Unocal 76
King Koopa
Providing The Finest Oil
Posts: 12,687
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Post by Unocal 76 on Apr 11, 2014 0:48:46 GMT -5
A few of my takes on this:
From a storyline perspective, 1998 was his highest-profile year (battles with Austin/Kane/Mankind, Hell in the Cell/Inferno matches).
From a workrate perspective, 2007 (his epic battles with Batista).
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TGM
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,073
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Post by TGM on Apr 11, 2014 1:00:09 GMT -5
People tend to underestimate his American Badass run, so I'd go with 2000 or 2002 because he's never been as popular.
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,951
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Post by Mozenrath on Apr 11, 2014 1:04:41 GMT -5
A few of my takes on this: From a storyline perspective, 1998 was his highest-profile year (battles with Austin/Kane/Mankind, Hell in the Cell/Inferno matches). From a workrate perspective, 2007 (his epic battles with Batista). I dunno, I might put him as heel champion during the Big Evil run as his highest profile, just because he was the champoion and top heel in the company at the time. That, and just because him dragging Hogan with his bike was such a hilarious, entirely too long scene. |
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Post by BV on Apr 11, 2014 1:52:33 GMT -5
People tend to underestimate his American Badass run, so I'd go with 2000 or 2002 because he's never been as popular. I enjoyed his work in '02, but goddamn was he awful in the ring in 2000. 99-'00 are his two worst years in the ring by far. I'd have to say '98 or '07 for in ring work. |
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TGM
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,073
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Post by TGM on Apr 11, 2014 1:56:07 GMT -5
People tend to underestimate his American Badass run, so I'd go with 2000 or 2002 because he's never been as popular. I enjoyed his work in '02, but goddamn was he awful in the ring in 2000. 99-'00 are his two worst years in the ring by far. I'd have to say '98 or '07 for in ring work. Yeah 1999 was pretty bad, no memorable matches except for the Bossman, and that was for the wrong reasons. I disagree with 2000 because in the Autumn/Winter, he had a few great matches with Kurt Angle. EDIT: 2000s Undertaker also gave us these {Spoiler}{Spoiler}  |
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 28,257 
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Post by chazraps on Apr 11, 2014 2:00:21 GMT -5
I think 1996 was his best in-ring work. Bret, Mankind, Goldust, and clashes on Raw with Austin really gave him a lot to work with.
Storyline-wise, probably the spooky over-the-topness of '92.
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Professor Chaos
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Bringer of Destruction and Maker of Doom
Posts: 16,332
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Post by Professor Chaos on Apr 11, 2014 3:15:22 GMT -5
It's weird that 1999 Ministry Taker was my favorite as a character. His matches sucked horribly at the time tho. Would've loved to see that gimmick at any other year of his career.
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Apr 11, 2014 4:07:59 GMT -5
His heel run in late '01 through '02 is my favourite run both from workrate (the RVD match, the Jeff Hardy match) and character perspectives.
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Post by champviadq on Apr 11, 2014 8:00:46 GMT -5
American Bad ass- 2001
Deadman - 2007 or 2008 take your pick. 2009 will be under looked.
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Post by Hit Girl on Apr 11, 2014 8:02:34 GMT -5
1996
Because that was the year (I think) that Mankind debuted
Undertaker always needed a proper arch enemy, and finally got one
Immediately the slow and plodding "zombie" style was replaced with speed and aggression.
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Post by BorneAgain on Apr 11, 2014 8:40:29 GMT -5
1997. Solid PPV matches with Mankind, Austin, Michaels, Hart, and Vader and some interesting storyline stuff with Bearer/Kane.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2014 8:42:00 GMT -5
1997 was the year the Undertaker was finally allowed to become "human" for once. A loss to Vader at the Royal Rumble PPV, regaining the WWF Title at WrestleMania, good work and matches against Mankind, Austin, Bret, Shawn. (Eh, decent match against Faarooq at KOTR. Nothing spectacular.)
And humbling himself - almost in a subservient way - before Paul Bearer, returning to his fold to keep Paul's dark secret from coming to light.
Then the debut of Kane, and the wild roller coaster of emotions that man showed. I actually cared about the Undertaker.
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Post by Freddy BooJangles on Apr 11, 2014 9:01:19 GMT -5
Character Wise-2000-2003
Workrate Wise-1997
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Post by crashmatsbazz on Apr 11, 2014 10:29:12 GMT -5
Character wise, i loved the first incarnation of him, he scared the crap out of me, my dad, my granddad and lots of my friends, Survivor Series 1991 sticks in my mind so much, the build up was awesome and the segment where Hogan hit him with a chair and he no sold it was great.
Workrate wise - Wrestlemania 20 til Wrestlemania 29
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Post by berlynwright on Apr 11, 2014 10:33:54 GMT -5
1997
went from a generic monster crusher to a all round wwe cornerstone.
and he debuted the zombie out of control top rope suicide dive. which was awesome.
and he was in one of the greatest matches of all time. if it wasn't for Taker (and Michaels obviously) we wouldn't be seeing HIAC these days.
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Post by -Lithium- on Apr 11, 2014 15:28:50 GMT -5
2004-09. Undertaker REALLY stepped it up in the ring. I loved his look during this time as well. I'd say 3 out of 4 of his matches on Smackdown in any given month were ATLEAST decent. Ring wise, he was miles ahead of where he was in the late 90s...
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Post by cabbageboy on Apr 11, 2014 17:54:03 GMT -5
I'll go with 1997. He was finally the WWF champion for a long stretch that year and also there was the initial Kane storyline, the various feuds with Bearer's minions, excellent matches with HBK, and so on. By 1998 Austin was more or less the top guy and not Taker, whereas Taker could lay claim to being the #1 guy in the company in 1997. It's hard to say anything post 2000 since he was never quite in his absolute prime (and the various WM matches were special attractions rather than him being in his full time peak). Anything prior to 1996 was wacky gimmick era Deadman and not quite his peak as a wrestler.
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