I'm Just Sayin': A Dissenting View of Michaels V. Undertaker

The impending Wrestlemania 26 encounter between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels will be an epic boondoggle of a barnburner that will more than likely steal the show.

At the risk of being banned from pro wrestling web sites worldwide, I must make the following statement:

I never saw the Career vs. the Streak match coming.

Before hurling insults towards my general direction, at least allow the opportunity for an explanation to be given.

Ever since being awarded the Match of the Year during the 2009 Slammy Awards Show, Shawn Michaels has been obsessed with defeating The Undertaker at this year’s Wrestlemania. 

While the widely recognized “Mr. Wrestlemania” campaigned for a rematch to avenge his loss to the Demon from Death Valley at WM 25, the commentators were building him to be the same superstar that he was so many years ago, a bright eyed, bushy tailed youngster that fought against insurmountable odds to win the most treasured prize in the company.

Personally, I didn’t buy it.

Shawn Michaels was way too aggressive and obsessed with beating Taker for me to believe that he was the “victim” in this particular storyline.  It would be a completely different story if Jack Swagger or another superstar intentionally caused Michaels to waste his many opportunities to face The Undertaker, but that is not the case.  

The Undertaker declined to accept Michaels’ challenge, and essentially told him that the only way he’d face him at WM 26 was if he was contractually forced to do so by Titan Sports, WWE, Inc., or John Laurinaitis.

Hence, Michaels looked for alternative means to face Taker at Wrestlemania, and he failed at every last opportunity.  There’s nothing whimsical or magical about failure, especially if you’re a grown man with a mortgage and Bible Study to attend. 

There were no odds that he had to fight against, other than his own stubbornness and lack of focus.  It wasn’t even as if he had to face opponents that had way more talent than he possesses.

The Showstopper failed to cut the mustard, and that was the end of it.  Why are we having candlelight vigils for the man?

But then, Michaels cost The Undertaker his World Heavyweight Title at the Elimination Chamber pay per view, and that’s when the real storyline for their Wrestlemania encounter began.  Michaels got his match, but at a much greater cost than I anticipated. 

The Undertaker didn’t want his soul—as he already owned it, apparently—but wanted Michaels' career in exchange for his own Wrestlemania Streak.

In response, Michaels replied calmly and coolly to The Undertaker, "You don’t understand; if I don’t beat you, I have no career.”  

I was immediately sold on the match.

Most, if not all, of the intelligent wrestling fans knew that this moment was coming ever since December 2009.  I stayed abreast of the entire situation through wrestling web sites, and figured that eventually these two men would meet at Wrestlemania. 

Yet, I never would’ve guessed that it was going to be for Shawn Michaels' career.

For me, and perhaps for very few others, this moment was one of those rare spots in sports entertainment where kayfabe was in full effect.

I was too engrossed in not feeling sorry for Shawn Michaels that I was more interested in seeing a heel turn for him, and even more interested in the idea of him facing Triple H at Wrestlemania.  I figured The Undertaker would lose his belt at Elimination Chamber, but would be handed another opponent; perhaps someone that cost him his belt at the pay per view.

Imagine my surprise when that someone turned out to be Shawn Michaels.  The crazy thing is that this match is more important now than it was a year ago for a few reasons.  

In professional wrestling, there’s a saying that goes, “When it comes to wrestling, never say never.” 

A lot of fans are hard pressed to believe that Shawn Michaels would really retire if he lost this match.   How many other wrestlers have claimed to retire from the squared circle, only to return a few months later during your prime time television pro wrestling programming (*cough cough HOGAN/FLAIR cough cough*)?

However, that same saying works against that logic. 

It has been heavily speculated that Shawn Michaels plans on retiring from the ring soon, and even though that doesn’t look like a strong possibility, we all have to accept the fact that one day Michaels will ultimately choose his health and his family over his profession. 

The man has accomplished a lot of incredible feats, and at any moment could choose to hang up his boots temporarily or permanently.

What would be even more devastating to the WWE Universe would be if he chose to retire unceremoniously from the WWE at Wrestlemania 26.  We cannot imagine RAW or the WWE at this point without him as a performer, and while it’s not likely that Shawn will bow out without some sort of pomp and circumstance; this is still a notion we will have to contend with eventually.

This point brings me to The Undertaker, whose undefeated streak at Wrestlemania can arguably be considered a title within itself.  Just to face him at Wrestlemania places you in another league of wrestling superstars, even if you’re destined to lose.

However, we’ve all heard of and read the reports that Taker’s health isn’t in the best condition.  With serious nagging knee and hip problems, it really is supernatural and phenomenal that the man can still go full throttle, 200 percent in the ring.

But how much longer can Taker push his body to the limit before doing permanent damage to his joints? 

I shudder at the thought of witnessing the unstoppable Undertaker having to receive his Hall of Fame ring in a wheelchair.   

On the other hand, I cannot fathom the idea of the WWE ending his streak at an odd, prime number like 17.  If I had my way, he would retire after going 20-0 at Wrestlemania, but it negates concern for his health to have him go for two more years. 

The real question, however, is whether or not Taker cares to remain undefeated at Wrestlemania.

If he does, that’s one thing; if he doesn’t, then I’ll have to live with staring at two prime numbers instead of a nice, easily divisible even number.  My obsessive compulsive disorder is going to have a fit.

In either case, whether looking at Shawn Michaels’ career or The Undertaker’s legendary Wrestlemania streak, this match already has the potential to surpass the epic classic these two men put on last year.  As fans, we can go back and forth over who we think will win and why one superstar won’t lose. 

I sincerely feel that deep within our pro wrestling subconscious thoughts, we know that this match will (a) be good, and (b) can go in either direction.

And if you’re expecting the match to fall flat of their match from last year, then one has to wonder whether or not they truly believe in the abilities of these two future legends. If Shawn Michaels can carry John Cena through an hour long classic match on free TV, then he can surely make more magic with one of pro wrestling’s most respected and talented athletes.

With 27 days to go, I believe we’re all in for a treat that will leave us on the edge of our seats.

And look at it like this: if Sheamus v. Triple H happens before Michaels v. Undertaker, then it’ll be just that much better compared to the action that preceded it!

Photo borrowed from: http://www.kupywrestlingwallpapers.info