What’s the story?
On the recent episode of ‘Something to Wrestle With Bruce Prichard’, Conrad Thompson and the pro wrestling veteran opened up about the Undertaker’s retirement at WrestleMania 33. Prichard – who is credited for being Undertaker’s original manager under the red-faced Brother Love gimmick, said that the Deadman has not retired for good and will be back to the squared circle for another match.
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While WrestleMania 33 had many moments to cherish, none were as saddening as the Undertaker leaving his in-ring gear in the middle of the ring, effectively signaling the end of an illustrious career. This was after Roman Reigns walked the talk of being the ‘Big Dog’ of the yard by defeating the Undertaker in a botchy and lackluster match.
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Roman Reigns needed three spears to put a defiant Deadman away and as a result solidified himself as the true owner of the yard. The unpopular outcome has transcended Reigns’ heat to nuclear heights, and the same was evident on the fallout episode of RAW. The ever-so-passionate fans hurled a barrage of abuses and booed incessantly as Reigns stood in the center of the ring soaking it all in.
Reigns is the most hated man in the WWE and it came all at the cost of the culmination of a 27-year career.
The heart of the matter
Prichard admitted he cried ‘like a bi***’ during the heartbreaking farewell segment, but went on to mention that the Deadman isn’t dead yet.
“It was a nice ending of a chapter if you ask me, but I don’t think it’s over.”
When asked about the possibility of seeing the Phenom back in the ring, he said that he will be back eventually. He backed his claim with a valid explanation, stating that as long as Undertaker is not bogged down to a wheelchair, he will have the urge to get back to the ring for another match.
Prichard said that Taker wouldn’t agree with him on this, but went on to say that despite the fact that his matches won’t be as good as it were 25 years ago, the fans will get behind the timeless character and the respected man behind it:
“Now he would argue with me on that and say ‘no, that’s it.’ But you never say never in this business. And The Undertaker and that character will live on forever and I think that he could still go out and have a match. It may not be what it was 25 years ago, but by god, he’ll go out and the people will be behind him just as much as they ever were.”
While many of the WWE stars such as Triple H, Roman Reigns, and Vince McMahon himself have paid their tributes to the Deadman, hinting the end of the storied career, the lack of an official statement from WWE’s side and the fact that the company itself is ambiguous towards his future leaves the door open to a return.
X-Pac also weighed in on the situation and feels that Taker will be back before retiring for good.
Also read: The Undertaker may undergo a hip replacement surgery
Impact
The pro wrestling fraternity is mourning the end of one of the greatest careers if not the greatest career in pro wrestling history and the effects of it can be felt across all demographics.
Grown men cried, casual fans fell in love with pro wrestling again and the hardcore fan base found another reason to despise the Big Dog of the WWE, Roman Reigns, after the 33rd edition of the grandest spectacle in sports entertainment.
Author’s take
While I have no problems with the farewell segment, as it was beautifully executed, Reigns doing the honors was not the right decision. While he is garnering unimaginable heat – the best I’ve seen in the last decade or so – it is all worthless if he pushed as a clean-cut babyface and the poster boy of the company.
As far as the Undertaker is concerned, I wish he is done for good as it was just painful to watch him struggle to put on a smooth bout. He is currently undergoing a hip surgery and if all goes well, the Deadman could be back at WrestleMania 34 before you know it.
But will that be the right decision? Maybe not! I may sound contradictory, but we just have to live with the fact that Reigns is the man to retire the Undertaker and I hope it stays that way for the well being of Taker. But never say never in pro wrestling they say. So....
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