One of the biggest talking points leading up to this was how it could be handled. The discussion was usually on someone needing the rub. You could buy a Kane victory. Someone established like Shawn because it made sense. It isn't always about making new stars, but a Mania Moment (tm). People were usually against it feeling it should go to a new guy so that the rub can mean something. If they aren't gonna do that, might as well let Taker keep it because he's a legend.

No one saw Brock winning here. His second run was very hit and miss. Long absences and when he was here he wasn't exactly running through people either. He lost to Cena in his first match and even if he dominated like 90% of it, he still didn't win. He beat HHH at Slam, but HHH got the win back at Mania so who gives a fuck? And then he was gonna face Taker and I'm sure most people just saw it as a filler run of the mill streak match. And it was booked as such until the finish.

Shock and Awe.

No one (literally) saw it coming and there was some backstage thinking no way because he isn't even loyal to the business. Why would they waste it?

And they did. And then they booked him like he mattered again. Beating everyone, having a title run, in a way he almost gained Taker's powers with the victory. Like him or not, but he did feel important and a big deal. Almost like they recreated the streak on a smaller scale. Instead of a match a year, he had several. So they turned a 20 year streak into a 5 year one. They booked a goal in mind in defeating Brock and unlike a "meaningless" victory at Mania (why is beating Taker worthless 364 days?) it was both attainable but also out of reach.

At first people didn't like it for many reasons. Most of which are based on Brock as a person and his attachment to the business. But enough time has passed where we can judge things. One thing you can look at is to debate the whole "deserving" it aspect. We've seen newbies come and go. Yes you can argue a lot weren't given a real shot, but with so many not reaching that level even with a sustained pushed you have to wonder if anyone else getting the rub would've been wasted. The only one even close was Roman (literally the next year rofl) if you play into his real heat at the time. Perfect rub to get him to turn into a heel, though they were reluctant to go all in with it. Even after a win and the heat the next night... they didn't go with it. Imagine his current character being the one to end the streak (not a hollow post streak ending victory like he got). Would feel like a much bigger deal than say giving it to a random young guy who "needs it".

So yeah a few years removed was it worth it?

Fuck yeah. No one should've ended the Streak other than Brock.

I will say they really dropped the ball on not doing a proper Cena match during the streak's run. Sure we had that (whatever the fuck it was) years later, but a Cena match where the streak is in legitimate danger going in would've had people going nuts.

Sept 4, 2021 19:25:51 GMT @ness said:

I will say they really dropped the ball on not doing a proper Cena match during the streak's run. Sure we had that (whatever the fuck it was) years later, but a Cena match where the streak is in legitimate danger going in would've had people going nuts.

I'm perpetually working through rebooking WrestleManias. I cannot be convinced WrestleMania 29 wouldn't have been infinitely better automatically if they hadn't shuffled and done Taker/Cena, Brock/Rock II for the title, and a proper HHH/Punk blowoff instead.

In retrospect, Brock was the best pick. It's a shame they wrecked whatever build up they could have had by doing that Vince bullshit of "paying dues" or "humbling" or whatever the fuck it was that had him immediately lose to Cena, and then the series to Triple H. I remember from the boards that Taker vs. Brock was absolutely a filler match because Brock had been so damaged.

The match itself was shit. Remember there were conspiracy theories that 'Taker got concussed and that wasn't supposed to be the ending? But it was the ending, and it kind of sucked, if we're being honest, but they absolutely, whether intentional, or dumb luck, saved it with the Suplex City destruction in his next big match. That's really what sold the New Brock. I think if they did the normal Cena big match formula, Brock is still dead, and people still hate him breaking the streak, the absolute carnage of a guy that, let's be frank, like 60% of the audience wanted to see get decimated, really salvaged what should have been a disaster. Good for them. They didn't do much with it. But they did get the big match feel back with Brock matches.

I've often seen 'Taker vs. Cena mentioned as a missed opportunity, and I suppose it is. Unfortunately, the coolest thing they could have done with that, is also the worst thing they could have done with that, and that's make it a Submission or I Quit match. The drama of Taker losing/Cena tapping would have made it truly dramatic on like a meta level. Except, that the 'Taker streak matches depended almost entirely on spamming finishers and near falls. You take those away, I'm not sure what any of those matches had to offer. So, you'd have to skip the best move (in theory) with giving Cena something to truly lose too, and just have it a regular match, and it would have been like every other non-Michaels streak match, fairly ordinary. 

Kane is the only person I put my foot down, absolutely, under no circumstances, should have ever been giving the streak rub. The man's entire fucking career was given to him cosplaying 'Taker's entire moveset and lore, what more can you give one mediocre talent?

Sept 4, 2021 22:25:59 GMT Kilgore said:

In retrospect, Brock was the best pick. It's a shame they wrecked whatever build up they could have had by doing that Vince bullshit of "paying dues" or "humbling" or whatever the fuck it was that had him immediately lose to Cena, and then the series to Triple H. I remember from the boards that Taker vs. Brock was absolutely a filler match because Brock had been so damaged.

The match itself was shit. Remember there were conspiracy theories that 'Taker got concussed and that wasn't supposed to be the ending? But it was the ending, and it kind of sucked, if we're being honest, but they absolutely, whether intentional, or dumb luck, saved it with the Suplex City destruction in his next big match. That's really what sold the New Brock. I think if they did the normal Cena big match formula, Brock is still dead, and people still hate him breaking the streak, the absolute carnage of a guy that, let's be frank, like 60% of the audience wanted to see get decimated, really salvaged what should have been a disaster. Good for them. They didn't do much with it. But they did get the big match feel back with Brock matches.

I've often seen 'Taker vs. Cena mentioned as a missed opportunity, and I suppose it is. Unfortunately, the coolest thing they could have done with that, is also the worst thing they could have done with that, and that's make it a Submission or I Quit match. The drama of Taker losing/Cena tapping would have made it truly dramatic on like a meta level. Except, that the 'Taker streak matches depended almost entirely on spamming finishers and near falls. You take those away, I'm not sure what any of those matches had to offer. So, you'd have to skip the best move (in theory) with giving Cena something to truly lose too, and just have it a regular match, and it would have been like every other non-Michaels streak match, fairly ordinary. 

Kane is the only person I put my foot down, absolutely, under no circumstances, should have ever been giving the streak rub. The man's entire fucking career was given to him cosplaying 'Taker's entire moveset and lore, what more can you give one mediocre talent?

What if your only two options were Kane or HHH?

Sept 4, 2021 22:35:24 GMT 🤯 said:

Sept 4, 2021 22:25:59 GMT Kilgore said:

In retrospect, Brock was the best pick. It's a shame they wrecked whatever build up they could have had by doing that Vince bullshit of "paying dues" or "humbling" or whatever the fuck it was that had him immediately lose to Cena, and then the series to Triple H. I remember from the boards that Taker vs. Brock was absolutely a filler match because Brock had been so damaged.

The match itself was shit. Remember there were conspiracy theories that 'Taker got concussed and that wasn't supposed to be the ending? But it was the ending, and it kind of sucked, if we're being honest, but they absolutely, whether intentional, or dumb luck, saved it with the Suplex City destruction in his next big match. That's really what sold the New Brock. I think if they did the normal Cena big match formula, Brock is still dead, and people still hate him breaking the streak, the absolute carnage of a guy that, let's be frank, like 60% of the audience wanted to see get decimated, really salvaged what should have been a disaster. Good for them. They didn't do much with it. But they did get the big match feel back with Brock matches.

I've often seen 'Taker vs. Cena mentioned as a missed opportunity, and I suppose it is. Unfortunately, the coolest thing they could have done with that, is also the worst thing they could have done with that, and that's make it a Submission or I Quit match. The drama of Taker losing/Cena tapping would have made it truly dramatic on like a meta level. Except, that the 'Taker streak matches depended almost entirely on spamming finishers and near falls. You take those away, I'm not sure what any of those matches had to offer. So, you'd have to skip the best move (in theory) with giving Cena something to truly lose too, and just have it a regular match, and it would have been like every other non-Michaels streak match, fairly ordinary. 

Kane is the only person I put my foot down, absolutely, under no circumstances, should have ever been giving the streak rub. The man's entire fucking career was given to him cosplaying 'Taker's entire moveset and lore, what more can you give one mediocre talent?

What if your only two options were Kane or HHH?

If I show up and that's what Vince wants I'd put an Austin and walk the fuck out.

Sept 4, 2021 22:35:24 GMT 🤯 said:

Sept 4, 2021 22:25:59 GMT Kilgore said:

In retrospect, Brock was the best pick. It's a shame they wrecked whatever build up they could have had by doing that Vince bullshit of "paying dues" or "humbling" or whatever the fuck it was that had him immediately lose to Cena, and then the series to Triple H. I remember from the boards that Taker vs. Brock was absolutely a filler match because Brock had been so damaged.

The match itself was shit. Remember there were conspiracy theories that 'Taker got concussed and that wasn't supposed to be the ending? But it was the ending, and it kind of sucked, if we're being honest, but they absolutely, whether intentional, or dumb luck, saved it with the Suplex City destruction in his next big match. That's really what sold the New Brock. I think if they did the normal Cena big match formula, Brock is still dead, and people still hate him breaking the streak, the absolute carnage of a guy that, let's be frank, like 60% of the audience wanted to see get decimated, really salvaged what should have been a disaster. Good for them. They didn't do much with it. But they did get the big match feel back with Brock matches.

I've often seen 'Taker vs. Cena mentioned as a missed opportunity, and I suppose it is. Unfortunately, the coolest thing they could have done with that, is also the worst thing they could have done with that, and that's make it a Submission or I Quit match. The drama of Taker losing/Cena tapping would have made it truly dramatic on like a meta level. Except, that the 'Taker streak matches depended almost entirely on spamming finishers and near falls. You take those away, I'm not sure what any of those matches had to offer. So, you'd have to skip the best move (in theory) with giving Cena something to truly lose too, and just have it a regular match, and it would have been like every other non-Michaels streak match, fairly ordinary. 

Kane is the only person I put my foot down, absolutely, under no circumstances, should have ever been giving the streak rub. The man's entire fucking career was given to him cosplaying 'Taker's entire moveset and lore, what more can you give one mediocre talent?

What if your only two options were Kane or HHH?

Triple H, without hesitation, and no regrets. I actually don't hate Triple H. I just think he's sucked for all but, like, two really great years. 

Also, thought this was going to be about Goldberg in WCW, where the answer is a Chris Jericho who doesn't leave in 1999 resulting in a double turn.

Brock didn't need the streak, even at that inconsistent point in his career. He could have lost to Undertaker, Brock loses no credibility because nobody ends the streak, then go on to Suplex City Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania and become a deity, just as he did in reality.

Roman Reigns defeating Undertaker, then Undertaker leaving his boots in the ring, then Reigns having that awesome heel segment on the opening segment of the following Raw; "This is my yard now." He got venomous heat, but imagine what that would have been like if he had done it after ending the Streak? Roman Reigns, top babyface and public enemy number one, putting an end to the most beloved winning streak in history. "This is my yard now." Vince would have to run with Reigns as the top heel after that. And now we know how fucking awesome Reigns is as a top heel, imagine that combined with ending the streak.

Sept 4, 2021 23:44:25 GMT Emperor said:

Brock didn't need the streak, even at that inconsistent point in his career. He could have lost to Undertaker, Brock loses no credibility because nobody ends the streak, then go on to Suplex City Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania and become a deity, just as he did in reality.

Roman Reigns defeating Undertaker, then Undertaker leaving his boots in the ring, then Reigns having that awesome heel segment on the opening segment of the following Raw; "This is my yard now." He got venomous heat, but imagine what that would have been like if he had done it after ending the Streak? Roman Reigns, top babyface and public enemy number one, putting an end to the most beloved winning streak in history. "This is my yard now." Vince would have to run with Reigns as the top heel after that. And now we know how fucking awesome Reigns is as a top heel, imagine that combined with ending the streak.

Ok, I really want this instead.

This would be a great way to debut and establish the WWE Multiverse. Roman that ended the streaj is from a different timeline (WWE2), essentially the current Roman only he's been that way ever since the Taker match. So Tribal King for a good # of years. So like a Roman who is more wise as he has more experience than our current WWE1 Roman. Well the WWE2 Roman came to our verse because he has to beat the guy who ended the streak and took Cena to suplex city. In his timeline that didn't happen. He's visited 1000 timelines and no one ever ended the streak. Except for 1 WWE Universe and that was ours. They are the only two to defeat the Deadman. So Roman2 has to test himself against Brock1 because he has has run out of opponents and doesn't want to retire defeating ham and eggers. He needs it so bad he's willing to risk actually being defeated in the process.

So while Brock1 appears on a collision course with Roman1, Roman 2 is waiting to make his move when it's revealed the TRUE REASONING for his multiverse travel... that's because Vince has gone so CRAZY that he demanded Roman clone himself because the execs told him "find us more like Roman and Brock!" when they brought up stars. So Roman literally had to go to another earth to find what the network wanted.

Meanwhile in the under card HHH being the cerebral assassin that he is lies awake at night knowing all his effort to make NXT a thing and receive iwc adoration even if vicariously through people like Adam Cole. He was happy, he was proving he was more than a wrestler. See guys it'd be totes awesome if only I was in charge. If only Vince was gone. Yeah I drugged Steph to marry her and ran over Austin, but I can't kill Dad. He loves me.

Then Vince is like yoink. Ya think it was gonna last forever, pal? Remember I let Heyman book Smackdown for a while. Pissed that all his efforts and for not. He tried to appeal as an alternative. For years being the machine he got to live a fantasy as counter culture. Then AEW came on board and developed an audience. Stealing from him and then Vince was like rofl jk.

Then it dawned on him. There was no Nick Khan. He was in fact Tony Kkahn2, the older version of Earth1. Eventually Tony1 finds out and confronts him. Pissed that he's such a dweeb in comparison to "Nick" and that's when Nick Khan (aka Tony2) quips with yeah... we both are. They embrace and merge together like Piccolo to become the ultimate con. See the whole time in WWE1 Universe we thought it was the Bucks and Kenny who conned a billionaire. Turns out Tony from the future was conning them all. All because HHH once snubbed him at an autograph signing as a kid. So his whole mission was taking it all away from him for his ultimate plan to prove he's better than the cerebral assassin. He will convince Vince to fire him and Steph.

But not before SIERRA HOTEL INDIA ECHO LIMA DELTA

The Shield, only they're from a third WWE Universe and are carrying SHIELDS just like Vince intended in every verse.

More to come in Fan Fic.

Watching the match, it’s boring as fuck and we all know Taker is winning.

I get up walk past my mum in the hallway complaining about how boring the match is, use the bathroom then return to the living room.

I hear my friends scream as I’m entering then go silent, I see Brock leaning on the rope and think he either hit the SSP again or there was injury.

Nope, just missed the biggest moment in wrestling history since I started watching 🤦🏻‍♀️. sandylea still gives me shit about that to this day.

====

As for streak, was the right decision and it’s unfortunate that Taker got concussed as he doesn’t even remember the streak ending and it should have been a much better match for it be the streak ender.

He should have retired right after that match however.

Sept 5, 2021 5:25:04 GMT System said:

Watching the match, it’s boring as fuck and we all know Taker is winning.

I get up walk past my mum in the hallway complaining about how boring the match is, use the bathroom then return to the living room.

I hear my friends scream as I’m entering then go silent, I see Brock leaning on the rope and think he either hit the SSP again or there was injury.

Nope, just missed the biggest moment in wrestling history since I started watching 🤦🏻‍♀️. sandylea still gives me shit about that to this day.

====

As for streak, was the right decision and it’s unfortunate that Taker got concussed as he doesn’t even remember the streak ending and it should have been a much better match for it be the streak ender.

He should have retired right after that match however.

The SummerSlam and especially Hell in a Cell matches that followed though were such epic redemption match quality wise!

Sept 5, 2021 11:45:07 GMT 🤯 said:

Sept 5, 2021 5:25:04 GMT System said:

Watching the match, it’s boring as fuck and we all know Taker is winning.

I get up walk past my mum in the hallway complaining about how boring the match is, use the bathroom then return to the living room.

I hear my friends scream as I’m entering then go silent, I see Brock leaning on the rope and think he either hit the SSP again or there was injury.

Nope, just missed the biggest moment in wrestling history since I started watching 🤦🏻‍♀️. sandylea still gives me shit about that to this day.

====

As for streak, was the right decision and it’s unfortunate that Taker got concussed as he doesn’t even remember the streak ending and it should have been a much better match for it be the streak ender.

He should have retired right after that match however.

The SummerSlam and especially Hell in a Cell matches that followed though were such epic redemption match quality wise!

Agreed, enjoyed all the Brock/Taker matches.

I just feel sorry for Taker that was his one WM match he needed to be a great match but not much you can do when you’re out of it.

Sept 5, 2021 11:45:07 GMT 🤯 said:

Sept 5, 2021 5:25:04 GMT System said:

Watching the match, it’s boring as fuck and we all know Taker is winning.

I get up walk past my mum in the hallway complaining about how boring the match is, use the bathroom then return to the living room.

I hear my friends scream as I’m entering then go silent, I see Brock leaning on the rope and think he either hit the SSP again or there was injury.

Nope, just missed the biggest moment in wrestling history since I started watching 🤦🏻‍♀️. sandylea still gives me shit about that to this day.

====

As for streak, was the right decision and it’s unfortunate that Taker got concussed as he doesn’t even remember the streak ending and it should have been a much better match for it be the streak ender.

He should have retired right after that match however.

The SummerSlam and especially Hell in a Cell matches that followed though were such epic redemption match quality wise!

See a HIAC where they literally rip up the ring feels more like a true streak ender than a basic af wrestling match in front of a mostly dead crowd. Makes you wonder if the stunned silence would've been as epic had it been a classic match with a lively crowd.

Always weird they have a lot of Mania duds and then redeem themselves later on. DO IT FIRST BITCH.

Not entirely sure Brock was the right person to end the streak, but..... I'm sure I have read/heard that many people over the years were rumoured to be the ones to end the streak.

- HBK
- HHH
- Mark Henry?
- Randy Orton

and the most surprising name that I've read was Edge, but he declined...oh well.



IF I had to choose one, it would be have been Reigns, then that promo on Raw the "It's my Yard now" promo woul have been his heel turn.

I recently deleted my notes from my revisionist history spreadsheet on this exact topic for some reason. I'd booked what I thought the Streak could've and perhaps should've looked like in retrospect. Relying on memory now, I think I had something like this..

1-0 @ WrestleMania VII
R.I.P. Jimmy Snuka
No change. My WrestleMania WatchThru surprised me by revealing how decent of a match this was for what it was. The finish was cooler in concept than it was in execution only because of Superfly's physical condition and Taker's relative greenness. A springboard into a Tombstone in early 1991, even if executed like shit, is still pretty fucking cool. Streak begins with a legendary name.

2-0 @ WrestleMania VII
R.I.P. Jake Roberts
No change. See Strobe's rebooked WrestleMania VIII for a finish and angle for an awesome alternative opponent. If I'm tampering with the Streak as little as possible to give myself liberties elsewhere, I figure I should keep this as the real deal was perfectly cromulent. Didn't age as well as I'd hoped during the WrestleMania WatchThru, but I recall thinking the Tombstone on the floor was super bad ass during my first time viewing as a kid.

3-0 @ WrestleMania IX
R.I.P. Papa Shango (Voodoo Coffin Match)
Change! Better alternative than Giant Gonzalez, whom I'm admittedly booking in a monster mash against face Kamala. Squeeze the last juice we can out of the abortion that sadly was Papa Shango. Glorified squash for Taker to look dominant as hell, with a bunch of fun smoke and mirrors gaga. Taker gets to work with his buddy Charles Wright, which hopefully gives him less of a grievance about opponents somehow even if match quality isn't upped substantially. Sadly, this is the last we ever see of Shango.

4-0 @ WrestleMania X
R.I.P. Jeff Jarrett (Double J's Grand Ol' Open Challenge)
Change! Jarrett thought he'd have a feature match on the WrestleMania card when he was announced as Lex Luger's potential prelims opponent, but then Luger won the coin toss and Jarrett got bumped off the card entirely. To make things right, Jarrett hijacks a segment of 'Mania and announces Double J' s Grand Ol' Open Challenge (harkening to Music City's Grand Ol' Opry). The previously presumed-to-be-dead Taker answers the challenge, squashes Jarrett in record time with a chokeslam. Rumors swirl whether this was indeed the real Undertaker or an Underfaker impostor. We don't get our definitive answer until the summer. Most importantly, my OCD issues about gaps in the Streak is assuaged.

5-0 @ WrestleMania XI
R.I.P. The Million Dollar Corporation (Irwin R. Schyster, Bam Bam Bigelow & King Kong Bundy) (w/ Ted DiBiase) (Grave Consequences Gauntlet Match)
Change! Check my idea in the Rebook a Card thread for more, but the gist (jist?) behind the grave consequences hook is that Taker must join the MDC if he loses, and MDC must file for bankruptcy if they lose. Taker squashes IRS, and then dispatches Bundy. Let's pretend they're cool eliminations. Last but not least is Bigelow, who opts to be counted out after growing sick of DiBiase's shit... setting up Bigelow's face turn to feud with a reorganized MDC.

6-0 @ WrestleMania XII
R.I.P. Diesel
No change.

7-0 @ WrestleMania 13
R.I.P. Sid (WWF Championship)
No change. With the added victory from WMX, Taker makes it lucky number seven and the unlucky 13th WrestleMania. In the main event. To reclaim the world title at long last. The only difference from real life is the match length is cut in half, as it would've been awesome had they compacted the actual action into less time and cut the fat.

8-0 @ WrestleMania XIV
R.I.P. Kane (w/ Paul Bearer)
No change.

9-0 @ WrestleMania XV
R.I.P. Kane (Hell in a Cell)
Change. Fuck Bossman here. The Corporation compels Kane to act on their behalf against Taker, who's growing increasingly influential thanks to his growing Ministry of Darkness. Maybe a stip or something where Kane must join his brother in the Ministry if he wins as an homage to the Grave Consequences match at WMXI.

10-0 @ WrestleMania 2000
R.I.P. D-Generation X (X-Pac & Road Dogg) (w/ Tori)
Undertaker returns as the American Bad Ass a couple months early since Austin isn't ready to go at 'Mania. Brothers of Destruction blow off Kane' s feud with X-Pac with a quick squash. Taker spends the next couple of months in a Crow Sting/911 role, just riding to the ring on a motorcycle and chokeslamming/Last Riding Fools until he's ready for his official return to the ring.

11-0 @ WrestleMan X-Seve
R.I.P. Triple H
No changes.

12-0 @ WrestleMania X8
R.I.P. Ric Flair (No Disqualification)
No changes. If you want to shake things up though, I'd consider Brothers of Destruction vs. The Outsiders... but meh.

13-0 @ WrestleMania XIX
R.I.P. Big Show (w/ A-Train)
Slight change. Just cleaning up because of my OCD issues. A-Train is relegated to interfering cornerman status. Overall the match can stay mostly the same as IRL. Nathan Jones can fuck off to lockdown in the Outback.

14-0 @ WrestleMania XX
R.I.P. Kane
No change. Return of the Deadman gimmick. Kane vows to never tangle with Taker again, at least at WrestleMania.

15-0 @ WrestleMania 21
R.I.P. Randy Orton
No change. But at least now the Streak feels like even more of a thing with a couple added victories.

16-0 @ WrestleMania 22
R.I.P. Kurt Angle (World Heavyweight Championship Submission Match)
Change! Instead of postponing the No Way Out 2006 match to here as many rebook consider, I'm using that match to build to this one. A ten year later homage to the GOAT submission match at WM13. Kurt passes out from blood loss while trapped in Hell's Gate, and Taker wins his first WHC.

17-0 @ WrestleMania 23
R.I.P. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship)
No change. Taker completes the set of WrestleMania victories over Evolution, reclaiming the WHC in the process.

18-0 @ WrestleMania XXIV
R.I.P. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship)
No change. Taker completes his hat trick of winning the WHC at consecutive WrestleManias.

19-0 @ WrestleMania XXV
R.I.P. Shawn Michaels
No change.

20-0 @ WrestleMania XXVI
R.I.P. Shawn Michaels (Streak vs. Career Hell in a Cell Match)
Slight change. Put them in a Cell as an homage to the first-ever HIAC to help differentiate from last year's match and also respect the increased stakes.

21-0 @ WrestleMania XXVII
R.I.P. Triple H (No Holds Barred Match)
No change.

22-0 @ WrestleMania XXVIII
R.I.P. Triple H (End of an Era Hell in a Cell with special guest referee Shawn Michaels)
No change. Definitely one of the Top 3 HIAC matches ever, probably behind only the two Taker/Brock ones.

23-0 @ WrestleMania 29
R.I.P. John Cena (Submission Match)
Change! Despite the lameness, going with Kilgore's idea here. After failing against Rock last year, then let's say getting pwned by the re-debuting Lesnar at Extreme Rules, Cena targets ending the Streak as the last resort option on his path to career redemption. Taker stipulates it must be a submission match, as he wants the soul of the man who never gives up. Cena stuns the world by tapping out to continue his downward spiral. Cena steals a CM Punk OVW line by explaining he tapped out because it hurt, duh.

24-0 @ WrestleMania XXX
R.I.P. Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman)
Change! Dr. Emperor sold me on his idea. Taker completes the set of WrestleMania wins over OVW's Class of 2002 (sans Shelton Benjamin).

25-0 @ WrestleMania 31
R.I.P. Sting
Change! We finally get the dream match we've been waiting for since 1997.

25-0 @ WrestleMania 32
R.I.P. Braun Strowman (w/ The Wyatt Family)
Change! Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper are injured, so instead of a gauntlet match we just pit the newest and biggest member of the fam as the New Face of Fear against Taker. Braun loses, pissing of Bray, and triggering the implosion of the family finally.

25-1 @ WrestleMania 33
R.I.P. The Undertaker's Streak
Roman Reigns becomes the One. The Streak dies. Undertaker is presumed dead; i.e., retired. Roman cuts that promo like IRL. Dr. Emperor's idea plays out in epic fashion.

Fuck yeah if that Kurt match was there it'd be an all time mania classic. Same match just on a real PPV people would have seen!

If it was up to me, The End of an Era would have actually meant something and been not only The Undertaker's final match but HHH's as well. I'd retire them there because there's no higher note for those guys to go out on and it actually puts the WWE in a spot where they have to put the machine behind new talent.

You'd lose the Punk match but even then, Punk should have been in the main event regardless.

As far as Goldberg and the streak, there really isn't an obvious answer. That WCW project I was putting together is still on indefinite hiatus but one of the take-aways is how WCW really didn't change course from their initial plans. When Goldberg won the championship at the Georgia Dome, the original plan was to actually run the first match in the Hogan-Warrior program which would be something like Hogan-Giant vs. Warrior-Sting. However since WCW lost steam during the NBA Playoffs they held off on the Warrior angle and Hogan turned his attention to Goldberg. It was Hogan who suggested he'd drop the belt to Bill with the theory being that Goldberg could baby-sit the belt while Hogan had his program with the Warrior.

If you look at how everything shook out, nothing of significance changed after Bill won the title. Bill was tossed into an nWo Battle Royal at Road Wild, Bill doesn't even work the Fall Brawl show and Goldberg/Page would have still happened at Halloween Havoc except it would be for the US Championship.

I don't think Goldberg had a proper feud with anyone until Bam Bam Bigelow turns up around World War III. Before then they teased programs with The Giant and Kevin Nash but wouldn't pull the trigger until later and even then it didn't get heated between Bill-Nash until after the fact.

The reason I bring that up is because Goldberg's reactions were getting tempered somewhat later in the year. I don't think it had anything to do with Bill, moreso the direction of the character where there was no clear reason to get behind him. By putting him against fan favourites like Sting, Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash it was poisoning the well. That September 14th edition with the Goldberg/Sting match is a clear example where Goldberg was made to come off heel-ish and is something a pro like Austin wouldn't have signed off on in a million years. However Bill being inexperienced didn't see that and it came across as him not throwing around his weight in the company of guys like Sting, Hogan and Bret which you can understand.

So if you were going to rebook the streak, the first thing you have to do is re-book Goldberg where he doesn't win the championship until later on and you avoid doing all the badly booked Hogan/Warrior stuff.

Similarly you'd have to completely re-book Jericho. Chris was one of the hottest guys in Pro Wrestling in 1998 no question, but I'd argue once he dropped the Cruiser title to Juvi at Road Wild 1998 it was the beginning of the end. They gave him the TV Championship with the idea that he'd become the job guy of the nWo. However Chris vetoed the option, so Stevie Ray ended up playing that character. It was around that time Jericho found himself completely directionless working guys like Raven who was on a losing streak and a complete after-thought and Bobby Duncum Jr who was getting a push but got lost in the shuffle relatively quickly.

It'd be a huge stretch and with the way that Jericho's career panned out in the WWF I don't think he ever gets there.

Of course if Jericho waits it out until October of 1999, Russo comes in and puts the strap on Chris ASAP. However it's Russo and he would have over-thought everything and it wouldn't have meant anything because Russo was always about the present and putting on the best show posssible.

Sept 5, 2021 14:23:37 GMT 🤯 said:

I recently deleted my notes from my revisionist history spreadsheet on this exact topic for some reason. I'd booked what I thought the Streak could've and perhaps should've looked like in retrospect. Relying on memory now, I think I had something like this..

1-0 @ WrestleMania VII
R.I.P. Jimmy Snuka
No change. My WrestleMania WatchThru surprised me by revealing how decent of a match this was for what it was. The finish was cooler in concept than it was in execution only because of Superfly's physical condition and Taker's relative greenness. A springboard into a Tombstone in early 1991, even if executed like shit, is still pretty fucking cool. Streak begins with a legendary name.

2-0 @ WrestleMania VII
R.I.P. Jake Roberts
No change. See Strobe's rebooked WrestleMania VIII for a finish and angle for an awesome alternative opponent. If I'm tampering with the Streak as little as possible to give myself liberties elsewhere, I figure I should keep this as the real deal was perfectly cromulent. Didn't age as well as I'd hoped during the WrestleMania WatchThru, but I recall thinking the Tombstone on the floor was super bad ass during my first time viewing as a kid.

3-0 @ WrestleMania IX
R.I.P. Papa Shango (Voodoo Coffin Match)
Change! Better alternative than Giant Gonzalez, whom I'm admittedly booking in a monster mash against face Kamala. Squeeze the last juice we can out of the abortion that sadly was Papa Shango. Glorified squash for Taker to look dominant as hell, with a bunch of fun smoke and mirrors gaga. Taker gets to work with his buddy Charles Wright, which hopefully gives him less of a grievance about opponents somehow even if match quality isn't upped substantially. Sadly, this is the last we ever see of Shango.

4-0 @ WrestleMania X
R.I.P. Jeff Jarrett (Double J's Grand Ol' Open Challenge)
Change! Jarrett thought he'd have a feature match on the WrestleMania card when he was announced as Lex Luger's potential prelims opponent, but then Luger won the coin toss and Jarrett got bumped off the card entirely. To make things right, Jarrett hijacks a segment of 'Mania and announces Double J' s Grand Ol' Open Challenge (harkening to Music City's Grand Ol' Opry). The previously presumed-to-be-dead Taker answers the challenge, squashes Jarrett in record time with a chokeslam. Rumors swirl whether this was indeed the real Undertaker or an Underfaker impostor. We don't get our definitive answer until the summer. Most importantly, my OCD issues about gaps in the Streak is assuaged.

5-0 @ WrestleMania XI
R.I.P. The Million Dollar Corporation (Irwin R. Schyster, Bam Bam Bigelow & King Kong Bundy) (w/ Ted DiBiase) (Grave Consequences Gauntlet Match)
Change! Check my idea in the Rebook a Card thread for more, but the gist (jist?) behind the grave consequences hook is that Taker must join the MDC if he loses, and MDC must file for bankruptcy if they lose. Taker squashes IRS, and then dispatches Bundy. Let's pretend they're cool eliminations. Last but not least is Bigelow, who opts to be counted out after growing sick of DiBiase's shit... setting up Bigelow's face turn to feud with a reorganized MDC.

6-0 @ WrestleMania XII
R.I.P. Diesel
No change.

7-0 @ WrestleMania 13
R.I.P. Sid (WWF Championship)
No change. With the added victory from WMX, Taker makes it lucky number seven and the unlucky 13th WrestleMania. In the main event. To reclaim the world title at long last. The only difference from real life is the match length is cut in half, as it would've been awesome had they compacted the actual action into less time and cut the fat.

8-0 @ WrestleMania XIV
R.I.P. Kane (w/ Paul Bearer)
No change.

9-0 @ WrestleMania XV
R.I.P. Kane (Hell in a Cell)
Change. Fuck Bossman here. The Corporation compels Kane to act on their behalf against Taker, who's growing increasingly influential thanks to his growing Ministry of Darkness. Maybe a stip or something where Kane must join his brother in the Ministry if he wins as an homage to the Grave Consequences match at WMXI.

10-0 @ WrestleMania 2000
R.I.P. D-Generation X (X-Pac & Road Dogg) (w/ Tori)
Undertaker returns as the American Bad Ass a couple months early since Austin isn't ready to go at 'Mania. Brothers of Destruction blow off Kane' s feud with X-Pac with a quick squash. Taker spends the next couple of months in a Crow Sting/911 role, just riding to the ring on a motorcycle and chokeslamming/Last Riding Fools until he's ready for his official return to the ring.

11-0 @ WrestleMan X-Seve
R.I.P. Triple H
No changes.

12-0 @ WrestleMania X8
R.I.P. Ric Flair (No Disqualification)
No changes. If you want to shake things up though, I'd consider Brothers of Destruction vs. The Outsiders... but meh.

13-0 @ WrestleMania XIX
R.I.P. Big Show (w/ A-Train)
Slight change. Just cleaning up because of my OCD issues. A-Train is relegated to interfering cornerman status. Overall the match can stay mostly the same as IRL. Nathan Jones can fuck off to lockdown in the Outback.

14-0 @ WrestleMania XX
R.I.P. Kane
No change. Return of the Deadman gimmick. Kane vows to never tangle with Taker again, at least at WrestleMania.

15-0 @ WrestleMania 21
R.I.P. Randy Orton
No change. But at least now the Streak feels like even more of a thing with a couple added victories.

16-0 @ WrestleMania 22
R.I.P. Kurt Angle (World Heavyweight Championship Submission Match)
Change! Instead of postponing the No Way Out 2006 match to here as many rebook consider, I'm using that match to build to this one. A ten year later homage to the GOAT submission match at WM13. Kurt passes out from blood loss while trapped in Hell's Gate, and Taker wins his first WHC.

17-0 @ WrestleMania 23
R.I.P. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship)
No change. Taker completes the set of WrestleMania victories over Evolution, reclaiming the WHC in the process.

18-0 @ WrestleMania XXIV
R.I.P. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship)
No change. Taker completes his hat trick of winning the WHC at consecutive WrestleManias.

19-0 @ WrestleMania XXV
R.I.P. Shawn Michaels
No change.

20-0 @ WrestleMania XXVI
R.I.P. Shawn Michaels (Streak vs. Career Hell in a Cell Match)
Slight change. Put them in a Cell as an homage to the first-ever HIAC to help differentiate from last year's match and also respect the increased stakes.

21-0 @ WrestleMania XXVII
R.I.P. Triple H (No Holds Barred Match)
No change.

22-0 @ WrestleMania XXVIII
R.I.P. Triple H (End of an Era Hell in a Cell with special guest referee Shawn Michaels)
No change. Definitely one of the Top 3 HIAC matches ever, probably behind only the two Taker/Brock ones.

23-0 @ WrestleMania 29
R.I.P. John Cena (Submission Match)
Change! Despite the lameness, going with Kilgore's idea here. After failing against Rock last year, then let's say getting pwned by the re-debuting Lesnar at Extreme Rules, Cena targets ending the Streak as the last resort option on his path to career redemption. Taker stipulates it must be a submission match, as he wants the soul of the man who never gives up. Cena stuns the world by tapping out to continue his downward spiral. Cena steals a CM Punk OVW line by explaining he tapped out because it hurt, duh.

24-0 @ WrestleMania XXX
R.I.P. Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman)
Change! Dr. Emperor sold me on his idea. Taker completes the set of WrestleMania wins over OVW's Class of 2002 (sans Shelton Benjamin).

25-0 @ WrestleMania 31
R.I.P. Sting
Change! We finally get the dream match we've been waiting for since 1997.

25-0 @ WrestleMania 32
R.I.P. Braun Strowman (w/ The Wyatt Family)
Change! Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper are injured, so instead of a gauntlet match we just pit the newest and biggest member of the fam as the New Face of Fear against Taker. Braun loses, pissing of Bray, and triggering the implosion of the family finally.

25-1 @ WrestleMania 33
R.I.P. The Undertaker's Streak
Roman Reigns becomes the One. The Streak dies. Undertaker is presumed dead; i.e., retired. Roman cuts that promo like IRL. Dr. Emperor's idea plays out in epic fashion.

Didn't realise he was in that many consecutive world title matches at mania? And man we complained about Cena and Reigns?

Taker is the real shovel master

Well, he does work in a graveyard.

Sept 5, 2021 16:38:46 GMT @ness said:

Well, he does work in a graveyard.

BA dum tiss.

I like the rebooking 🤯 came up with.

Trying to read @ness multiverse post gave me a headache. Never finished and now I want Ness2 to replace Ness1. 

Brock ending The Streak is the last Wrestlemania match I watched live. Hated it and stormed out of the sports bar like a baby when it happened....which it shouldn't have.

New Theory: WM 30 was the first Network 'Mania. Undertaker's Streak was one of the last things fans genuinely cared about. WWE ended The Streak because they no longer needed a draw sell pay per views, Wrestlemania included. They already had fans dimes through their Network subscriptions. 

Sept 5, 2021 21:15:52 GMT Baker said:

I like the rebooking 🤯 came up with.

Trying to read @ness multiverse post gave me a headache. Never finished and now I want Ness2 to replace Ness1. 

Brock ending The Streak is the last Wrestlemania match I watched live. Hated it and stormed out of the sports bar like a baby when it happened....which it shouldn't have.

New Theory: WM 30 was the first Network 'Mania. Undertaker's Streak was one of the last things fans genuinely cared about. WWE ended The Streak because they no longer needed a draw sell pay per views, Wrestlemania included. They already had fans dimes through their Network subscriptions. 

I love this so much. Not just a little happy to know some places STILL feature wrestling (gonna assume just the big shows like mania and rumble) but the idea that Baker was protesting and was expecting others to join him.

Sept 5, 2021 21:18:34 GMT @ness said:

I love this so much. Not just a little happy to know some places STILL feature wrestling (gonna assume just the big shows like mania and rumble) but the idea that Baker was protesting and was expecting others to join him.

"Stormed out" may be a bit dramatic, but I really did settle up and get out of there whilst thinking "fuck this company" within seconds of stupid Brock pinning Taker. 

That sports bar sadly closed down a while back. It was before COVID hit. So I'm thinking 2019. The other sports bar I watched the occasional PPV at from 05-07 closed down around 2016. The last wrestling show I can confirm either bar ordered was a Royal Rumble with Miz & Mizdow against....somebody. I happened to be in the area and wandered in for about 10 minutes that night. 

Sept 5, 2021 5:25:04 GMT System said:

Watching the match, it’s boring as fuck and we all know Taker is winning.

I get up walk past my mum in the hallway complaining about how boring the match is, use the bathroom then return to the living room.

I hear my friends scream as I’m entering then go silent, I see Brock leaning on the rope and think he either hit the SSP again or there was injury.

Nope, just missed the biggest moment in wrestling history since I started watching 🤦🏻‍♀️. sandylea still gives me shit about that to this day.

====

As for streak, was the right decision and it’s unfortunate that Taker got concussed as he doesn’t even remember the streak ending and it should have been a much better match for it be the streak ender.

He should have retired right after that match however.

I was watching the show by myself in my living room. Pretty sure my wife was there but she wasn't paying attention.

I think I had my phone in my hand and when Brock hit the 3rd F5 I just said "kick out, sit up, Taker wins," to myself and looked down. Heard the 3 count but didn't actually see it. Looked up and saw the crowd reacting and said a very loud "WHAT THE FUCK" that got my wife's attention.

Then I had to explain to her why it was such a big deal and I think she stopped paying attention about half way through my explanation.

I still stand by it being a good idea. Records were meant to be broken. It would have been cool to see someone like Bray or someone equally younger at the time get that win and help build themselves up. But then again, they could have ended up having that overshadow the rest of their careers too if they didn't live up to the lofty expectations that had set.

Brock was already a built-in name who now had much more mainstream exposure than he did during the first run. Aesthetically it made perfect sense too - just look at the guy. And the way they booked it was damn near perfect. When else were you going to have such a shocking moment in modern wrestling? When else can kayfabe be so desperately clung to by fans?

No, what actually tarnished it was not only Roman beating him later on but continuing to come back once/twice every year when one more Mania match or "one last ride" after Lesnar would have been the way to go.

The only reason I wouldn't want Brock to end the streak is so that I don't have to listen to my dad bitching seven years later about how it was a screwjob.