Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Why the end of the Undertaker's streak is probably the best thing for the WWE.

     The Undertaker's streak was broken this past Sunday at WrestleMania XXX and like so many others I was completely shocked when it happened.  I wasn't shocked like I was when the New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants during their undefeated season but shocked nonetheless.  Professional wrestling is predetermined, unlike the NFL, and quite frankly that streak belongs more to Vince McMahon than anyone else.  Vince could have ended this years ago if he really wanted to but he recognized the money he could make with it.  The Undertaker isn't my favorite wrestler of all time but I probably respect him as a performer more than any other.  He knows how to put on a good show.  Unfortunately like any good athlete, age has caught up with the guy.  I think that even though Vince could have ended the streak at any time, he probably has left it up to Mark Calloway to decide when he wanted to end it.  I sat there in disbelief when Brooockk Lesnar got the three count on Sunday,  It really made no sense to me why the WWE would not give the streak to a young talented wrestler to progress their career.  I deliberated it for a while and realized that perhaps this was the best thing for the company.  These are my theories on why this happened now.
     My first theory is that Calloway probably was ready to end the streak.  The taker is a shell of his former self and despite the fact that he can roll his eyes back in his head with the best of them, he cant hide the fact that he is almost 50 and keeping up this streak has been more of a nuisance than anything positive.  I try to look at it from his perspective.  He knows this is not a legitimate physical accomplishment.  He only wrestles one event a year probably because his body can only take one event.  They have probably only kept this streak going this long because the WWE was in an off period of popularity and the Streak was one of the few matches people would tune into.  There was also talk a couple of years ago that Taker wanted to give the streak to Lesnar.  Would I have picked Lesnar? Hell no!...He is a part timer who probably only gives a shit about a paycheck.  The thing I realized though, especially after watching Raw this past Monday, was that the streak was given to Paul Heyman just as much as it was to Brock Lesnar.  Paul Heyman is the WWE's number one heel.  They realize how valuable he is and giving him the streak can only help the future.  His speech on Monday was one of the most brilliant promos ive seen in years. 
     My second theory is that the WWE used this WrestleMania, HHH/Stephanie's first, as a way to pass the torch to the young wrestlers.  There is one constant complaint among wrestling fans for years now and it has been that older wrestlers wont just retire and let the young guys run with the ball.  So lets examine what happened at WrestleMania XXX.  They opened the show with the older wrestling legends in non wrestling roles.  The opening was iconic without having to put one of them over at the expense of a current wrestler.  Daniel Bryan defeated HHH.  The Shield defeated the veterans Kane and the New Age Outlaws.  Cesaro and the Big Show were the last two in the Andre the Giant Battle royal.  I thought for sure Big Show was winning and sure enough Cesaro dumped big show and won the trophy.  The Wyatt family despite losing to John Cena, were the clear cut fan favorite in the match and just facing Cena after really only a year under their belts is huge.  Finally Daniel Bryan won the title.  This was a message to the young wrestlers that this is their time.  Its a gamble but it looks to be paying off.  Lets not forget now that there is a one more match for younger talent at wrestlemania now that there is no more streak. 
     I think that this is a step in the right direction for the WWE.  It will now allow the young talent on the roster to shine.  It gives the best mic guy in the business the credentials to build a stable of young guys and deliver the proper heels that the company needs.  I look at professional wrestling as a tv show, nothing more.  I get invested in the characters like anyone else but I realize that its time for a changing of the guard.  The Undertaker may well be done and he had a great career.  Id probably put him in the top 5 or 6 ever but its time for him to go.  I could possibly see him do one more match with someone like Sting.  Evidentily he was pretty seriously concussed at WrestleMania, enough that Vince rode in the ambulance with him so that might have been it for the phenom.  Time will tell.  Im look forward to the future and kudos to HHH/WWE for having the balls to do that.  The future is here, hopefully these guys can make it fun.  Now all we have to do is get rid of Cena!

   

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