Which time period would you call Undertaker's Prime?

[Guest belushiknuxx]

just curious

[Maxximus 353]

How about post Bikertaker?

[dsrchris 190]

I've got a soft spot for original zombie Taker. Although his "prime" as far as matches were concerned would probably be everything since he came back as Classic Taker at WMXX

[DC 536]

1996-2013.

 

Seriously, he rarely put a foot wrong in that entire period. Sure there were blips (WMXV, Khali), but for the most part that entire run was filled with great matches after great matches.

 

Forgotten among the WrestleMania moments are two bona-fide classics against Kurt Angle at No Way Out 2006 and a Triple Threat v Kurt v The Rock at Vengeance 2002.

[Guest John Hancock]

That's a really good question, because there's so many factors.

 

I think saying from the mid-90s to the mid-2010s is far for broad to be considered a prime, that's a career, and an entire career can't be a prime, there has to be a peak. In terms of matches, it's obvious the WrestleMania streak era, probably starting with Batista, and ending with CM Punk. In terms of character, I loved the Ministry of Darkness, and I REALLY loved the angle that debuted Kane. Any of those three eras, the debut of Kane, the Ministry or the semi-retirement WrestleMania matches, those are my picks.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

I really love the memories of the original run but the matches were the pits, however my most favourite period is from 1998-1999

[DC 536]

That's a really good question, because there's so many factors.

 

I think saying from the mid-90s to the mid-2010s is far for broad to be considered a prime, that's a career,

I was really struggling to pick one section of that time period over the other because there were so many "peaks" in that time-frame.

 

If I had to be pushed, I'd go for the moment he turned heel on Jim Ross as BikerTaker until the face run against the UnAmericans.

[Guest BeorimJ]

as i have answered in the other thread, but just so you can all see it here as well: Good question. I would say, discount the first 3 years in WWE, and the last three years, and Taker has constantly put out a great performance, be it matchwise , or just through his presence. (even though the match against Punk was great, ever since the Shawn Michaels match you could see that Taker started to loose his edge. And it was painfully obvious in the Lesnar match. As much as i hated the streak to be broken, and despite the fact that he was giving his all, there was no way that you could have sold a win - except maybe an unclean one).

[Guest Jamster26]

His feud with Batista for me, whenever that period was. (07, 08?).

[King 277]

His run as BikerTaker for me but as stated above when he turned heel on JR he went to another level, I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for the Biker gimmik.

 

To be fair though he had Austin/Rock/Angle/Y2J/Kane/HHH all in their prime to work with :lol

[Guest The Beltster]

His feud with prime Brock Lesnar in 2003 was his best work for me, far better than the overrated near-fall-crazy and overly predictable WM streak stuff from 25 onwards.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

I have fond memories of their brutal HIAC match in October 2002 I think Edited May 13, 2014 by Ciaran The King

[Guest The Beltster]

Was it 2002? I have my years wrong in that case. That match and the one before it at No Mercy I think, they were wicked!

[Guest Ciaran The King]

They feuded again in 2003 but the second time round Vince, Sable and Steph were involved

[Guest Edgehead]

I think 2002 is my favourite Taker year. At the start of the year he was a heel & a really good one IMO. By the end of the year he was a face & had an awesome feud with Brock Lesnar

[Guest Ciaran The King]

Was that also the year he faced Flair at WM?

[Guest Edgehead]

Yes it was

[Guest Ciaran The King]

Great match was that, one of Takers better pre amazing Wrestlemania matches. Also loved Arn's Spinebuster

[Guest belushiknuxx]

thanks guys so glad you enjoyed this thread, imo it was his world championship error that was his prime for me and at that time he was recognised as a true main top star not just 3rd or 4th place top guy

[etz 78]

I'd say his run from 13-0 to last WM, with the HBK matches as the highlight.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

I enjoyed his stuff with Austin in 98

[Guest smartmark00]

hard to say because taker has never been an amazing wrestler but id say around 2001-2007

[DC 536]

taker has never been an amazing wrestler

I can't agree with that at all.

 

If you're judging under the amazing wrestler = NUMBA OV MOVEZ mantra, then you have my sympathy, but there have been periods where Undertaker was a phenomenal wrestler (no pun intended), with him having great-to-epic matches with a number of talents.

 

My personal top 3 outside his WrestleMania bouts are-:

 

v Shawn Michaels from IYH: Ground Zero (which is criminally overlooked in favour of the following month's Hell in a Cell debut)

v Kurt Angle from No Way Out 2006 (30mins of amazing action)

v Kurt Angle v Rock at Vengeance 2002 (a fantastic Triple Threat)

[Evil Gringo 279]

I'd say he had two primes, the first being 1996-1999 and then after a bit of a tail off from about 2006-11.

 

That was mainly because of the fact in those two time periods he had some great talent to work with and was also personally motivated as well. HBK, Bret, Austin, Foley, Angle, Rock, Edge, Rey, Orton, Cena, HHH, Punk - all in purple patches of their own.

 

Taker whilst not the perfect wrestler is a good wrestler - he doesn't need a huge move set because he knew how to make what he brought to the dance matter as well as the actions of his opponent. That and not MOVEZ is what makes a good wrestler.

 

Also if we want to discuss under rated Taker matches, his match against Ken Shamrock that had some nice MMA touches in it (including Shamrock turning a chokeslam into a climbing cross armbreaker) as well my favourite moment, the buffalo roll into a Tombstone (my favourite wrestling counter) is my choice for a good but under the radar Taker match.