WWE Blurs Lines of Safety Protocol in Brutal Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar Match
The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar went to hell and back.
In a contest that played out like a Texas Death Match, the limited use of the cell did not take away from the brutality of a bloody, physical, at times overly aggressive showdown that ended with Lesnar defeating the Deadman.
The match had everything and was fitting of its "last-time-ever" billing during the buildup. But in putting over the violence and intimidation of Hell in a Cell, WWE shrugged off its otherwise consistent safety protocol in favor of telling a story between two living legends that connected with the Reality Era.
Both Undertaker and Lesnar bled during the match, which can hardly be considered an accident or a coincidence given the circumstances. What ensued was much more disturbing, as a doctor who stopped the match due to profuse bleeding was tossed aside by Lesnar in the climactic sequences.
The spot almost certainly seemed planned, and if it was, then that begs questions about the WWE's dedication to its use of ringside doctors.
If the stunt wasn't planned, then it's even more concerning.
Stiff punches by Lesnar and a chokeslam on the wood beneath the mat added to a hardcore bloodbath that would do The Original Sheik proud. This was much more dangerous than a typical Hell in a Cell. In fact, being confined inside a steel cage was the only thing that made this match safer.
WWE's final chapter of Lesnar vs. Undertaker will stand the test of time. Its legacy as one of the more memorable matches of the modern era will persist. As 2015 draws to a close, this will remain fresh in the minds of fans and will be considered a WWE Match of the Year candidate. Still, the promotion did not need to sacrifice wrestler safety in order to reach this point.
This is not comparable to past angles that have involved fake EMTs and security guards. Doctors stopping matches to aid bloodied wrestlers is a new mandate designed to protect the combatants.
This mandate had yet to be compromised prior to tonight. The use of ringside doctors puts the wrestler first. It represents a more mature product that is more attractive to sponsors and investors.
But all it takes is one angle that uses WWE's safety protocol as part of the act for legitimate questions to be raised as to whether or not these measures are authentic.
Lesnar and Undertaker were both triumphant in delivering one of the final gems of Undertaker's legendary career. Both are old pros who can put on a main event-caliber match in their sleep.
But did they really need to reduce safety to an illusion?
Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.
