The Undertakers Last Ride Docu Series Top 5 Deep Dive.
Intro.
If you take your minds back to 2020, the world was in a differing state, the pandemic had taken a grip on the world, and how many compan'ys conducted there business. The WWE however ploughed through with all of there plans, including releasing content for there now defunct WWE Network. This release was centred around The Deadman, and the final years of his in ring career. I didn't write anything about this at the time, because I didn't have the confidence to have my own platform, but given the fact this years Survivor Series wrapped up last weekend, I thought this would be a good idea to go back and take a look at this series. 35 Years of The Undertaker. Were has the time gone.
Episode 1. Greatest Fear.
This was a bold way to start of the series. The episode was focused around the importance of family relationships, that are tinged with blind loyalty. Mark opened up about the protection of his character, whilst handling the riggers of the road. His Mania streak does get covered, and how it ended at the dismay of the fans. His concussion gets talked about to a degree, as he brings not remembering anything from that day. This was then rubbished by He Who Shall Not Be Named during his Netflix Docu Series. This says to me that mental blocks are real, and should be treated seriously. The issue of mental blocks can also be used to describe how he felt after his Match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33. The moment when Taker took off his gear in the ring would symbalise the end of his career, or so we thought. I thought this was a fed pilled example of blind loyalty, being put together with how the riggers of the road can leave a talent feeling that maybe there time has come.
Episode 2. Redemption.
The real life Ramifications of Mania 33, and how Taker was going to bounce back, became the backbone of this episode. It's clear that Taker has issues with self doubt, and it was evidently clear watching. His wife Michelle Mccool appears across the series as a talking head, and doesn't really offer up much in terms of analysis, but she does give is the opinion from the side of a loved one. Taker felt guilt after his Match with Roman, because he didn't think that he gave his all, this lead to him apologising to him backstage at Mania 34, after he beat John Cena. His Build to facing Cena at Mania 34 would get overlooked on TV due to the Tag Build for Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey vs HHH and Stephanie Mcmahon, but when you take a look at how he prepared for a 5 minute Match, I could tell that this wasn't the end. Episode 2 is stark reminder how hard work can bring you back to the forefront, but leave you feeling with the question. How Much do I have to give.
Episode 3. Feeling Empty.
This episode was centred around the relationship between Taker and HHH, and. HBK. Their Mania Matches still stand up today, and prove the point that bonds aren't built, they're created by pure magic and grit. This was WWE at it's finest for this period, and I loved it. Fast Forward to 2018, and Taker is headlining Madison Square Garden as part of WWE's Summer U.S Tour, hearing him reflect on this times in this building was a fascinating insight into how he loves the industry. He was backstage talking, and giving advice to the younger talent. HHH and Takers Match from Super Showdown 2018 from Sydney Australia gets covered in a highlight package, and this was for the best, because this match was terrible. What came after this was WWE's second trip to Saudi Arabia, and DX vs The Brothers Of Destruction. To say that this Match was a car crash, was all the participants being nice, because was horrorific. This would have an effect on Taker. Love for an industry that you work in can be seen as devotion, but in trurh it's not always your friend, and it can hurt you.
4. The Battle Within.
Hearing from those who aren't with us Today. Bray Wyatt, and. William Moody, who played the role of Paul Bearer up until 2004, added an sense of emotional depth, that the previous eps were missing. Seeing the old footage from the WWE archives, felt like I stepped back in time in the best way, as Bruce Pritchard talked about the person Mark Callaway. Fear of missing out is all real, and can't ignored. Taker was backstage at Mania 35, and you could see it written all over his face, he wanted to be out there, but he wasn't needed. This was a sensible move from WWE to keep him close, as the fear of an upstart company was looming. His Match Against Goldberg from Super Showdown 2019 in Saudi Arabia was covered in all of it's terrfying form. The moment Goldberg gives Taker that Jack Knife Powerbomb still to this day is something that WWE are trying to forget about. He left the ring on his own accord, but when you look at the facts, he was only two inches away from something awful happening. No Pro Wrestling show, or moment should come above someones own health. This led to the formation of The Graveyard Dogs. Taker teamed up with Roman Reigns to face Shane Mcmahon, and Drew Mcintyre, at 2019 Extreme Rules PPV. The Match ended up being one of my favourite Matches from that year, and a reminder that he still has it. It was known that after this Match, he told He Who Shall Not Be Named, that he was done, and he was told that the company would follow his lead. This episode is a reminder that, if you're done then you've got the right to go out the way that you see fit.
5. Episode Revelation.
In November 2019 Taker appeared on Steve Austins Broken Skulls Sessions. And he hinted that he might not be done. AJ Styles watched this, and that's what gave birth to the idea of the Boneyard Match. But what was around the corner caused this stipulation, and how WWE would run its business for the next 16 months. The Covid 19 Pandemic was a tough time globally, and this made WWE change its plans going forward, gone were the international tours that had been booked, and Mania at Raymond James Stadium in Florida was put back a year. Mania 36 came from the behind closed doors at there own Performance Centre in Orlando. This meant for certain Matches they had to think outside the box. Before WWE filmed the Boneyard Match. Taker would have to deal with the loss of his brother, and Michelle Mccool lost her nephew. The Match with AJ was filmed on Location, and would take a night to film. It turned out to be an entertaining romp that stole the weekend for me. As Troubador by George Strait played out in the closing moments with images of the past, Taker could be heard saying that he contempt with being done, and this was the right way to conclude this show. Taker got to ride off the way that he wanted, and that's the most important thing. And to think this started off with a phonecall in 1990, that started with the words. Is this my Undertaker.