How differently would the end of Taker’s WM streak be viewed

[Unocal 76]

If HBK had won that iconic WrestleMania 25 match?

If the streak had been ended at 17-0 instead of 21-0 at the hands of not a part-timer, but a revered (to that point) full timer well known to that point as Mr. WrestleMania.

How differently would the reaction have been?

And keep in mind this was a younger Taker that was still going full-time (later that year, he would have his final reign as world champion) rather than the WrestleMania part timer of a few years later.

The shock value might have been different, but when you think of how great that match was, would this have helped or hurt that match considering how differently Shawn Michaels and Brock Lesnar are viewed?

[Cranjis McBasketball]

A split between people who couldn’t stop soiling their pants because HBK did it, people who think he wasn’t the right guy and people who think Taker should have kept the Streak.

I’m in the Taker should have kept the Streak camp.

[Fade]

I think the initial reaction wouldn't of been that bad considering how good the match was...but a lot of heat would of been inevitable in what Shawn already knew was gonna be his last year.

[KobashiChop]

In retrospect it would've robbed us of the two epic HHH matches and the Punk match wouldn't have had the significance it had.

I had no qualms with Shawn losing twice. It was the right decision to have Lesnar win as it built Lesnar into demigod status. It's how they booked Lesnar afterwards that lets it down.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

As much as he bores me to death and hasn’t done an entertaining thing in at least 12 years to me, Orton during his Legend Killer phase was probably the right guy. I know Orton turned it down, but it probably would have ignited him after Triple H killed him dead.

[Eunös ✈]

I still think Undertaker should have retired undefeated at Wrestlemania.

There is no right guy for me.

[Feyrhausen]

Feb 4, 2018 4:33:51 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

As much as he bores me to death and hasn’t done an entertaining thing in at least 12 years to me, Orton during his Legend Killer phase was probably the right guy. I know Orton turned it down, but it probably would have ignited him after Triple H killed him dead.

I thought the main problem there was he was going into the match injured and they knew he would be out for months afterward.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Feb 4, 2018 5:45:07 GMT -5 Feyrhausen said:

Feb 4, 2018 4:33:51 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

As much as he bores me to death and hasn’t done an entertaining thing in at least 12 years to me, Orton during his Legend Killer phase was probably the right guy. I know Orton turned it down, but it probably would have ignited him after Triple H killed him dead.

I thought the main problem there was he was going into the match injured and they knew he would be out for months afterward.

Perhaps, but the narrative I’ve always heard is, Taker didn’t want the Streak, Orton was scheduled to go over, but said no out of respect

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

There would have a bit of pushback because the theoretical rub that a young guy could get from beating the streak could have been a star making performance, and giving it to a nearly retired Shawn Michaels would have been a bit of waste.

In reality, there's no way anyone could have really lived up to that hype without already being a massive star to begin with, so Lesnar getting the streak and stopping his decline and rocketing him to Final Boss status of WWE was about as good of a use of a theoretical rub anyone could have come up with.

[-Lithium-]

I agree with people being somewhat okay with it at the time but being annoyed once HBK leaves a year later.

Streak should have stayed unbroken. WM 28 was THE ending. The culmination of FOUR Wrestlemanias. Hell in a Cell. End of an Era. HHH and Taker done wrestling. 20-0. Absolute perfection.

I will say that as much as I hated it then, the boost it gave Lesnar as astronomical.

[Ben Wyatt]

Feb 4, 2018 6:12:08 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

I will say that as much as I hated it then, the boost it gave Lesnar as astronomical.

And they've completely wasted said boost by not truly putting anyone over Lesnar since then.

[FAR5222]

I would be in the "never STFU about it" camp if HBK won. I wanted that damn streak to end. When Lesnar ended it I was watching with friends and we all were just laughing.

[KofiMania]

Feb 4, 2018 6:52:58 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Feb 4, 2018 6:12:08 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

I will say that as much as I hated it then, the boost it gave Lesnar as astronomical.

And they've completely wasted said boost by not truly putting anyone over Lesnar since then.

That's not "wasting" it. They used the streak to make Lesnar a demi-god character. That's what it was used for and it worked. There doesn't always have to be "another rub" after that.

[mrtuesday]

Feb 4, 2018 6:52:58 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Feb 4, 2018 6:12:08 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

I will say that as much as I hated it then, the boost it gave Lesnar as astronomical.

And they've completely wasted said boost by not truly putting anyone over Lesnar since then.

Don't worry. It's all part of the plan.

[The Trashman]

Feb 4, 2018 9:56:58 GMT -5 KofiMania said:

Feb 4, 2018 6:52:58 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

And they've completely wasted said boost by not truly putting anyone over Lesnar since then.

That's not "wasting" it. They used the streak to make Lesnar a demi-god character. That's what it was used for and it worked. There doesn't always have to be "another rub" after that.

Is he though? I mean they let Goldberg who came in after not wrestling for over a decade beat him in 30 seconds.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Feb 4, 2018 9:56:58 GMT -5 KofiMania said:

Feb 4, 2018 6:52:58 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

And they've completely wasted said boost by not truly putting anyone over Lesnar since then.

That's not "wasting" it. They used the streak to make Lesnar a demi-god character. That's what it was used for and it worked. There doesn't always have to be "another rub" after that.

Many would argue a years-long part-time demi-god character whose mere existence holds up any progress made at the main event level and who holds the top belt hostage for a year isn't a great thing regardless of if they technically succeeded at making him what they wanted him to be. The lack of giving any kind of rub has done more harm than good to the whole production.

[Kevin Hamilton]

It'd be rightly seen as HBK in no way needing the accolade.

[Thunderbolt]

I really like the storyline of Taker being HBK's "White Whale" that eventually did him in. The one guy HBK couldn't beat clean, he kept chasing him, and lost it all by doing so.

So with that said, I'd prefer Brock be the guy to end the streak rather than HBK.

[KofiMania]

Feb 4, 2018 11:10:50 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Feb 4, 2018 9:56:58 GMT -5 KofiMania said:

That's not "wasting" it. They used the streak to make Lesnar a demi-god character. That's what it was used for and it worked. There doesn't always have to be "another rub" after that.

Many would argue a years-long part-time demi-god character whose mere existence holds up any progress made at the main event level and who holds the top belt hostage for a year isn't a great thing regardless of if they technically succeeded at making him what they wanted him to be. The lack of giving any kind of rub has done more harm than good to the whole production.

I'd disagree. I think the product benefits from having a "final boss" type character that isn't around all the time.

[Malcolm]

I don't know if I'd be happy with it, but at least it would've gone to somebody who felt like they earned it.

Also, Brock Lesnar is the WORST final boss ever. He only has two moves, one that he spams and a finisher. He isn't a final boss: he's one of those online spammer cheaters.