'Taker turns 40 today

[SuperClerk]

With all due respect to RonFez Mark, I'd like to take this time to wish everybody's favorite dead man a Happy 40th Birthday. It seems just like yesterday that Brother Love accompanied this tall, pale, tatoo-less, red head down the aisle as the mystery partner for the Million Dollar Man's team at the Survivor Series in 1991. Since then, we have seen many classic 'Taker moments. Here are some of my favorites-

-Being referred to by Mean Gene Okerlund as "Kane the Undertaker" during an update on WWF TV. Oh, what could've been.

-Getting cheered at WrestlMania 7 against a babyface Jimmy Snuka. The beginning of the smart fan.

-Stuffing the Ultimate Warrior inside a coffin on "The Funeral Parlor" on WWF TV. Still classic.

-Defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWF title at Survivor Series 1991 by tombstoning him on a chair. Even though Hogans head was a good foot or so from the chair. Loses title less than a week later to Hogan.

-Innovating the resthold by choking wrestlers and making bizarre hissing sounds. "Sssss.....ssssss"

-Nearly getting stabbed by a sword stabbing Berzerker on WWF TV in 1992.

-Beginning his carrying of no talent giants by feuding with Kamala. Giant Gonzales would follow.

-Loses to Yokozuna in a casket match at the Royal Rumble 1994 in one of the worst angles ever. If you've ever seen it, you know what I mean.

-Begins a series of Undertaker sightings during the summer of 1994. Luckily, Leslie Neilson was on the case.

-Defeated the Brian Lee version of the Undertaker at Sumemrslam 1994 to put an end to a horrible angle.

-Attempted to resurrect the career of King Kong Bundy at WrestleMania 11. Failed.

-Adds to his legacy of trying to carry no talent giants by feuding with Kama the Supreme Fighting Machine (AKA Papa Shango/The Godfather) and Mabel.

-Has his greatest feud to date with Mankind in 1996 which includes the very first "Buried Alive" match.

-Defeats another no talent giant named Psycho Sid for the WWF title at WrestleMania 13.

-Puts over Bret Hart for the WWF title at SummerSlam 1997. SuperClerk marks out severely.

-Begins a great feud with Shawn Michaels which includes the first (and in my opinion the best) Hell in a Cell match, and the debut of 'Takers "brother" Kane.

-Has a decent feud with Kane, the most talented of the no talent giants.

-Tosses Mankind off the Hell in a Cell roof. Somehow bribes internet marks across the world into thinking that this is the greatest match ever.

-Along with Kane, beats down Vince McMahon on Raw after Steve Austin drives a zamboni to ringside in one of the best Raw segments ever.

-Crucifies Steve Austin on a cross...., ahem..., I mean a symbol.

-Takes a well deserved sabbatical at the end of 1998 into 1999, returns as an evil Amish leader.

-Adding to his list of crucifixtions, ties a very young, thin, and oh-so innocent looking Stephanie McMahon to his symbol and attempts to make her his bride. Somewhere in the back, Triple H gets a boner.

There are many other 'Taker moments. But these are some of my favorites. Happy Birthday "Mean" Mark!!!

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Thanks to Toddevf for sig pic

[phixion]

u 4got his match with bret at the rumble in 97. a classic match that was beautiful...never say taker never had talent

and one the best built up matches of all time taker vs nash mania 12....

<IMG SRC="http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/philex/phixion.gif">
"smoking weed, smoking weed doing coke, drinking beers
drinking beers, beers, beersrolling fatties, smoking bluntswho smokes the blunts?we smoke the blunts." -Jay

[SuperClerk]

He fought Bret at Rumble 1996. I agree that his matches with Nash and Bret were great. I just like to sometimes focus on the "lighter" events of his career.

<img src=http://members.aol.com/vikorynotvengnce/images/superclerktemp.gif>
Thanks to Toddevf for sig pic

[Teenweek]

-Loses to Yokozuna in a casket match at the Royal Rumble 1994 in one of the worst angles ever. If you've ever seen it, you know what I mean.



How could you not like this. When he rose from the casket to the rafters, that was awesome. Of course it wasn't believable but neither was his character.

[SuperClerk]

I just thought that it was a little too over the top. Even by wrestling standards.

<img src=http://members.aol.com/vikorynotvengnce/images/superclerktemp.gif>
Thanks to Toddevf for sig pic

[Shecky]

How could you not like this. When he rose from the casket to the rafters, that was awesome. Of course it wasn't believable but neither was his character.

I AGREE


Happy 40th to the Undertaker...The first heel to break most of my generation out of the "HULK RULES" phase as kids. Of course being assisted by Ric Flair(the first Good Bad guy) during the Survivor Series match.

Hope you have another 40 ahead of you dead man.

Later On,
SHECKY

[phixion]

still no jerry taker or se7en...very interesting....

<IMG SRC="http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/philex/phixion.gif">
"smoking weed, smoking weed doing coke, drinking beers
drinking beers, beers, beersrolling fatties, smoking bluntswho smokes the blunts?we smoke the blunts." -Jay

[Crippler]

I was always a bigger fan of "Prime Time" Brian Lee.

OK, kidding....happy B-Day, Dead Man.

ps: if you would like to give a present to your fans, show up one Monday night backstage & cripple "The Game." We don't care if you do it with your hands or your Harley, just do it.

SigPic thanks to TenbatsuZen
http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL77/857148/1548180/18137301.jpg
...silent, but violent.
[center](Miles)[center]

[Freebird]

Happy Birthday wishes to the Undertaker!!!

I remember hearing him receive more cheers than the ranting, incoherent Ultimate Warrior, who was supposed to be the face. Even if I did like and cheer for him, I could tell he had just slightly above 0 moves whereas the Undertaker performed well and had a number of unique moves.

It's a funny thought that, early in his career, the Undertaker was told he'd never amount to much as a wrestler because his face wasn't animated enough to sell. Nice that he was able to turn a liability into a PHENOM-enal asset!!

I do take issue with Kamala as talentless. After a surprise attack that finished with his splashing UT, Kamala's look of horror when Taker sat up, turned and reached out with that one hand was, I think, HUGE in boosting the presence of the Dead Man.

-----------------------------
Now I'm starving

I'm about to turn it up a notch!

[Se7en]

Even I'm not so heartless that I'd rail against Taker in his birthday thread.

But the Yokozuna match was awful - if for no other reason than it was overbooked. They had something like 10 guys kicking his ass.

Begins a series of Undertaker sightings during the summer of 1994. Luckily, Leslie Neilson was on the case.

Maybe the lowest point of Leslie's career. And THAT is saying something.

<img border="0" src="http://Se7enRFNet.homestead.com/files/se7en.jpg" width="300" height="100">

I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know.

"I was here before the oceans turned black with life, and when the deserts are white with death I will remain."
---Saint Iago

[Steels]

After a surprise attack that finished with his splashing UT, Kamala's look of horror when Taker sat up


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

BRAVO!!!!!

BRAVO!!!!!!!!

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS EVER....KAMALA'S MUG SHOT WAS PRICELESS!!!

Happy Birthday Undertaker!

<img src=http://members.aol.com/vikorynotvengnce/images/steels3.gif>

[Literally]

call me crazy, but I like the motorcycle/biker bit


40... wow, how time flies

[rowanprofz]

I don't think I was even 10 when the UT debuted. I remember the big hubbub about Dibiase having some mystery partner. I remembered when he debuted I was like "holy shit" Koko B Ware, Hit Man, Dusty Rhodes (blanking on the 4th guy) are all screwed. In retrospect I think it's hilarious that he debuted with Brother Love and got counted out with the polka dot freak in the same night.

DAMN THE MAN! - Empire Records