WWE: Can Anyone Follow Andre the Giant and the Undertaker as an Attraction?

The Undertaker and Andre the Giant are arguably the two biggest attractions in WWE history. 

Though in different ways, they were larger-than-life characters that may never be matched again—Andre the Giant primarily because of his sheer size and The Undertaker both because of his size and the mystique of his gimmick, which many consider to be the best professional wrestling has ever seen. 

Andre the Giant was the first nationally-known behemoth in professional wrestling, a guy who could hardly wrestle a lick but could sell out an arena because there was no one else like him. The same goes for The Undertaker—there has never been a star quite like the Phenom. 

But will there ever be? 

Wrestling fans are always comparing stars of the past to today’s biggest superstars, saying things like “CM Punk is the next Stone Cold” or “’John Cena is today’s Hulk Hogan.” 

However, these comparisons are rarely correct. 

Sure, we may see some slight similarities between stars from different generations, but there will never be a “next Stone Cold” or even a “next John Cena.” 

Just like there will never be anyone who can follow in the footsteps of Andre the Giant and The Undertaker as wrestling's biggest attractions. It simply can’t be done. 

The closest thing we’ve seen to Andre is The Big Show, and Show has garnered a huge fanbase for being a behemoth who is actually pretty good in the ring and can connect with the fans. But in today’s day and age, wrestling fans aren’t as impressed by giant physical specimens as they once where. 

Whereas Andre the Giant was a one-of-a-kind star during his heyday, we see colossal stars come and go from the WWE all the time, and not one of them ever had the fanfare that Andre brought with him to an arena. 

And none ever will. 

Just like with any sport or any form of entertainment, when the sport evolves and time goes on, people look for different qualities out of the sport’s top stars. Whereas a nearly supernatural-sized man like Andre was the primary reason some people attended pro wrestling events in the 1970s and 1980s, today’s fans are more concerned with a wrestler’s skills in the ring. 

Of course, we like to see big guys who don’t look like anyone we see in everyday life, but we’re also more worried about how well a guy can wrestle. Fans didn’t do that with Andre the Giant. 

They didn’t pay to see him put on a five-star match, because—and forgive me for the comparison here—Andre the Giant was The Great Khali of his day: A huge, larger-than-life star who couldn’t really wrestle. 

Fans just liked Andre more because he came first, he was a much better wrestler and did 1,000 times more for the business, but he still wasn’t someone I’d pay to go see today. However, no one will ever really compare to Andre because the pro wrestling business is too different nowadays than it was 20 years ago. 

That’s just as true for The Undertaker. 

The Undertaker debuted in 1990, a time when gimmicks were much more common than wrestlers simply playing an amped up version of themselves like most do today. The 1980s and 1990s were gimmick heaven. 

The 2000s and today? Not so much. 

Outside of The Undertaker and the newly masked Kane, most WWE superstars just play themselves, turned up a notch or two. Gone are the days of gimmicks like The Honky Tonk Man or Mankind, which would likely be viewed as too over-the-top or unbelievable in today’s wrestling world. 

Professional wrestling seems to be in in the midst of an era where its stars are more like you and me—they have normal names, they have simple ring attire and they don’t rely on some crazy gimmick to get themselves over. 

Yet, at the same time, The Undertaker has managed to keep his huge fanbase while maintaining his gimmick. I’d argue, though, that that’s because he’s been around so long and fans have grown to appreciate everything he’s done for the business. 

Had Taker debuted in 2010 instead of 1990, I’m honestly not so sure he would have succeeded or that he would be nearly as popular as he is. And I think that’s why you generally don’t see guys with these movie character-type gimmicks anymore. 

Today’s wrestling fans aren’t going to fall for a character who sacrifices women on crosses or who leads the Ministry of Darkness. It’s simply too unrealistic. 

That’s precisely why, just like with Andre the Giant, I don’t think we’ll ever see someone with an aura like The Undertaker has. 

It’s not 1990 anymore.