Bored of the Undertaker?

[Darkside Ron Garvin]

...has he overstayed his welcome?

I personally don't think so. When he's at 57 and still competing yearly, we might talk but as for now he still puts on great matches that add a good bit of entertainment to both the Wrestlemania PPV itself as well as the Road leading to it.

...I have problems with him coming back once a year to bask in the glory of continuing his streak, which if anyone thinks won't be continuing especially when he works only one match a year, is not being realistic (nicest way I could say it). If he lost what would be the point of coming back once a year?

I honestly don't think that:

(a) Taker is "basking in the glory of his streak"
(b) You are correct by saying it isn't realistic.

His persona as being "the Deadman" (as opposed to the American Bad Ass) makes it indeed 'realistic' that he could continue the streak even with only 1 match a year

Anyways, he's not coming back to put anyone over and he will be gone for 11 months before coming back again. The guy is a legend but it bothers me for only being a 47 year old that he works such a lax schedule to only come back and put himself over more.

You do realize that just by being chosen to be one of Takers opponents at WM, he is putting them over? The list became pretty exclusive in the "Who's who" of WWE stars from Jimmy Snuka and Jake Roberts in his first two, to the likes of HBK, Ric Flair, Edge, Kane, and HHH... For someone like Orton and Punk just to be chosen to be in Takers WM match is putting them over, regardless if they lose the match.

And to your final point, it sounds as if you are under the belief that Taker is choosing to MAKE VKM book him for a Mania win every year. IF you believe that then I suggest you look more into the character of the man known as Mark Calaway. I don't think he is the pre-Madonna you are presenting him as.

[Marx]

I'm not bored by the Undertaker yet, but I do believe Johnny gets too much stick for this.

And I do feel the grandeur, the entrance(s, in the case of Shawn and HHH), the once in a year match feel, is a double edged sword. Undertaker makes Mania, but it almost stands alone in it's greatness and distracts from the rest of the card. Undertaker earned his spot, as did his competitors. But Taker is blocking the path for other, younger guys to steal the show, because he steals the show. And of course the other should earn the spot, do what they can to steal the show, bla bla, but they are at a severe disadvantage. Undertaker is always more interesting because it's one of the few matches a year, because of his nostalgic value, and because of the production value of the promo's and entries.

The card is full with old guys that've all earned the spot - Undertaker, Cena, HHH in the business, Rock and Brock by becoming bigger than the business. But the old guys are crowding the spots, and are holding Ziggler, Bryan etc. back. It's double: they of course aren't on the same level, but they'll never get there if they don't get WM-matches against the likes of Undertaker, HHH, Rock etc.

My point: too many former stars on top. Undertaker could've skipped this one, certainly if he's not in good health. That said: I'll always watch his match, he does not bore me and earned his spot.

[shanezam203]

I think Undertaker is just fine, having the fatal 4 way last night to determine his challenger when we knew it was CM Punk, we could argue how smart that was... but Undertakers Gong and entrance will never get old. Surprisingly I think his match last year vs. HHH was one of the match's of the year, so he has a tough act to follow with CM Punk. interesting to see how they pull it off and what kind of match they make it.

[Cabers]

He is getting close to being done so i am content for whenever he calls it time until i enjoy everything he does. Now a guy that needs to leave health wise is Rey Mysterio he apparently has torn an ACL again its time to go before he ends up in a wheelchair.

[King Scrapper]

Man, if you didn't think there was drama in his past 4 Wrestlemania bouts, I just don't know where you would find drama. Perhaps a Real Housewives show or something. HBK's final match, the tension between Shawn and HHH, Taker needing someone to end the streak, etc. - all just amazingly dramatic and intense. HBK, HHH, and Taker did some of the best in-ring storytelling in history last year at Mania, and the years before were just as amazing. I would argue the Taker vs HHH at 28 with Shawn adding to the plot as referee was 'the most dramatic match I've ever seen.'

Sorry I should have been more clear. I was mainly talking about his first two bouts with Triple H and now this one with Punk (even though it hasnt really started yet :-)). I just dont see the same passion as I did with HBK vs Taker

[HCollins-TNA1]

I'd love to see him around more but for the shape he's in I'm more than happy to get one 4-5 star match a year from him. As far as putting people over goes, they don't have to beat him to get over. Just wrestling Taker at WM gets a guy over.

Just put on a great match.... if anyone can it can be CM Punk.... In a way Punk reminds me of Barry Windom, he can wrestle anyone and make them look good, same for Taker when he healthy... I'm just not sure how healthy the Undertaker is these days, he miss up one of his big moves like old-school and fall on his leg or knee the wrong way, it could cost him his career...

[SHW]

yes, and i have been since about 1997.

the ministry was one of the worst angles of the AE, and at a time when 99% of the fanbase wanted Austin and Rocky to have the ball and run, it was annoying when VKM kept on throwing Taker in on angles and story lines to keep him relevant.

half of his mania matches are forgettable against lousy opponents, and i am man enough to admit his later work has been his best. (from HBK 1 to Trips 3)

but yes, sick of taker and have been for a long, long time.

[No_1eddiefan]

Honestly, no.

I'm going to try and make a different point to those that have already been made.

I think that the man has earned the right to come back and wrestle once a year. He's been in the WWE for 22 years, and for most of those 22 years, he worked his ass off every single week. The Streak itself is becoming iconic.

Plus, even though we all know (as much as any IWC member can know) that Taker will win the match, I still find myself getting lost in the emotions of the match, and believing Taker actually will lose.

Examples:
Randy Orton reversing a Chokeslam into an RKO at WM21. (The first time I actually believed- in the moment- that Taker was going to lose at Mania).
Shawn Michaels kicking out of everything Taker threw at him both WM25 and WM26, and throwing everything back.
Triple H hitting him with a Tombstone at WM27.
Sweet Chin Music-Pedigree double at WM28.

For the pure emotions that happen during the match, I'd have Taker coming back for another 10 years to just wrestle one 4-5 star match a year. Obviously this won't happen but I'm excited for his match with Punk and I'm excited to see the build up.

[texrodgers]

Umm, who exactly has he faced that needed to be put over? HHH and HBK definitely didn't need to be put over, and it's not going to help CM Punk's career at this point.

I'm going with the minority by saying yes, I am bored with the Undertaker. His match is not going to make me buy the PPV. Yes, he puts on great annual matches. Yes, he is a legend. Yes, he has the streak. None of that stuff matters if he isn't on TV more regularly. OOOOO he came out and pointed at the WM sign... I'm shivering. I have to buy that PPV now even though we already know CM Punk won't win and Taker's streak is in no danger whatsoever. DON'T get me wrong, CM Punk and Taker will put on a fantastic match that will probably steal the show. Unfortunately, that's all it is - just one match, no build, no drama, no actual heat between the two guys.

I think the Taker/HBK/HHH saga should have been the finale to the streak. That would have been the perfect way to retire Taker, streak intact, while closing out an era.

[JohnnyV123]

Haha some of you guys are unnecessarily harsh. Didn't expect agreement or anything but some of you're acting like it's not even a semi valid point. I wasn't saying Taker is selfish in wanting to come back and keep his streak running higher (although that's the only reason he is back is for the streak) but it's a bit selfish when you come back once a year to claim a top spot at Wrestlemania without working a single other match. It's the same kind of BS the IWC gives Hogan so much crap for (rightly so) for being far past his prime and taking up a show. Doesn't it bother you a bit that The Rock and his ridiculously busy schedule will have worked more than Taker has over the last three years?

I wasn't even arguing that Taker should hang up his boots and give up! He should work a part time schedule that includes maybe 15 appearances and 2-3 matches a year OR retire. I would hope he would do the first one.

I can't see a match with anyone else living up to the last few years. The reason those were so good was they were about the legacy of Triple H and HBK just as much as Taker.

Maybe I'm just bored at immediately knowing the results of two of the biggest matches on the Wrestlemania card and bitter about it.