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411’s Legends with JBL: The Undertaker (Part II) Report

November 20, 2015 | Posted by Robert Leighty Jr.

411’s Legends with JBL: The Undertaker (Part II) Report

-Back at it with Undertaker week and we get to Part II of JBL’s panel discussion with Austin, Michaels, and Triple H.

-JBL welcomes us to Part II and he says at times it is hard to separate between the man and the myth with The Undertaker. JBL talks about how everyone has had times where they have tried to get Taker to break character. That has always been a goal of most guys in the business, and HHH says you could never break him.

-They bring up the BSK and Austin says it stood for Back Stage Kliq and Shawn thought it was Bone Street Krew because they liked to play dominos. JBL tells a story of how Taker took a nap once in one of the caskets as it was a chance for him to get rest without showing the boys he was tired. HHH says Taker never wanted to show he was hurt or tired and talks about Taker having cracked ribs and not wearing a flack jacket.

-More injury talk as they discuss The Phantom mask he worse when he broke his eye socket and then the Elimination Chamber show where he caught on fire from his pyro. He never flinched and never wanted to break character or show weakness. JBL brings up the SummerSlam match with Austin and how Austin got knocked out in the match. Steve says it was the first time he was every knocked out and they show how it happened. Austin kicked Taker as he was sitting for a backdrop and when Taker snapped up, he caught Austin on the chin with his head. Austin says he had no clue where he was and it took Hebnar telling him that he was in The Garden. JBL says Taker dropping a leg off the top through the table was not planned, and that Taker had it saved in case something went wrong. Austin says he never knew that and Austin says it was an incredible site. He puts over how 7 foot guys doing that is scary and shows what Taker was willing to do.

-Austin tells a story about a road trip over seas and how during a battle royal or something he was able to make Taker laugh. JBL said he always closed shows with Taker during the brand split and guys would give him jokes to say to Taker when he was about to hit the choke slam. JBL says he came close once to breaking him, but was laughing so hard himself he couldn’t follow up on it. Trips brings up the story of the Taker-rooni and this should be glorious. After the show ended on RAW Vince, Taker, Booker, and Rock were in the ring together. Triple H came out and Taker thought he was going to do something to get him out of it, but HHH turned on him and Taker ended up doing the spin-a-roni, but still didn’t break character.

-Again to HHH and he talks about the start of his relationship with Steph. The first man he went to was Taker because he knew he would give him good advice and let him know what he thought. Shawn jumps in and talks about Montreal and says Taker was the one guy he wanted to let know what was happening. JBL asks Shawn what Taker thought and all he knows is Taker shook his hand and said “we’re cool.” He isn’t sure what Vince told him though and HHH thinks he just told him the facts. JBL says that what Taker told HHH about the Steph relationship came true and shows that he does have wisdom. They all say that Taker isn’t reactionary and that he always takes time to think about things first. Shawn says Taker is different than him as he is very reactionary and that he would have lost it with some of the stuff they made him do. HHH brings up El Gigante and how nobody ever heard Taker talk crap about being put in that match.

-Now on to wrestler’s court and how Taker is always the judge and jury. We find out that Godfather was always the bailiff as well. HHH says the young guys always learned something coming out of wrestler’s court. Good stuff here as they all have a blast talking crap on each other and not taking things too serious. HHH says Taker always had a great pulse and knew when to keep things serious and when to bring levity. Austin says that Taker never said he was the leader and that people just gravitated to him.

-JBL brings up how Austin’s knee brace took off a piece of Taker’s ear in England. They had to be on a plane or were going to be stuck in England so they patched his ear up on the plane. Taker was in and out of consciousness during the ordeal while Vince and Kurt Angle were wrestling. Taker woke up and didn’t know what was happening so he just put Angle in a choke and put him out. JBL says Kurt didn’t want to tap out so he just keep telling Taker they were only playing. Awesome!

-On to The Streak and how it ended. JBL says the only thing he can compare it to is Bruno losing the WWF Title in MSG. He says that Cole was getting read to say “and the streak continues,” but was caught off guard and why the “over” sounded weird. JBL says he and Cole were just in as much shock as the crowd. Shawn says he was in the back and turned around to Austin and said “what was that.” JBL talks about how Taker was knocked out and doesn’t remember much. Austin says he didn’t know that and all he did was ask Taker if he wanted to be on a podcast. HHH and Shawn mock Austin for his cheap plug!

-Austin says he was double fisting beers and when Taker lost he felt like The Fan in the front row that became famous. HHH talks about The Streak as a whole and he doesn’t think there was ever a time when people though they made the wrong decision with each time Taker won. Shawn asks at what point did someone clue in to the idea that there was a Streak. HHH says he doesn’t recall it being a factor when he wrestled him at X-Seven. Austin says a lot of times you are so deep in to things you don’t even realize things happening around you.

-JBL talks about how Taker has fought everyone and wants to know if Taker should have that last moment like Shawn and Flair or should he just have a match and then you never know if he is going to come back. Shawn says that after being away for 5 years he doesn’t have a handle on how things should end for people. HHH says he doesn’t have an opinion and it should always be up to the individual. Shawn agrees with that and says it is a heck of a lot better to go out on your own terms. Austin says Mania XIX was his last match and he knew it would be, but he didn’t want everyone to know. Interesting stuff here with Shawn and Austin as each went out in different ways and in styles that fit each guys character. Austin says he would like to know as a fan if it is Taker’s last match just because he is so invested in the character and man.

-JBL asks each guy what The Legacy of Taker will be. Austin says he has had one of the greatest careers in the business. Taker is going to leave with respect and that there will never be another like him. Shawn says he knows he can walk in a dressing show and always see Taker. He knows it is going to be weird when he walks in and Taker isn’t there. He calls him The Last of the Mohicans, and basically Taker is the constant. HHH says it all boils down to respect and he calls Taker the most respected man in the history of the business.

-HHH puts over the greatness of the panel and thanks them for joining him. He then closes the show and plugs Undertaker week one last time.

-This JBL series is quickly becoming a favorite as I am a fan of guys just talking about the history of the business and sharing stories. There also seems to be less restriction or at least guys are more free to stray off topic and tell some great stories that you typically don’t hear. Good stuff all around with this two part show!