wrestling / Columns

I Was Wrong: The Undertaker Retires From WWE

July 22, 2015 | Posted by Justin Watry

Doing this for over seven years now, there are many perks that come with writing columns about wrestling. Obviously, the monetary gain depending on the website. The chance to interact with other fans. The opportunity to interview/quote wrestlers. The platform to voice an opinion. The ego boost received through emails/tweets from readers. All good stuff. A part of that comes with the inevitable – gloating about being “right” when the history books are written.

From the man who predicted the sinking of the Titanic (what is his name?) to the man who predicted Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan at WWE WrestleMania 28 would last under a minute (hi!), there is always that motivation. Mine have been numerous throughout the years: everything about TNA Impact Wrestling’s current mess, Zack Ryder being a flash in the pan (if even that), John Morrison leaving WWE, Mark Henry being World Champion in 2011, CM Punk NOT coming back anytime soon, Sting working with WWE in 2014, weekly television ratings patterns, Daniel Bryan getting his payoff, etc. The list goes on and on. However, there are two sides to every coin…

I have also been VERY wrong over the years. Babbling on Twitter, deep in a wrestling forum, on Facebook, Skype with your buddies or making pointless predictions in the bottom of a comment section is one thing (that I do not personally do). Those are read by a select few and are basically irrelevant. Just spewing nonsense with no repercussions or accountability. As noted above, writing a column for the whole world to see makes it mean that much more. Thus, this concept was born. Instead of raving constantly about ‘calling it’ every week, why not flip the script? Humble myself a little? Sure. Sounds like fun.

First, the backstory to this column theme returning. A few weeks ago, I was looking for a Jay’s Ways column idea and thought about doing a “review” of my 2015 predictions. Figured the first half of the year was done, so why not? Well, I ended up passing on that and went with a lengthy in-depth look at The Shield instead. Regardless, I did look back at a December 2014 column about what I expected for the new year…

5. TNA Continues To Be TNA

4. TNA Star Makes Their WWE DEBUT

3. WWE Network Continues To Struggle Financially BUT Also Continues To Be Awesome.

2. No Undertaker Match

1. Sting Will Wrestle For WWE.

Eh, four of of five ain’t bad, right?

I Was Wrong: The Undertaker Retires From WWE

Truthfully, this goes back further than late 2014. I know it is hindsight. I know it is in the past. I know nothing can be changed now…but WrestleMania 28 sure felt like the end of The Undertaker. His Heck on a Deck match was promoted as the ‘end of an era.’ He brought The Streak to a perfect 20-0 record after a classic. The man walked out of the stadium arm and arm with Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a perfect moment, more than fitting for a legend calling it a career. You could not have asked for a better send off that made sense for The Deadman character.

No offense to CM Punk, but the 2013 Mania feud felt out of place and ultimately did not amount to much. Taker returned, won, and that was it. Obviously, we know what Punk did as well in the coming months. Then once it was made clear that Taker would be wrestling more matches (The Shield stuff), he built up a WMXXX showdown against Brock Lesnar. I was jacked and expected a slugfest that would be remembered forever. I was only half-right – Taker got concussed early on, staggered for the rest of the bout before losing The Streak in stunning fashion.

Yeah, it will be remembered forever alright!

Again, using hindsight, that sure felt like the end of The Undertaker. He did the honors on the way out. He gave up The Streak to the next monster for WWE, which many felt was the correct old school train of thought (lose your final match). He walked to the back to a standing ovation, and more importantly – his body had told him enough was enough. All the signs in the world were there, including some scary loooking photos of him leaking online. Taker was done, retired, and would never wrestle for WWE again…

…wrong.

I was wrong. Bray Wyatt was not spewing his usual nonsense in early 2015. Not only was Taker on his way back (again), he would be back to his winning ways at WrestleMania. Easily dispatching of Bray was not the story in my eyes. I figured as such. It was the fact that he looked ten years younger, redeemed himself from the previous Mania, and continued the great debate over whether or not The Streak should have ever ended. Once again, WWE has its phenom back in the fold, and no retirement announcement was near. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year, fans (guilty as charged!) just assumed The Undertaker was on his last legs. Yet, there he was in March 2015 still competing in a major match.

Surely, WM28 could have been his farewell. Surely, WMXXX could have been his farewell…but WM31? Against Bray Wyatt? Sorry, he was not going out like that, which meant only one thing – he would wrestle again.

It was at this point where I finally gave up on doubting this man. Every time fans (like myself) say he is finished, he comes back. Every time somebody wants to plan his retirement match (read below, haha), he gets better with age and delivers another classic. Even to this day. The Undertaker could wrestle for another decade, and nothing would surprise me anymore.

Recent photos have popped up of him working out, and I admit he looks ready to compete. A far cry from 12 months ago when he looked like a 75 year old man barely able to walk. It is no secret that WrestleMania 32 takes place in Texas next year with the lofty goal of getting a record breaking 100,000 fans to attend. Therefore, why not start a farewell tour now? Next month, Summerslam is in New York. Give those fans one final Taker match. Survivor Series is where The Deadman debuted on WWE pay-per-view. Have a final match for that event in November. Not like he will win, but one more big Royal Rumble appearance in January 2016 could be extremely fun. All leading to where many (once again) assume will be The Undertaker’s last hurrah – WrestleMania 32 in Texas with 100,000 fans saying their goodbyes!

I may have been wrong about his retirement last year, but if that means we get more Deadman in WWE, I will happily be wrong again to see him continue wrestling. WrestleMania 32, let’s do this…

Cheap Plugs

MIND, BODY, POKER: http://www.wholesomepoker.com/

FASHION FUN: http://winifredjac.com/

Watch Big Brother 17 on CBS where all three of my favorites are still going strong!

Here is where you can send me all of your lovely messages:

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @JustinWatry

Thanks.