After Wrestlemania 31, his next moves in WWE have been the subject of a lot of speculation. He won his match with the highly eclectic, very talented, Bray Wyatt. It was a rather tightly packaged, shortish match against the new monster on the block.
The Undertaker started OK, looking very fit, and had lost some weight, but didn’t look happy, halfway through the match, and if anything looked like the bumps were a problem. It must be said that at a certain stage of anyone’s career, those bumps are more likely to be expensive and time wasting, rather than remunerative.
(“Bumps” are impacts. Whatever you may have heard about pro wrestling, if you go flying through the air weighing over 200 pounds, gravity enforces itself the hard way. It’s just plain dangerous. Wile E Coyote wouldn’t do some of the things those guys do.)
The Undertaker is one of the biggest draws, and most interesting characters in WWE. This guy is larger than life. The first time I saw him, when he started, he looked like a gigantic Funk Brother. He’s also extremely interesting to watch. Each episode effectively proves that WWE can go anywhere it wants with its people.
He’s also no neophyte; he’s an extremely experienced wrestler, not some hype product, in the ring. Every now and then, there’s a real Undertaker, and he’s everything he’s claimed to be. Many pro wrestlers say that it is truly unnerving just to watch him come to the ring. The Undertaker has taken on monsters, as well as being a monster himself. He’s become a cult figure, always a mystery, and above all he’s a highly respected guy in an industry where respect can only be earned one way.
So his contract running out is a big deal, in more ways than one. WWE is unlikely to want to lose such a major power in its roster. It would definitely be a waste to allow him to simply go, with a very strong fan base. He always works well with the entire WWE roster, and if he can handle his own role well, he’s also been able to adapt that role pretty effectively in any direction. Even Kane, the archetypal rival monster/ corporate horror story, has had many legendary tales built on his relationship with The Undertaker, right from the start. His fights with the distinctly non-klutzy, ultra-pro athlete Brock Lesnar have also been huge draws. The Undertaker has the unique distinction of being able to work on any level. That’s an asset that can’t really be overlooked.
For example:
I could see The Undertaker becoming an eminence grise, a threatening presence off stage, as well as being his usual terrifying self. He could create a new bloc power group in WWE, a risk to The Authority. He could suddenly buy up stock and get himself a seat on the board, promoting his own agenda. There’s no real limit.
If he doesn’t renew, American media as a whole has lost a unique individual. He’s as big a draw on YouTube now as he was when he started on TV. This guy has sold more air time and merchandise than most “celebrities” can dream of doing. He’s also more than an icon; he’s a true testimony to the power of an image. WWE doesn’t need to be told how valuable he is, but they will need to look ahead for more options.
The Undertaker on YouTube.
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