The B/R Weekly Wrestling Mailbag!

Welcome to the all new Weekly Wrestling Mailbag. It is the article where you ask questions throughout the week, and I answer them right here on B/R. It will be every Saturday, so if you have any questions to ask, you will need have them in by Friday Night at 8/7c.

Now, everything I am talking about here answers questions I received from you, the B/R faithful. I don't like to keep people waiting, so let’s get started!

Undertaker's Retirement

Some call him the Phenom, some call him the American Badass, some call him the Deadman. But everyone knows him as The Undertaker.

Born Mark William Callaway, on March 24, 1965, Taker was always active with sports. He played basketball of course, as his height obviously played a part.

He then somehow found his way into wrestling, which is where he has shined.

Unlike many big men before him, Taker was presented with something that many others never saw: a gimmick that worked well for him. Big men until the time he made his way into wrestling for the WWF in 1990 were just that, big men.

They had no gimmicks, or anything to get them noticed other than their size, which did not always help them in the end. Some did not have that much wrestling ability, and were soon released.

You could only see one Andre the Giant or King Kong Bundy. Others who are the same kind of build and try to come in and be those people fail.  

Taker was handed something that people liked: the Deadman gimmick.  Since people were immediately drawn to it, which was a good thing for Calaway.

He developed the character and won matches over top guys in the company on his way to a "Phenomenal" career.

Not to mention he is 17-0 at Wrestlemania, something that no one else has ever done in the company. And something no one will ever be able to follow.

But the future Hall of Famer has to one day retire, right?

That is a big yes.

He is in his mid-40s, and has really bad knees and hips. He is set to undergo surgery soon, too. With that said, he will not be able to wrestle very much longer.

Word has it that he would be retiring in 2010 and be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year, as well.

People first got this impression when the SmackDown Brand set out to do a "Rest in Peace" tour.

Some took it as it being Taker's "Last Ride." But when WWE caught wind of this, they quickly declined. Saying Undertaker would not be retiring until he wanted to. And he has not mentioned anything about retiring yet.

JR mentioned in a blog that the WWE used it because of it being a catchphrase Taker used, and nothing more. It was mainly a big marketing ploy.

However, his future is uncertain because of his knees.

Since he is going under the knife soon, no one is really certain what is going to happen with him at the moment.

He needs the surgery whether he comes back or not; that means it is serious.

If it goes well, and everything they thought was wrong can be properly repaired, then Taker could be back by the end on 2009.

If they find more in there than originally thought, Taker will be out much longer. That would likely mean his retirement in 2010.

That would furthermore mean that they would go ahead and have him make an appearance or two after the “No Way Out” pay-per-view, setting up a feud with someone for Wrestlemania.

He would be inducted in the Hall of Fame, and then have his last match at Wrestlemania.

That is all anyone can know guess now, as Taker has not yet had his surgery. When he does undergo the procedure, his future in the WWE will be known.

Batista's Retirement

Coming as a surprise to many, Dave Batista mentioned in an interview that he would only be wrestling full-time for another year.

In every single interview he has done, he has been asked the same thing, and he has responded the same way every time.

He wants to be able to move around and remain relatively active in his older days. He does not want to have the same difficulties as other former wrestlers have.

He has kids, and he wants to be able to play around with them, and not be in a wheelchair or something.

Starting in the WWE in his mid-30s, he has not had a lot of time in the WWE. Yet, he was loved by Vince McMahon. That’s what got him really get noticed.

If Vince likes you, you will get a push in the company. It is that simple.

I do think from talks the former World Champion has had with others that he wants to continue wrestling. But the problem is that he does not want to wrestle full-time. He wants to act and do other things outside of wrestling.

If he had a part-time schedule, he could do that.

He feels he can go for another three years or so. But only wants to be wrestling full-time for one of those years, making a part-time schedule the best case scenario for all involved here.

WWE gets to keep one of their most popular stars, and Batista can still wrestle while not having the hectic schedule.

Many fall victim to overly ambitious schedules; many get injured because of being tired. Maybe no single incident compromises them physically, but the accumulation of bumps can add up.

They push themselves into doing what they normally would be able to do. However, the day comes when the body simply cannot take that. When you push too much, you may pay the price by getting hurt.

Batista wants to avoid that, which is why he wants to retire soon.

I feel from what I have seen, Batista will be retiring in the spring of 2010, which is when his contract is set to expire.

Now, I am sure appearances will be made in the future. But as far as coming back full-time, that is a big NO!

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin making WWE appearances

People have been asking me about Steve Austin and if he will be making any WWE appearances soon.

Some have heard that he will be making one within the next month or two.

There is no official word on that, as Austin wants to stay away from the WWE. Not because he doesn't like the competition or the fans. But he feels if he makes an appearance, people will keep asking for "one more match, one more match!"

He simply cannot wrestle anymore; like the Undertaker, his knees are bad. Not to mention a bad neck that he himself once compared to “hamburger” just a few years back on “Raw.”

He could blow one or all out if he stepped in there again. Worse yet, he could suffer permanent paralysis. That is something he does not want to risk, and doctors are reluctant to clear him.

Now, he could make a WWE Films appearance. But that is about it. No more wrestling for him, nor any other big time role in the company. Not even as a GM, as they seem obliged to take a bump at least one or twice a year; it’s just the nature of modern sports entertainment.

He wrapped up his new film "Damages" a little while ago, and is set to be doing another great picture soon. It will be directed by Sylvester Stallone and will star Steve Austin and the star of "The Wrestler," Mickey Rourke.

With that said, he could be a bona fide movie star soon, without risking his health in the ring. No word officially on what the movie is called, or what it is about. However, it is set to start filming within the next few months.

By the way, none of those movies are a WWE Films project.

Will the WWE remember Owen Hart on the 10 year anniversary of his death? A question by B/R's very own Kevin Canny!

This is a yes and no situation.

Owen Hart, one of the best wrestlers of all time in my opinion, died in 1999. It was a tragic death, and one of the darkest days in professional wrestling history.

In two weeks his death will have its 10-year anniversary, but the WWE will NOT address it on TV. Many believe that they should have; however, no one wants to remember the death of something so tragic, according to people connected internally with the WWE.

Word is that the WWE will make a small remembrance on WWE.com, but that is just a rumor as of now. So look for it if you must, but I don't even expect that much to happen, either.

Think of it this way: personally if you want to remember how long ago a parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend died, that is all well and good.

But do not expect the company they worked for to start some sort of remembrance for them.

The WWE is a business after all.

Anyone who was around at the time of Hart's death knows who he was and how/when/where he died.

For others who do not? Well, why would you feel the need to bring it up? With this being a family show more and more, there is no reason to remember one of the darkest days in wrestling history.

We do not memorialize Eddie Guerrero's or Chris Benoit's deaths.

Why not?

Because we just don't need to.

Remember them if you wish.

But do not expect the WWE to bring it up again to remind you. The same goes for Owen Hart, even though he died under drastically different circumstances.

That is all for the first Weekly Wrestling Mailbag this week. I covered all the questions I received this week.

You ask, I will tell.

You have one week from now to ask!

So contact me in comments on my articles, on my profile, or e-mail me at: [e-mail]