saintpat
El Dandy
Release the hounds!!!
Posts: 7,664
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Post by saintpat on Feb 27, 2014 23:31:55 GMT -5
This has probably been discussed before, but I don't recall ever seeing it.
I don't think there has ever been a point in WWF/E history where Taker was the Face of the company, or really even the top heel -- sure, for individual matches/feuds he has been at the top of the card, but not a sustained period of time where it was him at the top of the food chain.
Depending on how you count "generations" of wrestlers, he has been the best or among the best of at least two generations (not literally father/son generations, although he does span a few of those). He is a proven draw. He has never, in recent memory, not been over in a major way.
Yes, he's been more of a special attraction/limited schedule guy for a while now, but it wasn't always that way.
Any ideas of why he was never the one chosen to carry the company as the top guy?
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Post by Dave the Dave on Feb 27, 2014 23:33:35 GMT -5
Too cartoony for Leno is my guess.
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The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
AGGRESSIVE Executive Janitor of the Third Floor Manager's Bathroom
Posts: 37,304 
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Post by The Ichi on Feb 27, 2014 23:33:54 GMT -5
There was just always someone bigger.
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Post by The Trashman on Feb 27, 2014 23:34:08 GMT -5
He's never been a good talker and he rarely jobs. Same reason as Andre
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Sparkybob
King Koopa
I have a status?
Posts: 10,992
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Post by Sparkybob on Feb 27, 2014 23:35:10 GMT -5
His gimmick really couldn't be portrayed as the top guy for an extended period time.
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Post by AKIMan64 on Feb 28, 2014 0:01:55 GMT -5
I didn't think he was that subpar on the microphone, and it seemed he had that sort of mystique about him...that is if WWF/E had marketed him in a way where the media can buy into the character.
BTW, I really liked what this YouTuber addressed in this video (skip to 16:08). I think he clarifies it better than I could about Taker.
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Post by rnrk supports BLM on Feb 28, 2014 0:05:17 GMT -5
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Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Feb 28, 2014 0:10:51 GMT -5
He's also the kind of guy you can't really put out for a tom of public appearances, media, radio shows, and the like without killing the mystique of his character.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2014 0:37:48 GMT -5
We would all turn on him  |
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JCBaggee
Hank Scorpio
Writer, streamer. I used to write for CBR but then they fired everyone who cared about their writers
Posts: 6,787
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Post by JCBaggee on Feb 28, 2014 0:41:30 GMT -5
It's the character. He's only just now started to let kayfabe slip, and has been VERY protective of his Undertaker persona. You'd have a hell of a time putting him on The Today Show if he just stared blankly off camera while someone else did all the yapping
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Post by thetower52 on Feb 28, 2014 1:52:07 GMT -5
It's the character. He's only just now started to let kayfabe slip, and has been VERY protective of his Undertaker persona. You'd have a hell of a time putting him on The Today Show if he just stared blankly off camera while someone else did all the yapping |
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Post by The IWC WORLD Champion on Feb 28, 2014 2:13:36 GMT -5
He was boring and all his matches were the same.
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Feb 28, 2014 3:04:25 GMT -5
It's the character. He's only just now started to let kayfabe slip, and has been VERY protective of his Undertaker persona. You'd have a hell of a time putting him on The Today Show if he just stared blankly off camera while someone else did all the yapping Bikertaker could've done all that stuff. And Ministry Taker could've easily been an Elvira-esque host or keep his appearances confined to a niche such as horror/Goth conventions. |
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JCBaggee
Hank Scorpio
Writer, streamer. I used to write for CBR but then they fired everyone who cared about their writers
Posts: 6,787
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Post by JCBaggee on Feb 28, 2014 4:51:19 GMT -5
It's the character. He's only just now started to let kayfabe slip, and has been VERY protective of his Undertaker persona. You'd have a hell of a time putting him on The Today Show if he just stared blankly off camera while someone else did all the yapping Bikertaker could've done all that stuff. And Ministry Taker could've easily been an Elvira-esque host or keep his appearances confined to a niche such as horror/Goth conventions. I love 'taker and all, but I don't know if has the endowments to be "Elvira-esque". |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2014 5:03:52 GMT -5
They never really needed him to be.
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,952
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Feb 28, 2014 5:10:37 GMT -5
He didn't need to be. His ridiculous feuds didn't help. There's no reason that character should have lasted the past 24 years at all, you couldn't do it again with a time machine. He was just "it". I've seen his career since the night he debuted officially.
Plus, he's just Taker. It always messes with my mind when people post pics of him doing normal things, like wearing his real clothes or being a tourist somewhere. He's the Undertaker. I can't even imagine Mark existing.
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Paco
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 7,145
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Post by Paco on Feb 28, 2014 5:27:20 GMT -5
Taker (like Andre before him) always felt like a Special Attraction.
Not really a part of the WWF Title scene. Can't be THE guy without THE belt. Still in a category by yourself though.
After so many years, it felt like 1997 was the first time they really went with Taker with more of a "THE guy" approach.
However, the Austin/Rock era would soon follow...and, when that was done, Taker was back at Special Attraction status.
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Post by RAW IS GWAR on Feb 28, 2014 5:34:18 GMT -5
In 1999 he was the top heel and he was the focus of most of the show
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Crappler El 0 M
Dalek
Never Forgets an Octagon
I'm a good R-Truth.
Posts: 58,479
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Feb 28, 2014 7:32:32 GMT -5
Even when he was a full-time character, he always felt like more of a special attraction. He could main event at any time and it would feel normal and he would belong. Even as early as his feuds with Hogan and Yokozuna, he felt like he belonged in those feuds. Even when he was feuding with Kamala, Giant Gonzalez, and the Million Dollar Corporation, he was treated like a special star throughout this time. He was someone that was going to be featured in WWE commercials and merchandise. As his career went on and he was feuding with Diesel, Mankind, Sid, Vader, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels, it didn't feel like he was getting pushed. He always seemed on that level.
It seems like he has always been in a special position that didn't necessarily need to be the top program in the company. You could have the top program in the company AND the Undertaker program and you would have two featured programs. Sometimes Undertaker would be in the top program (feuds with Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin) and it would feel appropriate and special. It didn't feel any less special if he was in the next-to-the-top feuds with Mankind or Kane.
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mrjl
Fry's dog Seymour
Posts: 20,319
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Post by mrjl on Feb 28, 2014 8:10:36 GMT -5
because there needs to be a chance a champ will lose and Undertaker always winning was to important to his aura
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