technical geniuses in the ring that had the stamina to deliver a great 20+ minute match.

They first crossed paths in the late '70's when Steamboat joined NWA Mid-Atlantic. Their most famous encounter at the time was when Steamboat ripped Flair's clothes. Naitch responded by attacking Steamboat and rubbing his face into the floor. At this time, they battled for the Mid-Atlantic TV Title and the U.S. Title. Flair has even said that he believes those earlier matches were better than the ones that they had in 1989, which says a lot.

When The Nature Boy was elevated to the Main Event picture, Steamboat would be one of his natural opponents for the World Heavyweight Title. They enjoyed a series of classic matches from 1983 to early 1985 before Steamboat left for the WWF. In 1984, Steamboat and Flair had three straight matches that went 60-minutes. They had Ironman matches long before WWE came up with the idea.

When The Dragon returned to NWA/WCW in January 1989, his focus was on Ric Flair. Steamboat revealed himself to be Eddie Gilbert's mystery partner vs Ric Flair and Barry Windham.

The Dragon became the number one contender for Flair's NWA World Title heading into Chi-Town Rumble. Steamboat defeated Flair in this contest of endurance and ring generalship. They took each other to the limit. Flair would have a rematch at Clash of the Champions VI (Ragin Cajun') in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the World Title. However, Steamboat remained champion when it was ruled that he had Flair's shoulders down even though Ric fell on him during a submission. This led to the final showdown of their trilogy at Wrestle War. In the end, Flair would regain the title after a remarkable series of matches.

Five years later, their paths would cross for the last time as Flair defeated Steamboat to remain WCW World Champion. The Dragon would retire that year.



Sting:


Length of Feud: 1987-2001

Featured Matches:
Clash of the Champions I (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Great American Bash (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1990 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions XXVII (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
The First WCW Monday Nitro (WCW United States Championship)
WCW World War 3 1995
The Final WCW Monday Nitro

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10


This is the prime example of a guy with less experience who gets elevated by a legend and stays a Main Event Star for the rest of his career. Sting was a guy that was able to get over because he had the image and charisma.

Then, he gets in the ring with the franchise of the NWA (Ric Flair) and gets elevated to the Main Event picture. However, Sting found a way to maintain that status pretty much from the time that he stepped into the ring with Naitch.

Sting was a made man after his classic battle with Flair at the first Clash of the Champions PPV in 1988 (Same night as WrestleMania IV). Sting brought everything that he had to the table and did not disappoint. The match ended in a draw. This shows that you could put someone over without actually losing. Unlike Lex Luger, Flair's investment of Sting paid off in the long run.

Sting was dismissed from the Four Horsemen at Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout after refusing to relinquish his title shot against Ric Flair.

Sting was originally going to face Flair at WrestleWar in 1990 but suffered a serious knee injury in a Steel Cage Match featuring the Four Horsemen.

Once he recovered, Sting defeated Ric Flair at the Great American Bash on July 7, 1990. Sting's reign came to an end on January 11, 1991, at the hands of Flair in a rematch of Starrcade 1990.

Flair defeated Sting in a Title Unification Match at Clash of the Champions XXVII. Other notable matches include the first-ever WCW Nitro and World War 3.

This legendary feud came to a close on the final episode of Nitro. They kicked off Nitro together and ended Nitro together. Full circle.




Terry Funk: 

Length of Feud: 1981-2000


Featured Matches:
2 out of 3 Falls Match (AJPW- NWA World Championship)
Great American Bash 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Halloween Havoc 1989 (Thunderdome Match w/Sting & Great Muta)
Clash of the Champions IX (I Quit Match- WCW World Championship)
WCW SuperBrawl X

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

This was the Battle of the Master of the Figure Four vs. the Master of Hardcore. Flair vs. Funk at its core was brutal. Funk served as the Guest Color Commentator for Flair's match with Ricky Steamboat at Wrestle War. After the match, Terry came to the ring to congratulate Ric. He would also joke about challenging for the title. Flair said that he would have to wait in line with all of the other challengers. Funk was not cool with that at all as he attacked Naitch after the match with a Piledriver through the announce table. Flair said that he was legitimately hurt for months after Funk's Piledriver. This feud was so intense that Terry even tried to suffocate him with a plastic bag. He was hardcore LONG before ECW.

In his promo leading into the Great American Bash, Funk said that the "Glory Days" would become the "Gory Days" for Ric Flair. Flair defeated Funk at the GAB to remain Champion. At Halloween Havoc, Ric Flair teamed with Sting to defeat Terry Funk and Great Muta in a Thunderdome Match. Flair put Funk in the Figure Four as Gary Hart threw in the towel.

The feud would culminate with an "I Quit" Match at Clash of the Champions IX, where Flair would make Funk say "I Quit" with the Figure Four Leglock.

The feud with Funk was not as Iconic as the feuds with Race, Rhodes, and Steamboat, but it was a feud that Flair was into the transition from his war with Ricky Steamboat to a war with rising star Sting.

In the end, it was still great in its own way.

Randy Savage:


Length of Feud: 1992-1995

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VIII
Survivor Series 1992
Great American Bash 1995
Bash at the Beach 1995
Starrcade 1995


Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

When Ric Flair made his arrival in the WWF in September 1991, he wasted no time shaking the landscape of the company. Everyone already knew of his reputation as the Wrestling Kingpin of the South. He called out everyone from Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage down to Roddy Piper. The Nature Boy proudly carried his Big Gold Belt from WCW as he proclaimed to be the "Real World's Champion". As we know, Flair won the Royal Rumble in 1992 to win the vacant WWF Championship.

After becoming Champion, Flair revealed how he and Miss Elizabeth had a "relationship" before she even met the Macho Man. Flair and Mr. Perfect called out Savage as a man. Perfect's promo was on point. "Macho Man Randy Savage. What makes you so Macho? What makes you a Man? What makes you a Savage?". They teased the idea of exposing a Centerfold of Liz after the match.

Macho Man was furious about this as he went silent in the time heading into WrestleMania. These ingredients mixed together created a highly intense and greatly executed match between the two for the Title. In typical Flair fashion, he was busted open. Savage won the WWF Title for the second time. This was the high point of their feud in the WWF. Flair would win the title back in September with the Figure Four while Savage passed out from the pain, but it was nowhere near their encounter at Mania.

Their feud was rekindled in 1995 after Savage's arrival in WCW. They had a series of good to great matches from Great American Bash, Bash at the Beach to Starrcade. Once again, the common themes were Elizabeth and the Title.



Conclusion:

Ricky Steamboat:




As I have come to my conclusion, there is no question that Ric Flair's greatest dance partner was Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. They were like two great musicians with different genres but were on point with the way they danced together in the squared circle. Both Flair and Steamboat were technical powerhouses that never ever disappointed. Their 1989 trilogy was the peak of their rivalry. Steamboat wrestled according to morals and ethics as the ultimate babyface that never went heel. Meanwhile, Flair was at his best as a heel which made him the perfect thorn in the side of the Dragon. It is one thing to bring someone up to your level of rhythm as a dance partner. Flair has had a history of doing that (ask Lex Luger and others). It is another thing to have someone who can naturally dance to your beat during a match, and Steamboat was that guy for Flair. Overall, they made things better for each other as they brought the best out of one another.

Greatest Matches:
1. vs. Ricky Steamboat (WrestleWar)
2. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Chi-Town Rumble)
3. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Clash of the Champions VI)
4. 1992 Royal Rumble
5. vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VIII)
6. vs. Dusty Rhodes (Great American Bash 1986)
7. vs. Sting (Clash of the Champions I)
8. vs. Harley Race (Starrcade 1983)
9. vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
10. vs. Dusty Rhodes (9/16/1981)