Is there a Taker without a streak??

[Klide]

Okay I picked up the WM 25 DVD today and without hesitating I re-watched the Undertaker VS HBK match. I remembered being there live and seeing the crowed react to the kickouts and stuff that blows your mind. Which led to me thinking hmm ok HBK he revolutionized the ladder match(if u will) beat Bret in an hour iron man match and screwed him, was part of DX and the list goes on. For Taker American Badass(past) Deadman(present) and WM Streak. If u were to take out the streak he's just another gimmick right?? I'm not hating taker or nothing I personally think he's one of the best performers out there but if there were no streak what would happen?? I think he would just be another heavy weight tall wrestler like kane and mark henry I wouldent think we would be treated the way he is now..

Your thoughts??
looking to toward to Undertakerthegreat's response on this one lol

 

[BloodAndCyanide]

No way to tell truthfully, but I imagine you'd be correct on that assumption. However, it is a little known fact that Taker owes the fact that he even still has a streak to Randy Orton. Back during their rivalry, when they were in with the production crew, writers, and creative team discussing where they wanted to go with the storyline at Wrestlemania, they decided that Randy would be the one to end the streak. But when they informed Randy of the plan, he refused, saying he had too much respect for Undertaker to do that. I really admire him for his selflessness.

As for Taker, this would be a good thing to submit to WWE.com for their "What if..." section.

 

[Luke Flywalker]

Well, he had a championship under his belt without the streak, so they likely wanted to push him somewhere. I doubt we'd have anyone with a streak if it weren't for Taker getting his. But I think he'd still have been prominent. The Ministry was before the streak ever became popular, and he was feuding with Austin and the McMahons at that point and winning the belt, being part of the title picture. And a lot of the members of the Ministry have gone on to be champions at some level. I think his character and "abilities" give WWE enough room to always have him do something successful and get draws.

 

[noumenon]

Well, Taker isn't a guy who is known for his title reigns or anything... he's obviously known for the streak above all.
To say that he would just be another guy without the streak seems a little ridiculous. It doesn't even come into play except around Wrestlemania.... it doesn't dictate his entire year or career. He would still be revered and respected for being a legend and being around for as long as he has. When you break it down, everyone is just a gimmick, and honestly the "streak" isn't really part of his gimmick technically...it's just an accomplishment.
So no, I don't think Undertaker would be just another guy without the streak, that's a really big stretch.

 

[BloodAndCyanide]

Just an honest man fed up with hypocrites, scyophants, and recalcitrant frauds.

Don't forget gellatinous tapeworms!

 

[UndertakerTheGreat]

Okay I picked up the WM 25 DVD today and without hesitating I re-watched the Undertaker VS HBK match. I remembered being there live and seeing the crowed react to the kickouts and stuff that blows your mind. Which led to me thinking hmm ok HBK he revolutionized the ladder match(if u will) beat Bret in an hour iron man match and screwed him, was part of DX and the list goes on. For Taker American Badass(past) Deadman(present) and WM Streak. If u were to take out the streak he's just another gimmick right?? I'm not hating taker or nothing I personally think he's one of the best performers out there but if there were no streak what would happen?? I think he would just be another heavy weight tall wrestler like kane and mark henry I wouldent think we would be treated the way he is now..

Your thoughts??
looking to toward to Undertakerthegreat's response on this one lol

Ok this is my feeling. Yes it's part bias, and part reason. Undertaker should never lose the streak, and it's one thing to say it's because I dig the man. The more logical answer however is this: Every legend has something they'll be remembered for. Ric Flair is always noted for his 16 title wins, Hogan has things he's famous for;that being the guy that put WWE(WWF) on the map in the 80's, Austin has things he's remembered for, Rock does etc. Taker is just as much a legend as any of those guys.
You'd never suggest to render one of Flair's 16titles wiped off the books would you? Why should Taker deserve less? Taker's streak is the thing that belongs to him, and him alone. Just like the other legends have those special qualities that nobody else has that makes them stand apart from the others. Taker's streak is the one thing he has that nobody else does, and probably this streak will never be equaled. Just like Taker will never overshadow Ric Flair's title record. That's the reason why the streak should never be broken. It's the thing that is his, and even if you don't like him he at least deserves the respect enough to keep that intact.
Wanna know a secret? I hate Hulk Hogan, I never liked him. HOWEVER I cannot deny his accomplishments, and I respect what he did for WWE.

 

[Airfixx]

^^^Flair, Hogan & Austin are a tier above Taker when it comes to being a legend.

 

[LKP]

I would not say that airfixx id say taker has been in the wwe longer than austin id say flair then taker austin etc.

 

[Airfixx]

Length of time served isn't really a factor in determining who's the biggest stars..... Flair, Hogan & Austin are significantly ahead of the pack by virtue of what they acheived in and outside of Kayfaybe...

Been debated here many times before but Taker is more on par with the second tier guys like HBK, Rock, HHH and so on.

 

[MikeRaw]

Yes, there is. I made a thread about when we all thought The Streak was planned, and the general opinion is that is tean't until he was at least 8-0 that they finally realised he was undefeated, and decided to make a big deal out of it.
Undertaker was already well known and accomplished before they decided to talk about the streak though, so yes, he would've been succesful no matter what.
And LKP, Taker is on a lower level than Austin, Hogan, Flair, and (arguably) Rock. You have to realise, Austin, Hogan, and Rock are all in their own realm because they all carried the company on their back, and surpassed everyone else in popularity. Taker, while good, never carried the WWE, no matter how long he's been here. He's on the level right below, with the HBK's, HHH's, etc, like Airfixx said.

 

[noumenon]

Honestly...if we're going "level" wise..

Flair and Hogan I'de say are on a level of their own.

Then you'de have Taker, Austin, Rock, HBK, HHH. I really don't see what would set Taker below any of these guys. He's been around longer and enjoyed the same (if not more arguably) sucess and fan recognition as any of these guys. The only reason you don't see it is because he's still around and cannot yet be lumped into that fantasy league yet. Trust me, if Taker was gone you'de see it.

 

[straight_edge76]

The Undertaker is known for hsi streak and imo that is why he is still considered by the WWE as one of the major draws. He gets some of the biggest pops only rivaled to guys like HBK and Cena. His streak also omits somewhat of a mystique about him which really i think furthers his character as a nearly indestructable force.

Another thing, would he even be considered in the same leauge as guys like Austin, HBK and The Rock if not for the streak? Or would he just be another big man with a gimmick? He has been in the WWF/E since 1990 but has anything other then his streak really been memorable? His title reigns are never long or provide jaw dropping in ring preformances from The deadman with the exception of his 2nd and third title runs imo. I honestly do not think that if he did not have the streak he would still be an active wrestler in the WWE.

 

[Luke Flywalker]

^MINISTRY! That was one of the best times in the WWE.

 

[straight_edge76]

^^Agreed^^
One of the things that really sold me on the Undertaker. I have been a HUUGE fan of his since around Wrestlemania 15.

 

[NinoBrown]

Streak > Deadman gimmick > Badass Gimmick > His injuries/Title Reigns

I was a big Taker fan but he's gone down hill. Besides any feud leading up to WM they're pretty lackluster. Only Taker feud (outside of the Mania timeline) that kept me interested was the Mohammed Hassan and Orton feud. He's known for being "dead", he's known for being respected and he's known for his streak. That's it.

Wasn't until a few Manias ago (WM17-WM19) when the streak was the main focus of his matches.