wrestling / Columns
The Contentious Ten 08.22.11: Best Years of The Undertaker
Hello, and welcome to The Contentious Ten! My name is Nick Bazar, and I thank you for clicking.
So you guys REALLY didn’t like last week’s column. Can’t say I blame you, it sucked.
The Undertaker is one of the most respected men in the wrestling business. He has been at it for decades, and never fails to get a reaction from the audience. Saddled with a gimmick that could have been a short-term project in someone else’s shoes, Taker took it and made it legendary. He has given wrestling fans years and years of memorable matches and moments, and is usually one of the most exciting parts of any broadcast. That said, I decided (thanks to a suggestion from Michael Ornelas) to rank his best years in the business. When compiling the list, I took into account things such as championship wins, memorable in-ring performances and big match victories. And so, the Top Ten Years of The Undertaker…
1996size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel at Wrestlemania XII
– Began classic feud with Mankindsize=3>
Financially, 1996 wasn’t a great year as a whole for the WWF. WCW had just kick-started the red hot nWo angle, and Nitro was winning the ratings war against Raw every week. The WWF roster knew they had to step up, and many of them did including Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Taker started the year with a Disqualification victory- thanks to interference from “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel- over WWF Champion Bret Hart at the main event of the Royal Rumble. This led to a surprisingly great match between Taker and Diesel at Wrestlemania 12 where Taker put the big man away. The following night on Raw, Mankind made his anticipated WWF debut, attacking Taker after a match. What followed was a rivalry that took up a large chunk of the rest of the year, and would eventually continue into future years. It was a star-making saga for Mankind, and provided Taker with numerous memorable moments to include to his resume such as a brutal Boiler Room Brawl that resulted in Paul Bearer’s shocking betrayal of the Deadman.
1991size=6>
Notable Events:
– Participated in his first Wrestlemania defeating Jimmy Snuka
– Defeated Hulk Hogan to capture his first WWF Championshipsize=3>
1991 was a year of huge firsts for The Undertaker. It started with his first Wrestlemania appearance in a match against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. While the bout itself was nothing to write home about, it proved to be a pretty big moment in Taker’s career considering it kicked off his legendary undefeated Wrestlemania streak. The year would only get better for The Deadman as he would go on to capture his very first championship in the WWF. Better yet, that first taste of gold came in the form of the WWF Championship. The event was Survivor Series, the same show Taker had made his debut on one year before. The opponent was the seemingly unstoppable Hulk Hogan. Billed as Hogan’s “Gravest Challenge,” Taker was able to defeat him with a Tombstone onto a steel chair, thanks to an assist from Ric Flair. The reign didn’t last long as Hogan won the championship back the following month, but it did provide wrestling fans with a unique moment we still watch highlights of to this day.
2010size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXVI to force him into retirement
– Restarted his feud with Kanesize=3>
Taker was absent for a good portion of 2010, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it in this list. The biggest reason would have to be that 2010 was the year of the biggest Wrestlemania re-match ever. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels went at it once again, only this time, Michaels’ career was on the line. It was one of the few times I ever felt Taker’s undefeated streak was in jeopardy, and it made the match that much more unpredictable. Would it end in disqualification? Would Michaels beat Taker clean? Would the match itself live up to the incredibly high bar the first one had set? I’ve said it before, I have never anticipated watching a match more than this- I would have purchased the show regardless of the quality of the undercard. After it was all said and done, Taker came out with his undefeated streak intact, and both men had given us yet another classic. A few months later, Taker would restart his feud with his brother, the World Heavyweight Champion Kane. While the matches weren’t very good, the promo work was fantastic and became the highlight of Smackdown for months.
2009size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXV
– Defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championshipsize=3>
As with 2010, The Undertaker was absent for a large portion of 2009, but the months he was on television made for some truly unforgettable appearances. For starters, who could forget his classic match against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25? From the incredible Taker leap that made me think he had broken his neck on impact, to one of the most effective false finishes in the history of wrestling following the Tombstone piledriver, it was immediately regarded as a Wrestlemania classic. As always, Taker came out victorious. He wouldn’t return to a full-time schedule until that year’s SummerSlam where he returned in true Taker fashion. CM Punk had just defeated Jeff Hardy in a TLC match for the World Heavyweight Championship and was in the middle of his in-ring celebration, standing above a prone Hardy. All of a sudden, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Taker is positioned in Hardy’s place. It took viewers by surprise and was a great way to bring back the character. Taker would eventually go on to defeat Punk in a Hell in a Cell match to regain the World Heavyweight Championship.
2002size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XVIII
– Defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WWE Championship
– Fought Brock Lesnar in a brutal Hell in a Cell matchsize=3>
The year 2002 was a strange one for the WWE. Many of the Attitude Era fans had stopped tuning in, some of the top stars (most notably Steve Austin) were beginning to step away and it made for a transition period of sorts for the company. The Undertaker was a big part of that transition process. At this point, Taker was already about two years into his new “American Badass” character. Gone were the long dark locks and ominous music and in its place was spiky hair and a motorcycle. Also at this point, Hulk Hogan had brought back the old school Red and Yellow and was in the middle of a nostalgia run with the WWE Championship. That is until Taker challenged him for said championship at Judgment Day. Taker walked away with the WWE Championship once again and held onto it for a few months before dropping it to The Rock (another superstar slowly beginning to step away from the business). Taker’s main event run that year was far from over though as he would go on to battle the up-and-coming Brock Lesnar over that very same championship. It was Lesnar’s first lengthy program, and he came out on top, defeating Taker in a brutal Hell in a Cell match. An interesting year for The Deadman to say the least.
1999size=6>
Notable Events:
– Began the Ministry of Darkness
– Defeated Big Boss Man at Wrestlemania XV
– Defeated Steve Austin to win the WWF Championship
– Won the WWF Tag Team Championship twice size=3>
Fans are usually torn on the Ministry of Darkness, but I enjoyed it for the most part. The Undertaker was coming off being buried alive in late 1998, and was in need of a character update. He returned with a new goatee and a more evil persona as the leader of a group of dark outcasts known as the Ministry of Darkness. In this updated role, Taker would perform crucifixions and sacrifices. He even went as far as to abduct the only daughter of Vince McMahon, Stephanie. It led to another main event run for The Deadman in which he captured the WWF Championship and defeated the likes of Steve Austin and The Rock. On top of that, he would go on to win the WWF Tag Team Championship twice with the Big Show. It’s also worth mentioning that 1999 was a fantastic year in terms of TV ratings for the WWF, and Taker was clearly a big part of the show during that time.
1998size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated Kane at Wrestlemania XIV
– Defeated Mankind in Hell in a Cell
– Defeated Kane and Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship with Steve Austinsize=3>
By 1998, things were finally clicking for the WWF and wrestling fans were starting to take notice. While much of the credit has to go to Steve Austin and his feud with Vince McMahon, The Undertaker was a huge part of the show, and was involved in an epic storyline that has been duplicated many times since. That storyline was none other than his program with his brother, Kane. After months and months of refusing to fight his own flesh and blood, Taker was pushed to the edge and finally accepted the challenge of the Big Red Machine. They went against each other in the ring for the first time at Wrestlemania 14, and proved to be great opponents for one another. It took three Tombstone piledrivers, but Taker was able to put his younger brother away. It still wasn’t over though, as they would go on to wrestle a number of times later that year. In-between Taker’s battles with Kane, he set his sights on Mankind in a rekindling of their 1996 feud. This time, the stage was much bigger as the match took place inside Hell in a Cell. Taker showed no mercy, tossing Mankind from the top of the cage onto the announce table below and then through the top of the cage onto the ring. He finally finished Mankind off with a Tombstone to put an end to yet another classic. Not only that, but Taker would win gold in 1998 in the form of his very first WWF Tag Team Championship.
1997size=6>
Notable Events:
– Defeated Psycho Sid at Wrestlemania XIII to win the WWF Championship
– Fought Shawn Michaels in the very first Hell in a Cell match
– Began feud with Kanesize=3>
1997 was a huge year for The Undertaker. Success came early, as he was able to defeat WWF Champion Psycho Sid at Wrestlemania 13 to begin his second run as champion. He would dominate much of the year, and the reign would become one of his longest as the top champion. It came to an end at SummerSlam when he lost the championship to Bret Hart after being hit in the head by a steel chair courtesy of Shawn Michaels. This would lead to a Taker/Michaels feud that featured the very first Hell in a Cell match at Badd Blood. After dominating most of the match, Taker would end up on the losing end thanks to the debut of his brother, Kane. While 1998 saw the actual matches take place between the two brothers, 1997 served as the introduction to the entire storyline. From Paul Bearer’s initial accusations against Taker to his announcement that Kane was coming, 1997 set up what was to come. In short, 1997 gave us not only a few classic matches from Taker, but also launched one of the most well-known rivalries in wrestling.
2007size=6>
Notable Events:
– Won the Royal Rumble
– Defeated Batista at Wrestlemania XXIII to win the World Heavyweight Championship
– Feuded with Batistasize=3>
It’s remarkable. While most wrestlers begin to wear down toward the end of their careers, the opposite can be said about The Undertaker. There aren’t too many guys in this industry that can say they had some of their best matches in their 40s, but Taker is one of them. The stuff Taker began doing in the ring in the mid-to-late 2000s consistently out-shined much of his work during his younger years. He slimmed down, gained speed, changed up his style and just became a better wrestler all around. Which leads us to 2007. Taker kicked it off with his very first Royal Rumble victory that featured a memorable finish with Shawn Michaels. From there, he went on to give us a great match against Batista in a performance that pleasantly surprised many. On top of that, it ended with Taker winning the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. His feud with Batista would last the majority of the year, and they never failed to produce good to great matches every time. From a Last Man Standing match to a feud-ending Hell in a Cell match, the saga had it all. Great year for The Deadman, and one of his best.
2008size=6>
Notable Events:
– Won a Number One Contender’s Elimination Chamber match
– Defeated Edge at Wrestlemania XXIV to win the World Heavyweight Championship
– Feuded with Edgesize=3>
It was really hard to make my choice for Number One, but I kept coming back to 2008. Taking everything into account- championship wins, big match wins and quality performances, 2008 satisfied them all in spades. To begin with, The Undertaker won the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out to become the Number One Contender to Edge’s World Heavyweight Championship. The championship match took place at Wrestlemania 24 in the main event slot- Taker’s first Wrestlemania main event in 11 years. He made Edge tap out after a fantastic, main event-worthy performance from both men, and went on to feud with the Rated R Superstar for the next few months. In those few months, we were treated to great match after great match culminating in a terrific Hell in a Cell match that main evented SummerSlam. From there, Taker went on to feud with Big Show in a program that gave us matches that were better than they had any right to be. There are many memorable years to choose from, but for me, 2008 was The Undertaker’s best.
