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Post by héad.casé on Mar 3, 2019 5:02:14 GMT -5
"I gotta tell you, Mark Calaway hated the idea. Absolutely hated the idea of coming back as The Deadman because he thought the American Bad Ass character was multi-dimensional. He could go out and work a different style of match. He felt if he came back as The Deadman, then he would have to go back to The Deadman persona in the ring."
"We all felt...'Look. Let's give them at WrestleMania 20 the old Deadman. But you can evolve in the ring and work as the American Bad Ass, but you're the Undertaker.' It was a battle. It was a multi-month battle and he didn't think the people wanted The Deadman back. He wanted to continue on as American Bad Ass and felt it was a step back to go back as the old Undertaker."
"It was a constant dialogue. It took a while and we said, 'Take this time off. Grow your hair out and if it shits the bed as a one-off, we can always go back.' Finally he gave in and said he'll try it. The rest as they say is history. It was a natural matchup and natural rivalry: brother vs. brother. It was a ready-made match as we didn't have to do a lot to get to it. People would naturally accept Kane as the adversary to Undertaker in this role."
Source: Something to Wrestle With
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Cranjis McBasketball
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Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Mar 3, 2019 5:04:18 GMT -5
Yeah I think it’s pretty well known Taker didn’t want to go back.
Glad he did. Always hated his ABA years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 9:51:39 GMT -5
When he made those videos to spook Kane, I was hoping he'd come back with the purple gloves.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Mar 3, 2019 10:02:47 GMT -5
I wish he would have one that battle.
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Post by Kevin Hamilton on Mar 3, 2019 10:04:37 GMT -5
Didn't want him to either. Bikertaker was great
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 10:21:02 GMT -5
Taker had no more mileage as the Deadman. Everything he did after he switched back felt like a retread.
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Post by David-Arquette was in WCW 2000 on Mar 3, 2019 10:46:56 GMT -5
I loved his initial return as the deadman but it got boring pretty quickly, largely due to stupid, shit fueds with the Dudleys and Heidenreich. I was happy to see ABA gone though as that incarnation wore out it's welcome after it's first year.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 10:47:00 GMT -5
Glad he did. I hated BikerTaker.
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Post by arrogantmodel on Mar 3, 2019 10:51:22 GMT -5
I didn't like the UnderBiker at first. Especially in his Canadian tuxedo. But once he got the Hardcore title, cut his hair, and went to all black, dude was awesome. I wish he would have stayed as the ABA too.
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Hypnosis
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Post by Hypnosis on Mar 3, 2019 11:00:46 GMT -5
I liked late 2001-2002 ABA heel Taker, but wasn't a fan of the face version of that character before or after.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 11:14:36 GMT -5
I didn't like Biker Taker at the time and don't think h would have had nearly the longevity without going back to the Deadman character, but I'm not sure that's such a bad thing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 11:21:33 GMT -5
I liked late 2001-2002 ABA heel Taker, but wasn't a fan of the face version of that character before or after. Heel ABA Taker was gold. Just a miserable redneck asshole.
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Post by Mid-Carder on Mar 3, 2019 11:21:59 GMT -5
That's interesting because I always assume he has the power to veto anything he doesn't want. It shows the buck ultimately stops with Vince if it's what he wants.
I'm not a fan of Taker at all but much prefer Deadman to Bikertaker - anybody could do that biker gimmick. Not anybody could do the Deadman gimmick and make it a success.
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Post by DoubleDare on Mar 3, 2019 11:27:21 GMT -5
That's interesting because I always assume he has the power to veto anything he doesn't want. It shows the buck ultimately stops with Vince if it's what he wants. I'm not a fan of Taker at all but much prefer Deadman to Bikertaker - anybody could do that biker gimmick. Not anybody could do the Deadman gimmick and make it a success.
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Post by TheMediocreWarrior on Mar 3, 2019 11:27:31 GMT -5
I prefer Deadman over Biker Taker.
A wrestling biker is too generic IMO compared to an unstoppable zombie.
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Hypnosis
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Post by Hypnosis on Mar 3, 2019 11:38:56 GMT -5
I prefer Deadman over Biker Taker. A wrestling biker is too generic IMO compared to an unstoppable zombie. That, and also because I kept expecting BikerTaker to yell "Chainz, Crush, 8-Ball, Skull, where you guys at?!"
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The Ichi
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Post by The Ichi on Mar 3, 2019 11:44:38 GMT -5
I think Biker Taker only worked as a heel, which Taker was never going to be for long.
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Timeless Hayterade
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Post by Timeless Hayterade on Mar 3, 2019 11:48:14 GMT -5
I liked late 2001-2002 ABA heel Taker, but wasn't a fan of the face version of that character before or after. Heel ABA Taker was gold. Just a miserable redneck asshole. Gave us one of the best "WTF"/disgust reactions ever.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 12:00:37 GMT -5
Heel ABA Taker was gold. Just a miserable redneck asshole. Gave us one of the best "WTF"/disgust reactions ever. And of course this... Plus him dragging Hogan on his motorcycle.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 12:13:56 GMT -5
The “Dead Man” character is boring as hell, and always was until about 1997-98 when they started evolving the character. I don’t blame him for wanting to keep ABA.
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