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The most underrated rivalry. People say 1994-96 was a bad year for WWE, and in many ways it was, but there were some awesome rivalries and matches. Bret Hart and Austin, Taker vs Mankind, Diesel vs Taker, Diesel vs Shawn, Bret vs Shawn, Shawn vs Owen, Razor Ramon vs Shawn, Razor Ramon vs 1-2-3 kid and so on, I can't think of everything off the top of my head, but there were.
@@alphanerd7221 Honestly Foley was the MVP of the whole Attitude Era. Aside from the insane bumps he took weekly almost, he rejuvenated Taker in 96, first opponent of Austin when he was champ for a few months, when Rock and HHH both needed someone to legitimize them, make them look tougher etc, Foley again made them. Hell, into the RA era he did the same for Orton and Edge. The guy was the man.
@@Devypocalypse Foley was THE starmaker of the late 90s - early 00s. Takes a unique guy to be a starmaker too. Needs to be a top guy, great worker in ring and on mic, good storyteller, but also humble enough to put younger guys over and make them look good. As much as I love guys like Austin and Rock, their egos never really let them job for guys under them. Taker's character made him jobbing impossible. So it was up to Foley to help guys make that step, and he did it perfectly for years.
Taker and Foley’s rivalry in ‘96 is one of the best things from the New Gen Era. They pushed each other to the limit. Brawl after brawl, escalating to the HIAC in ‘98 was an epic way to close that chapter. Two bonafide Legends and Hall of Famers.
I remember the first ever inferno Match Greensboro Coliseum.. it was very hot ring side.. I was about 8 feet. when Kane caught fire and was moving his arm around after catching fire.. the whole ring was a blaze in the surrounding points.. it was a great match.!!! thanks Mark and Glen you guys were awesome!
Imagine how hot it was in the ring! And then wearing full body black outfit and full red tights with a mask! And add to that the match was actually pretty good! Possibly better than their Mania bout. And that's how good Taker and Kane are.
I never imagined I would be sitting here listening to my all time favorite wrestlers podcasts on RUclips. I'm 49 years old and still star struck with Mark Calaway. Still one of the only celebrities that I want to meet.
I'd love to randomly see Taker on the streets some day, just so I could run up and say "Hey, are you Mean Mark Calaway?" and see his face lol Or pull the same rib on Kane, but with his Yankem gimmick lol
Kane was so imposing when he debuted that undertakers brother gimmick was fire and the way he came to the ring was just awe inspiring! Loved his one armed chokeslam always looked devastating!😮
Kane is in my Top 5 favorites- -The Mask -The voicebox -The eye -His MUSIC -The blast of pyro 💥 -His mannerisms -The walk -The head tilts -The glove fix -The upper cut -His “Big Red Machine” moniker -The backstory about the fire Kane’s gimmick was so well done. Arguably better than Takers. Vince’s 2 best creations.
@@theofficialgreenkane I love the Kane/Big Show match on Raw with Jim Ross and I think it's either PS Hayes or Heyman comentating....and JR was loosing his shit over Kane casually putting Show on his shoulders while outside on the floor...lol
One of the things I truly wish could have happened, was Kane winning a Royal Rumble. He had so many good performances, held the record for most eliminations for a LONG time, but never got the win. I understand why he didn't, but I still wish it could have happened.
@@Thurs1t0 As someone who's 44, the ministry era definitely wasn't peak Taker. A lot of my peers couldn't stand that time, but it was cool to me, someone who's a bit darker than most...but certainly wasn't the ultimate mini-gimmick.
I feel like Taker never really peaked due to booking! In the 90s at his physical prime didn’t get too much main event spot! During 00s-10s finally got the world title but he passed his physical prime ~
@@TheJoker12323 For me, it was '97/'98 Taker. Well, at least his look at the time. Ministry Taker did play the part of a sadistic cult leader to perfection though.
Kanes run of interrupting matches in his early days had me legitimately scared as a 4th grader. The subtle head movements and use of his hair got over than most guys with 5 minutes on the mic. Super underrated
Unpopular opinion - Kane was an even better character than Taker, just horrendously used. Those two together were dynamite and produced some of the best and entertaining moments throughout the Attitude Era, and they were partly why I stayed so invested during the back end of that era in 2001/2002.
I feel ya man. I was 17 in '97, back when I heavily got back into wrestling. It was Taker through and through, until Kane stepped on the scene. I mean I freakin' grew my hair out and dyed it black (still have long hair to this day) 'cause of Taker...but Kane quickly became the favourite. From the mystique, the walk, the mannerisms, the mega powerhouse that Glenn was; for a few years he shined brighter than Undertaker ever did. And that's not any diss towards Taker, it's the supernatural phenomenon that Kane was just burned even brighter.
Kane was extremely over when he debuted. I remember seeing non-wrestljng fans comment on him in various places and say how he was even more interesting and powerful than Taker... it probably helped that Taker was very banged up in that period so his matches were not his best, making Kane seem fresher and more exciting. In ring Kane is solid. He's not S-Tier or maybe A-Tier. He's B-Tier in that he's never bad, never, and his timing is great, but he never could innovate or wow like some of his peers (except his lovely top rope clothesline which unfortunately we saw too much of). But before anybody thinks that's disrespectful... who else ALWAYS has a solid match? Almost nobody. But Kane was always solid. Always. I agree though inasmuch that he stayed over far longer than his botched handling would account for and it was only towards the end of the 2010's that people really got tired of him once and for all. Kane was great. Nothing like him will be done again. Glen Jacobs deserves a Hall of Fame spot deservedly.
@@Jesse-sk1xn "Always"? Hmm. Has Taker drawn more? Yes. Is he a better promo? Hmm. 50/50 as I think Kane is as good as Taker in general. Has Kane been written as well as Taker? Well Kane had Katie Vick and Taker spoke in Tongues so they've both had bad storylines. Work rate? Taker has one of the best matches ever... twice... with Shawn Michaels at Mania. I don't think Kane has ever had that calibre of a match but Kane has definitely delivered a more consistent performance throughout his whole career - Taker of the 00's-01's was pretty... not great. And Kane knew when to leave, whereas Taker sullied his legacy with matches such as Oldberg and the DX Saudi match (although... so did Kane). What about pop? Well Taker is in a league of his own as he isn't matchable based on protection and longevity alone. But Kane? I think you have to go back to 1998 for Kane. He was getting FAR louder pops in 1998-2000 than Taker. And yeah Taker was a heel but if you remember, Kane was a heel fighting face Taker then they more or less double turned. Even as Kane remained a heel with the Corporation, he was getting face cheers all of the time. Taker wasn't getting face cheers despite being a heel. He was just getting heel heat. And I suspect, although cannot prove, that Kane merch outsold Ministry Era Taker's for some years. Especially the masks. I don't think Kane has overall been better than Undertaker. No, sorry, it's not realistic to suggest he has. And it's not fair to say Glen Jacobs is a better wrestler than Taker as I think Taker is in a special category of his own. However... Kane IS a great wrestler and there was sincerely a three year period, before WWE booked him as a comedy act and the Katie Vick story, where I genuinely believe Kane was more over than Undertaker and was producing better matches in that period than Undertaker. There are numerous reasons why, I'm not going into them, but for a while, Kane WAS more over than Undertaker. Comparing the two overall? Undertaker is more over. Comparing the two from 1998-2001 perhaps? Kane was more over. But I don't believe even during that period that Kane was as over as Undertaker had been or would be. I don't know, does that sound fair?
Undertaker vs mankind was awesome. I loved mankind vs big show in the boiler room brawl at backlash in 1999. And I’ll always love the cactus jack vs triple h matches. Brutal as anything. Thank you taker and co for what you did to entertain us.
Please do a full life and career podcast in chronological order with as much detail as you can remember from car sharing road stories to feeling of the current stage of the buisness, please. drag it out for a few years, 3 hour long episodes, we don't ask for much :).
Not gonna happen with this host … this guy don’t let taker even finish his own sentences let alone story… it’s sad the guy with the most stories can’t get em out due the host not understanding what he’s doing or how to format anything
@@deadbrothers8348 Yeah, this guy is genuinely awful. I get that there is some sort of rapport between them (which is baffling there's this friendship), but the host has this painful southern voice (and I'm a southerner) that's constantly quivering as if they're drastically sick and afraid. Between all that and the dude just doesn't have the personality I could deal with in long spans (they're blatantly generic/vapid), it's such a bad combination. Mark/Taker has more charisma in their left pinky finger than this man has in their entire body. And that's not biasness towards Taker, it's just a matter-of-fact observation.
Man i never imagine one day im able listen to Undertaker podcast,he will be telling great stories&laughing...gosh seems like it was yesterday watching him debut walk down the ramp in creepy emotionless look,then he turn into handsome ministry undertaker and so on feels like time goes by so fast but actually it's been more than 30 years....
When everyone else was terrified of you in the late 90s i wanted you to be my Dad, i literally dont even know why but every time Taker was on TV i felt safer than when he wasnt. Got me through a really dark childhood so thanks Mark/Taker you are a living legend and super humble for all the success youve had. what a guy.
What an understatement! Kane was the absolute coolest character and jacked monster whose storytelling, in match form, could and should have been terrifying.
LOL Undertaker cracks me up. “The grandkids have thumbtacks all over the room!” I have been enjoying these episodes on RUclips! 😂 Keep up the good work!👍🏻
I honestly wonder if the Taker character would've lasted without those 2... by '96 Taker was getting pretty stale, and had run several dud programs in a row. Mankind breathed new life into the character and it only grew from there with Kane in the mix.
Mick and Undertaker was an Awesome Match in Hell in the Cell.. I tell you, I never seen Mick get so busted up.. ever.. he was insane.. in that Match.. Undertaker put the finishing touch on the Hard Core Legend.. I truly Believe Undertaker in that Match Became the New Hardcore Legend that very night!!! just my thoughts on that!! Mick is a Legend!!!
I'd argue Mick's body took an overall bigger beating during the King of the Death Match weekend in Japan.... he blew himself up! Thankfully he was younger and less beat up then.... but its close for sure.
During 96-99 Taker had me locked into the WWF over WcW and i wasn't gonna change brand for nothing cause of all these match types! Buried alive, Caskets, Inferno, HITC, Body bags, Boiler rooms, First blood, Taker brought light to these match types.
I think the time that “I am gonna go through hell and to so with glee just to hurt you” mentality really showed in their hell in a cell match. After the fall as they are rolling him on a gurney up the ramp there is a commotion. They cut back to taker crawling down the cage and back to mick who is now on his feet while being pulled by pleeding staff and terry funk as he is trying to go back to the ring. You see him with a glint in his eye and a sadistic smile pull them off and with determination go back to the cage and proceed to climb it. It’s like what the hell… he just dropped from the top of the cage and he is coming back for more!!! That’s look he gave said it all, he (mankind) is enjoying this punishment, he wants more. That makes a very compelling character and story.
Damn it I can’t listen to this host … he never lets taker finish his own sentence let alone his own story … this host just knows way more about takers stories than taker himself
Same here man! I *_can't stand_* the host. Glad to see more and more ppl vocalizing this lately, ever since the podcast stopped being behind a paywall. It's just gonna take 50x the amount of input like this for things to possibly change. I'm pretty much 100% sure they won't, since for every 1 person pointing out the obvious, they'll be 50 more totally fine with this guy.
One question I’ve always wanted to know is who did you tear your groin in 1999? I saw during the tag team buried alive match rock and hunter slid into your knee and you started to limp but I’ve always wondered, your the goat man always gonna be my favorite of all time
I cannot agree more about Mick Foley. The whole reason he did reckless stuff made sense FOR THE STORY. Foley did those things because the story he was telling was he was a fractured individual. Dude Love however in the main did NOT do those things because the story didn't suit it. He did a couple of crazy spots but in the main he dialled it down as Dude as the Dudester was the equivalent of an HBK or Freebirds flamboyant cowardly heel. Or what the character variant of 'Mick Foley' thought was such. Again, storytelling. He is on my personal Mt. Rushmore and he is there right with Taker.
I'd agree, Mick's wrestling style depended on who he was that match. For instance, Mankind mostly took punishment, he almost seemed to like it, but while Cactus Jack also took punishment, it was basically just a "cost" of kicking just as much ass himself, "I'll go to hell just to take you with me" kind of vibe. It really shows how talented a storyteller Mick was, it wasn't just costumes and names that changed. His mic work and whole wrestling style changed as well for each "Face of Foley".
Mick Foley (as Mankind) Kane and Undertaker reminds me of an early American folk lore about Daniel Boone (i think) in it Daniel Boone gets chased by a Mountain Lion and he leads the cat into a hollowed out log that he knows a Bear is hibernating in…. He then proceeds to take his boot laces and ties closed both ends of the log….. after forty days and forty night of growling and screaming the log goes silent…. When he unties the log just a few scraps of fur and a hand ful of teeth are all that left of both creatures….. Taker and Kane are the beasts so evenly matched that they can only be defeated by each other by destroying each other, meanwhile Mankind is the only person crazy enough to try and ties them to each other with his own bootlaces
Taker be dropping serious gems. A lot of these wrestlers just throw n thumb tacs 4 no reason but 2 say they did it. Theres a certain psychology 2 when Mick did things
Taker has always said that the Streak was made to be broken. If he retired, he didn't need it any more and it was a golden ticket to make someone. The issue was the person they chose to break it didn't need it and that it got taken away in a terrible match. And therefore it left a terrible taste in many people's mouthes. This is particularly galling now with recent possible allegations which I hope for Borck's sake are proven to be false. But if they're not, more evidence the Streak should not have gone to him.
@@alphanerd7221 True, from what I hear. Everybody kept saying no. Except Brock. And it's arguable that's one of various reasons he shouldn't have had it.
I was 10 years old in 96' and still a mark. I feared for the Undertaker in his feud with Mankind. Mankind was next level dark and demented. The Mandible Claw for me was the most horrific move in wrestling and when Taker took it, I feared for his life. Such a mark.
Its wild to me that early '96 Mankind, dark and deranged, is the "same character" as the cheesy goofball '99 Mankind lol. He was legitimately scary in those early days, and by the end he was essentially just Mick in a mask, cracking dad jokes hahaha
Taker is the g.o.a.t. Longevity Character Main event matches Top tier all his career in WWE Renowned world wide Best entrance Good on the mic Great in the ring Etc
The hell in a cell with mankind stil my all time favorite and kane vs taker even as a team to brothers of destruction was also wwe and wcw tag champs such great memories god this version of kane in 98 vs the fiend imagine it monster vs monster
I was blessed to be at the Pittsburgh show That will forever be burnt into my memory. The entire place was on the same energy and it was H O L Y S H I T !!! THANK YOU MARK N MIC for taking the risk you both did to build the foundation of the wwe you did. Without the pillars we have. Wrestling would not be anything close to what it is today. ❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you taker ( holy shit I'm actually able to say thank you to one of my child hood / adult childhood heros 😂❤ )
I get the connection but Penance was a very gratuitous childish grasp at being 'mature' and changed what was a very positive character negative for naught more than shock value. Additionally throwing the New Warriors under a bus simply because they're weren't one of Bendis' favourites (Luke Cage and Iron Fist are never mysteriously as inept and yet the Warriors had been competent and legit for years - except when Millar and Bendis got to them...). Anyway my point is, I get your comparison but the difference for me is that Mick is great character work... Penance is an example of one of the multitude reasons why comics are dead as an art form.
@@JeremiahEcks777 True, I was merely referring to the basic idea of the Pain aspect of the characters, Mankind Mick Foley is an infinitely cooler character, just kind of a, "Huh, I think Marvel should take a few notes from WWE / Wrestling Sports Entertainment on Character",
@@nikolibarastov4487 You're completely right and I am completely ranting. 😆 Thanks sincerely for being patient with me. I agree, there is a lot in common between the two. I remember Foley making a promo about being hurt more and it feeling good. Robbie actually pretty much says "Good" to being told the armour hurts during Civil War. There's a lot of similarities. It also reminds me a bit of Hank Pym in that he has different identities but they pretty much amount to the same thing with a different flavour. Yellowjacket and Dude Love for example. 🤩
I love this podcast and I really like Matt - but can we get ONE episode where he doesn’t obsess over a Mount Rushmore? “Who is your Mount Rushmore of faces? Who is your Mount Rushmore of heels? Who is your Mount Rushmore of tag teams? Who is your Mount Rushmore on the mic? Who is your Mount Rushmore in the ring? Who is on your Mount Rushmore of Mount Rushmores?”
Mick put his body through hell during the HIAC match. Mark said he was pleading with him, let's go home, Mick, we don't need to do anything else, let's go home.
Yeah, that would be great to hear about, but it's not this hosts objective to ask those kinds of questions...at least not anytime soon. It seems like everyone doesn't have a clue that this whole podcast was a pay to play thing, then recently that went away. Like all of this isn't brand new.
I Love You Taker and wish you nothing but blessings, but your co-host is ANNOYING and he interupts you way too much. His voice is annoying and his presence is annoying. I sincerely apologize if I am too blunt, and if I am downing your friend, but being a Christian I am NOT supposed to lie. GOD Bless Mr. Undertaker Calway.
That would be an interesting Mt. Rushmore. Call it the personal sacrifice Mt. Rushmore. Mick for certain Terry Funk also for certain Abdullah the Butcher Some will laugh, but Shano Mack deserves consideration Hardy Boyz Definitely a bunch of ECW wrestlers, and I don't know that many of the names for guys who did the Japanese death match shows outside of the few I mentioned. I know I'm both forgetting a bunch of names and unaware of many.
i think mick Foley is a true legend he show us how we don't give up no matter what happened to you ! when i remember his heroic work in wrestling i says to him thank you for you mick Foley yes thank you, some people says he suicide guy ! i says no he just wants the fans be happy , like Jackie chan he is a hero he sacrifice his body and soul to make us happy in movies just look at him he crazy 😹 he do things human beings doesn't do it ! who remember when he jumps out from helicopter 🚁 and dive into cold water omg 😱 that was very scary and he says that in interview he says i was so close to be dead 🤏 when i was in that water its real acting not fake ! and he one time jump from skyscraper big huge place i really don't how he survived but he survived😅 the part of that mission on movie you can see it its so scary
Taker was really high on him and kept praising him to Vince and wanted to work a program with him but Vince wasn’t interested, unfortunately. Chris himself also said on an old interview that Taker really liked him and wanted him to be pushed.
At my job we still have a rolodex. I was born in 1980, and that's still not super old school to me. But regardless, I still feel ya with that being an OG thing.
I remember when I first experienced mick it was in WCW as cactus jack when he and Abdullah the butcher were tag team/frenemies and he came after Sting. I thought he was psychotic lol
a lot of the things you guys did back then that made sense are now being done just to do them. I remember when Andre and Hogan were only ones who could kick out of a finisher. Then Warrior came out and it sort of made sense for his character. Then you and Kane could do it. Now the popcorn guy is kicking out after taking 40 finishers.
@@thestarseeker8196 Gangrel was so underutilized. David really has it all, but Vince in their oh-so-glorious wisdom didn't give him the push he deserved because he didn't have the face or physique that McMahon preferred. Obviously guys like Mick were the exception to the norm.
@@Chalor.I LOVE me some Gangrel and in ring, Heath is underrated... ... but he isn't a talker. He needed a mouthpiece or never to talk. Unfortunately you do need a voice occasionally to get your character over. What he could have used was Luna as his full-time valet and she would have been enough character for the both of them.
@@JeremiahEcks777 Oh man, the Luna idea would've been awesome! And same here man, I love Gangrel. He's a dude that was really underutilized once the Brood disbanded. His intro (dare I say) was cooler than 80% of Taker's. And yeah man, he's quite the Chatty Cathy. Imagine him as the host. Mark would definitely never get a word in lol.
@@chadjustice8560 What you said about Farley wanting to be Belushi was really stupid. Belushi never saw the success that Farley did. Farley had the ability to make other comedians laugh out loud,and was regularly the center of attention where ever he was. I won't use this to put down Belushi,though.
Foley was the better adversary for the Undertaker because the story involved escalated confrontations as opposed to an immediate commitment to an extreme match. The Foley storyline took longer to tell.
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Taker vs Mankind from 96-98 was the best, most insane rivalry Taker ever had. The storylines and cross over into other feuds was epic.
The most underrated rivalry. People say 1994-96 was a bad year for WWE, and in many ways it was, but there were some awesome rivalries and matches. Bret Hart and Austin, Taker vs Mankind, Diesel vs Taker, Diesel vs Shawn, Bret vs Shawn, Shawn vs Owen, Razor Ramon vs Shawn, Razor Ramon vs 1-2-3 kid and so on, I can't think of everything off the top of my head, but there were.
Everyone who had a rivalry with Foley it was the bet rivalry they ever had.
@@alphanerd7221 Honestly Foley was the MVP of the whole Attitude Era. Aside from the insane bumps he took weekly almost, he rejuvenated Taker in 96, first opponent of Austin when he was champ for a few months, when Rock and HHH both needed someone to legitimize them, make them look tougher etc, Foley again made them. Hell, into the RA era he did the same for Orton and Edge. The guy was the man.
@@Devypocalypse Foley is in my top 3 favorite singles matches of all time.
@@Devypocalypse Foley was THE starmaker of the late 90s - early 00s. Takes a unique guy to be a starmaker too. Needs to be a top guy, great worker in ring and on mic, good storyteller, but also humble enough to put younger guys over and make them look good. As much as I love guys like Austin and Rock, their egos never really let them job for guys under them. Taker's character made him jobbing impossible. So it was up to Foley to help guys make that step, and he did it perfectly for years.
It's so awesome to see the Undertaker telling old stories & laughing.
I wish he would talk about how sexy Mr Perfect was in his pink leotard tho
Taker and Foley’s rivalry in ‘96 is one of the best things from the New Gen Era. They pushed each other to the limit. Brawl after brawl, escalating to the HIAC in ‘98 was an epic way to close that chapter. Two bonafide Legends and Hall of Famers.
I remember the first ever inferno Match Greensboro Coliseum.. it was very hot ring side.. I was about 8 feet. when Kane caught fire and was moving his arm around after catching fire.. the whole ring was a blaze in the surrounding points.. it was a great match.!!! thanks Mark and Glen you guys were awesome!
Imagine how hot it was in the ring!
And then wearing full body black outfit and full red tights with a mask!
And add to that the match was actually pretty good! Possibly better than their Mania bout. And that's how good Taker and Kane are.
I remember! I was in attendance as well. One of the best matches of all time! I remember how hot the whole arena was during that match. Good times ❤
After Wrestlemania 12 is the first time I was legit scared, Mankind scared tf out of me during that time
BROWN MANKIND was the Best!!! Very Real!!!
I was like it’s finally a guy the undertaker can’t beat
That feud in ‘96 was very interesting, it was wrestlings version of Batman vs Joker.
Purple Gloved TAKER and Brown MANKIND were to this Day my Favorite feud!!!
OOO Yesss! Oooo yessss! Ooo my uundertakerrr knew 12 year old you were afraidd! Hee could smell your fearrr OOOO Yessss!!!
I never imagined I would be sitting here listening to my all time favorite wrestlers podcasts on RUclips. I'm 49 years old and still star struck with Mark Calaway. Still one of the only celebrities that I want to meet.
You and me both.
I'd love to randomly see Taker on the streets some day, just so I could run up and say "Hey, are you Mean Mark Calaway?" and see his face lol
Or pull the same rib on Kane, but with his Yankem gimmick lol
Kane was so imposing when he debuted that undertakers brother gimmick was fire and the way he came to the ring was just awe inspiring! Loved his one armed chokeslam always looked devastating!😮
Kane is in my Top 5 favorites-
-The Mask
-The voicebox
-The eye
-His MUSIC
-The blast of pyro 💥
-His mannerisms
-The walk
-The head tilts
-The glove fix
-The upper cut
-His “Big Red Machine” moniker
-The backstory about the fire
Kane’s gimmick was so well done. Arguably better than Takers. Vince’s 2 best creations.
- His backflip over the top rope exit
Everything was right with Kane, it was Vince who screwed up this great character with horrible storylines and bookings.
@@-Aashish- I agree, they turned him into a joke in the end. But 1997 Kane was * chefs kiss *
@@theofficialgreenkane I love the Kane/Big Show match on Raw with Jim Ross and I think it's either PS Hayes or Heyman comentating....and JR was loosing his shit over Kane casually putting Show on his shoulders while outside on the floor...lol
One of the things I truly wish could have happened, was Kane winning a Royal Rumble. He had so many good performances, held the record for most eliminations for a LONG time, but never got the win. I understand why he didn't, but I still wish it could have happened.
I'm interested to hear Taker talk about the Ministry era. Thats peak Undertaker to me.
I like that summer 98 to turn slowly and turn on Kane and beginning of ministry era
@@Thurs1t0
As someone who's 44, the ministry era definitely wasn't peak Taker. A lot of my peers couldn't stand that time, but it was cool to me, someone who's a bit darker than most...but certainly wasn't the ultimate mini-gimmick.
I feel like Taker never really peaked due to booking! In the 90s at his physical prime didn’t get too much main event spot! During 00s-10s finally got the world title but he passed his physical prime ~
Ministry Taker era, American Badass Taker era, Big Evil Taker era and 2004-2013 Undertaker were the best versions of the Undertaker imo
@@TheJoker12323
For me, it was '97/'98 Taker. Well, at least his look at the time. Ministry Taker did play the part of a sadistic cult leader to perfection though.
Kanes run of interrupting matches in his early days had me legitimately scared as a 4th grader. The subtle head movements and use of his hair got over than most guys with 5 minutes on the mic. Super underrated
Nobody will ever achieve more love from fans than Mick. He was a dysfunctional crazy yet beloved character or characters I should say 😂
I enjoy listening to 'taker reflect on past matches more than any other performer because the dude just plain ol' KEEPS IT REAL!!
Unpopular opinion - Kane was an even better character than Taker, just horrendously used. Those two together were dynamite and produced some of the best and entertaining moments throughout the Attitude Era, and they were partly why I stayed so invested during the back end of that era in 2001/2002.
I feel ya man. I was 17 in '97, back when I heavily got back into wrestling. It was Taker through and through, until Kane stepped on the scene. I mean I freakin' grew my hair out and dyed it black (still have long hair to this day) 'cause of Taker...but Kane quickly became the favourite. From the mystique, the walk, the mannerisms, the mega powerhouse that Glenn was; for a few years he shined brighter than Undertaker ever did. And that's not any diss towards Taker, it's the supernatural phenomenon that Kane was just burned even brighter.
Kane was extremely over when he debuted. I remember seeing non-wrestljng fans comment on him in various places and say how he was even more interesting and powerful than Taker... it probably helped that Taker was very banged up in that period so his matches were not his best, making Kane seem fresher and more exciting.
In ring Kane is solid. He's not S-Tier or maybe A-Tier. He's B-Tier in that he's never bad, never, and his timing is great, but he never could innovate or wow like some of his peers (except his lovely top rope clothesline which unfortunately we saw too much of). But before anybody thinks that's disrespectful... who else ALWAYS has a solid match? Almost nobody. But Kane was always solid. Always.
I agree though inasmuch that he stayed over far longer than his botched handling would account for and it was only towards the end of the 2010's that people really got tired of him once and for all.
Kane was great. Nothing like him will be done again. Glen Jacobs deserves a Hall of Fame spot deservedly.
Wrong Taker would always be better that Kane
@@Jesse-sk1xn
You made some good points to validate your viewpoints.
@@Jesse-sk1xn "Always"?
Hmm.
Has Taker drawn more? Yes.
Is he a better promo? Hmm. 50/50 as I think Kane is as good as Taker in general.
Has Kane been written as well as Taker? Well Kane had Katie Vick and Taker spoke in Tongues so they've both had bad storylines.
Work rate? Taker has one of the best matches ever... twice... with Shawn Michaels at Mania. I don't think Kane has ever had that calibre of a match but Kane has definitely delivered a more consistent performance throughout his whole career - Taker of the 00's-01's was pretty... not great. And Kane knew when to leave, whereas Taker sullied his legacy with matches such as Oldberg and the DX Saudi match (although... so did Kane).
What about pop? Well Taker is in a league of his own as he isn't matchable based on protection and longevity alone. But Kane? I think you have to go back to 1998 for Kane. He was getting FAR louder pops in 1998-2000 than Taker. And yeah Taker was a heel but if you remember, Kane was a heel fighting face Taker then they more or less double turned. Even as Kane remained a heel with the Corporation, he was getting face cheers all of the time. Taker wasn't getting face cheers despite being a heel. He was just getting heel heat. And I suspect, although cannot prove, that Kane merch outsold Ministry Era Taker's for some years. Especially the masks.
I don't think Kane has overall been better than Undertaker. No, sorry, it's not realistic to suggest he has. And it's not fair to say Glen Jacobs is a better wrestler than Taker as I think Taker is in a special category of his own. However... Kane IS a great wrestler and there was sincerely a three year period, before WWE booked him as a comedy act and the Katie Vick story, where I genuinely believe Kane was more over than Undertaker and was producing better matches in that period than Undertaker.
There are numerous reasons why, I'm not going into them, but for a while, Kane WAS more over than Undertaker.
Comparing the two overall? Undertaker is more over. Comparing the two from 1998-2001 perhaps? Kane was more over. But I don't believe even during that period that Kane was as over as Undertaker had been or would be.
I don't know, does that sound fair?
I felt bad for laughing whenever Mick started rolling around in the thumbtacks!😂
Undertaker vs mankind was awesome. I loved mankind vs big show in the boiler room brawl at backlash in 1999. And I’ll always love the cactus jack vs triple h matches. Brutal as anything. Thank you taker and co for what you did to entertain us.
I remember the first time I saw The Undertaker live on television, I’ve been hooked on to wrestling ever since and it’s all thanks to this man😊.
Please do a full life and career podcast in chronological order with as much detail as you can remember from car sharing road stories to feeling of the current stage of the buisness, please. drag it out for a few years, 3 hour long episodes, we don't ask for much :).
Not gonna happen with this host … this guy don’t let taker even finish his own sentences let alone story… it’s sad the guy with the most stories can’t get em out due the host not understanding what he’s doing or how to format anything
@@deadbrothers8348
Yeah, this guy is genuinely awful. I get that there is some sort of rapport between them (which is baffling there's this friendship), but the host has this painful southern voice (and I'm a southerner) that's constantly quivering as if they're drastically sick and afraid.
Between all that and the dude just doesn't have the personality I could deal with in long spans (they're blatantly generic/vapid), it's such a bad combination. Mark/Taker has more charisma in their left pinky finger than this man has in their entire body. And that's not biasness towards Taker, it's just a matter-of-fact observation.
@@Chalor. I mean...who wouldn't be sick and afraid in the presence of the Deadman 😂😳
Man i never imagine one day im able listen to Undertaker podcast,he will be telling great stories&laughing...gosh seems like it was yesterday watching him debut walk down the ramp in creepy emotionless look,then he turn into handsome ministry undertaker and so on feels like time goes by so fast but actually it's been more than 30 years....
When everyone else was terrified of you in the late 90s i wanted you to be my Dad, i literally dont even know why but every time Taker was on TV i felt safer than when he wasnt. Got me through a really dark childhood so thanks Mark/Taker you are a living legend and super humble for all the success youve had. what a guy.
This is EXACTLY how I feel towards Taker.
Sincerely, thank you for sharing this. 😢
Mick was the Gary Oldman of wrestling in the sense that he would disappear into his character.
@@grantoden8242 why are you talking about Mick Foley on a comment about the Undertaker?
@@KQ_T4I no problem sharing is always good
Kane was the biggest talent wasted by WWE. By now, Kane and the Undertaker should’ve been almost on the same level of greatness and stardom.
What an understatement! Kane was the absolute coolest character and jacked monster whose storytelling, in match form, could and should have been terrifying.
True, Top 5 tag team of all time imo
1. BOD
2. New Age Outlaws
3. Dudleys
4. Hardy Boyz
5. Too Cool
Kudos to putting NAO up there, everyone my age loved the Dudleys and Hardy's but I always loved the New Age Outlaws myself.
@@alexishanes6162 I used to change the channel when too cool came on.
Kane could not be killed....Mankind refused to die
3:40 That's Mick
LOL Undertaker cracks me up. “The grandkids have thumbtacks all over the room!”
I have been enjoying these episodes on RUclips! 😂
Keep up the good work!👍🏻
Mankind and Kane definitely helped add another dimension to Taker's character
I honestly wonder if the Taker character would've lasted without those 2... by '96 Taker was getting pretty stale, and had run several dud programs in a row. Mankind breathed new life into the character and it only grew from there with Kane in the mix.
Mankind might be his biggest rival to push him to the limit
Back in the day that's the match that sticks out the most for me Undertaker vs Mankind , 7:30 from beginning to end .
Mick and Undertaker was an Awesome Match in Hell in the Cell.. I tell you, I never seen Mick get so busted up.. ever.. he was insane.. in that Match.. Undertaker put the finishing touch on the Hard Core Legend.. I truly Believe Undertaker in that Match Became the New Hardcore Legend that very night!!! just my thoughts on that!! Mick is a Legend!!!
I'd argue Mick's body took an overall bigger beating during the King of the Death Match weekend in Japan.... he blew himself up! Thankfully he was younger and less beat up then.... but its close for sure.
I can listen to Mark talk for days this is a true blessing thank you Taker.
During 96-99 Taker had me locked into the WWF over WcW and i wasn't gonna change brand for nothing cause of all these match types! Buried alive, Caskets, Inferno, HITC, Body bags, Boiler rooms, First blood, Taker brought light to these match types.
Couldnt write it better
2:04 bout to be a meme now 🤦🏻♂️ 😂
I think the time that “I am gonna go through hell and to so with glee just to hurt you” mentality really showed in their hell in a cell match. After the fall as they are rolling him on a gurney up the ramp there is a commotion. They cut back to taker crawling down the cage and back to mick who is now on his feet while being pulled by pleeding staff and terry funk as he is trying to go back to the ring. You see him with a glint in his eye and a sadistic smile pull them off and with determination go back to the cage and proceed to climb it.
It’s like what the hell… he just dropped from the top of the cage and he is coming back for more!!! That’s look he gave said it all, he (mankind) is enjoying this punishment, he wants more.
That makes a very compelling character and story.
Damn it I can’t listen to this host … he never lets taker finish his own sentence let alone his own story … this host just knows way more about takers stories than taker himself
@@benneely5512
What?
Same here man! I *_can't stand_* the host. Glad to see more and more ppl vocalizing this lately, ever since the podcast stopped being behind a paywall. It's just gonna take 50x the amount of input like this for things to possibly change. I'm pretty much 100% sure they won't, since for every 1 person pointing out the obvious, they'll be 50 more totally fine with this guy.
@@Chalor.Actually he does let him speak
I dont like him either, dudes annoying.
Yall people are so rude
Taker and Foley are definitely my top 5 wrestlers of all time!
Taker❤❤
What made Mick so dope was he'd do anything 2 his body 2 win. He became a sympathetic figure over the years
Taker and kane was my all time favourite tag team, they both genuinely seemed unbeatable, and taker and foley was my all time favourite rivalries
I dont understand why it took me so long to watch Taker's channel. Guy was the reason I got into wrestling and tattoos. Dude is such good people
Mick Foley promo skills r on another level
1996-1999 my favourite years of taker
One question I’ve always wanted to know is who did you tear your groin in 1999? I saw during the tag team buried alive match rock and hunter slid into your knee and you started to limp but I’ve always wondered, your the goat man always gonna be my favorite of all time
I cannot agree more about Mick Foley. The whole reason he did reckless stuff made sense FOR THE STORY. Foley did those things because the story he was telling was he was a fractured individual.
Dude Love however in the main did NOT do those things because the story didn't suit it. He did a couple of crazy spots but in the main he dialled it down as Dude as the Dudester was the equivalent of an HBK or Freebirds flamboyant cowardly heel. Or what the character variant of 'Mick Foley' thought was such. Again, storytelling.
He is on my personal Mt. Rushmore and he is there right with Taker.
I'd agree, Mick's wrestling style depended on who he was that match. For instance, Mankind mostly took punishment, he almost seemed to like it, but while Cactus Jack also took punishment, it was basically just a "cost" of kicking just as much ass himself, "I'll go to hell just to take you with me" kind of vibe.
It really shows how talented a storyteller Mick was, it wasn't just costumes and names that changed. His mic work and whole wrestling style changed as well for each "Face of Foley".
😨 "i don't want to stay with grandpa!"
😂😂😂
We need mick on the podcast!! That would be awesome
Big fan of you undertaker
Mick Foley (as Mankind) Kane and Undertaker reminds me of an early American folk lore about Daniel Boone (i think) in it Daniel Boone gets chased by a Mountain Lion and he leads the cat into a hollowed out log that he knows a Bear is hibernating in…. He then proceeds to take his boot laces and ties closed both ends of the log….. after forty days and forty night of growling and screaming the log goes silent…. When he unties the log just a few scraps of fur and a hand ful of teeth are all that left of both creatures…..
Taker and Kane are the beasts so evenly matched that they can only be defeated by each other by destroying each other, meanwhile Mankind is the only person crazy enough to try and ties them to each other with his own bootlaces
I always loved Shawn Michaels and Mankinds matches in what, 95? Such a great feud
Taker be dropping serious gems. A lot of these wrestlers just throw n thumb tacs 4 no reason but 2 say they did it. Theres a certain psychology 2 when Mick did things
It really breaks my heart knowing he retired without the streak intact
Taker has always said that the Streak was made to be broken. If he retired, he didn't need it any more and it was a golden ticket to make someone.
The issue was the person they chose to break it didn't need it and that it got taken away in a terrible match. And therefore it left a terrible taste in many people's mouthes.
This is particularly galling now with recent possible allegations which I hope for Borck's sake are proven to be false. But if they're not, more evidence the Streak should not have gone to him.
@@JeremiahEcks777 Should have been Edge.
@@alphanerd7221 Edge would have kept his own streak going so, he works, yeah.
@@JeremiahEcks777 They offered it to him and he said no.
@@alphanerd7221 True, from what I hear.
Everybody kept saying no. Except Brock. And it's arguable that's one of various reasons he shouldn't have had it.
Great clip
I was 10 years old in 96' and still a mark. I feared for the Undertaker in his feud with Mankind. Mankind was next level dark and demented. The Mandible Claw for me was the most horrific move in wrestling and when Taker took it, I feared for his life. Such a mark.
Its wild to me that early '96 Mankind, dark and deranged, is the "same character" as the cheesy goofball '99 Mankind lol. He was legitimately scary in those early days, and by the end he was essentially just Mick in a mask, cracking dad jokes hahaha
Taker is the g.o.a.t.
Longevity
Character
Main event matches
Top tier all his career in WWE
Renowned world wide
Best entrance
Good on the mic
Great in the ring
Etc
The hell in a cell with mankind stil my all time favorite and kane vs taker even as a team to brothers of destruction was also wwe and wcw tag champs such great memories god this version of kane in 98 vs the fiend imagine it monster vs monster
Love It SixFeetUnderwithMarkCalaway Bro.
My favorite WWE characters of my lifetime, Taker, Kane, Mankind and Mr McMahon
I was blessed to be at the Pittsburgh show
That will forever be burnt into my memory.
The entire place was on the same energy and it was H O L Y S H I T !!!
THANK YOU MARK N MIC for taking the risk you both did to build the foundation of the wwe you did.
Without the pillars we have. Wrestling would not be anything close to what it is today.
❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you taker ( holy shit I'm actually able to say thank you to one of my child hood / adult childhood heros 😂❤ )
I don't wanna be with Grandpa! lol classic
Bro his matches with HHH are brutal especially WM27
He saw Snuka missing Bob Backlund missing the plunge and hitting, Don Moraco was amazing to all of us,,,
Taker, Kane, Mankind, and Goldust were my favorites as a kid.
Try asking him a question and letting him answer it instead of leading it along, ffs
Taker, mankind, Shawn, Bret, the godfather, stone cold... And some else. Attitude era. That was special
Mick would do all those insane things, but he's the nicest guy in the history of the business
Hey Undertaker, would love to see you make a video on your impressions of Shawn Michael's back in the day
I loved mick being managed by Paul bear vs undertaker
What about Spike Dudley for commitment?
Undertaker
Kane should of won the heavyweight championship off HHH in No Mercy, and unmasked in WM 20 after losing to Undertaker
He was already unmasked at that point
Grandpa Mankind is a wild thought
You Amazing ❤️ I love you Mark William 💓🤘
Mankind Mick Foley's character reminds me Marvel's Penance
I get the connection but Penance was a very gratuitous childish grasp at being 'mature' and changed what was a very positive character negative for naught more than shock value. Additionally throwing the New Warriors under a bus simply because they're weren't one of Bendis' favourites (Luke Cage and Iron Fist are never mysteriously as inept and yet the Warriors had been competent and legit for years - except when Millar and Bendis got to them...).
Anyway my point is, I get your comparison but the difference for me is that Mick is great character work... Penance is an example of one of the multitude reasons why comics are dead as an art form.
@@JeremiahEcks777 True, I was merely referring to the basic idea of the Pain aspect of the characters, Mankind Mick Foley is an infinitely cooler character, just kind of a, "Huh, I think Marvel should take a few notes from WWE / Wrestling Sports Entertainment on Character",
@@nikolibarastov4487 You're completely right and I am completely ranting. 😆
Thanks sincerely for being patient with me.
I agree, there is a lot in common between the two. I remember Foley making a promo about being hurt more and it feeling good. Robbie actually pretty much says "Good" to being told the armour hurts during Civil War. There's a lot of similarities.
It also reminds me a bit of Hank Pym in that he has different identities but they pretty much amount to the same thing with a different flavour. Yellowjacket and Dude Love for example. 🤩
@@JeremiahEcks777 No Problem, I've gotten into too many Comment / Internet Spats recently, so your comment was a welcome change of pace.
I love this podcast and I really like Matt - but can we get ONE episode where he doesn’t obsess over a Mount Rushmore?
“Who is your Mount Rushmore of faces? Who is your Mount Rushmore of heels? Who is your Mount Rushmore of tag teams? Who is your Mount Rushmore on the mic? Who is your Mount Rushmore in the ring? Who is on your Mount Rushmore of Mount Rushmores?”
I really all of your podcasts I just would like to know when you and Matt are coming to post again on Patreon?
Mick put his body through hell during the HIAC match. Mark said he was pleading with him, let's go home, Mick, we don't need to do anything else, let's go home.
I wanna know Takers favourite movies and what music he listens to.
The sixth sense, Dead Man Walking, Tombstone..The T.V Show six feet under
Yeah, that would be great to hear about, but it's not this hosts objective to ask those kinds of questions...at least not anytime soon. It seems like everyone doesn't have a clue that this whole podcast was a pay to play thing, then recently that went away. Like all of this isn't brand new.
Kane is the best character in WWE HANDS DOWN
Hilarious interview
97 taker - 2011 taker was prime
Hard to disagree in many ways but it misses out his matches with Foley and I think he did some career best storytelling vs. Mick.
I Love You Taker and wish you nothing but blessings, but your co-host is ANNOYING and he interupts you way too much. His voice is annoying and his presence is annoying. I sincerely apologize if I am too blunt, and if I am downing your friend, but being a Christian I am NOT supposed to lie. GOD Bless Mr. Undertaker Calway.
Mental kane (towel on head) was his best work
That would be an interesting Mt. Rushmore. Call it the personal sacrifice Mt. Rushmore.
Mick for certain
Terry Funk also for certain
Abdullah the Butcher
Some will laugh, but Shano Mack deserves consideration
Hardy Boyz
Definitely a bunch of ECW wrestlers, and I don't know that many of the names for guys who did the Japanese death match shows outside of the few I mentioned. I know I'm both forgetting a bunch of names and unaware of many.
Foley has a Mount Rushmore all to himself. Cactus Jack, Dude Love, Mankind, and Mick Foley. All four were different.
Taker and Mick could have fought forever and I wouldn"t have had a problem with it! 😂 Great feud.
There is a massive noise in the background that puts you off takers stories. Please fix it
I hope undertaker sees the match swerve strickland had against Adam page they had a Texas deathmatch highly suggest he checks it out
Kane was scarier than the Undertaker... But Undertaker was always my favorite... The music and the mask Kane was more scary...
i think mick Foley is a true legend he show us how we don't give up no matter what happened to you ! when i remember his heroic work in wrestling i says to him thank you for you mick Foley yes thank you, some people says he suicide guy ! i says no he just wants the fans be happy , like Jackie chan he is a hero he sacrifice his body and soul to make us happy in movies just look at him he crazy 😹 he do things human beings doesn't do it ! who remember when he jumps out from helicopter 🚁 and dive into cold water omg 😱 that was very scary and he says that in interview he says i was so close to be dead 🤏 when i was in that water its real acting not fake ! and he one time jump from skyscraper big huge place i really don't how he survived but he survived😅 the part of that mission on movie you can see it its so scary
I think the closest modern equivalent of Mick Foley is Darby Allen. I mean did you see his back after Sting's retirement match?
You mean the unnecessary spot which added nothing to the sting retirement??
I wonder what Taker's thought about working with Chris Kanyon
He does really want to hurt him, apparently.
In character.
Taker was really high on him and kept praising him to Vince and wanted to work a program with him but Vince wasn’t interested, unfortunately.
Chris himself also said on an old interview that Taker really liked him and wanted him to be pushed.
So when's the next episode?
Woah he said Rolodex he’s an old school dude
At my job we still have a rolodex. I was born in 1980, and that's still not super old school to me. But regardless, I still feel ya with that being an OG thing.
I remember when I first experienced mick it was in WCW as cactus jack when he and Abdullah the butcher were tag team/frenemies and he came after Sting. I thought he was psychotic lol
Has anyone bought from the store I’m not really sure what I’m doing. 🤷♂️ I want a tea shirt but I’m a bit confused.
a lot of the things you guys did back then that made sense are now being done just to do them. I remember when Andre and Hogan were only ones who could kick out of a finisher. Then Warrior came out and it sort of made sense for his character. Then you and Kane could do it. Now the popcorn guy is kicking out after taking 40 finishers.
We need a return of the monsters in wwe
Those were the days when you had not just the Brothers, but old school Mankind and also the Brood.
@@thestarseeker8196
Gangrel was so underutilized. David really has it all, but Vince in their oh-so-glorious wisdom didn't give him the push he deserved because he didn't have the face or physique that McMahon preferred. Obviously guys like Mick were the exception to the norm.
Walter?
@@Chalor.I LOVE me some Gangrel and in ring, Heath is underrated...
... but he isn't a talker. He needed a mouthpiece or never to talk. Unfortunately you do need a voice occasionally to get your character over.
What he could have used was Luna as his full-time valet and she would have been enough character for the both of them.
@@JeremiahEcks777
Oh man, the Luna idea would've been awesome! And same here man, I love Gangrel. He's a dude that was really underutilized once the Brood disbanded. His intro (dare I say) was cooler than 80% of Taker's. And yeah man, he's quite the Chatty Cathy. Imagine him as the host. Mark would definitely never get a word in lol.
Kane was the best physical actor in the world,.
Man kind would make a great villan in a Batman film
Mick is to wrestling what Chris Farley is/was to comedy.
Terrible analogy. Farley wanted to be Belushi so bad but never came close. He was funny because he was overweight and that's it.
@@chadjustice8560 What you said about Farley wanting to be Belushi was really stupid. Belushi never saw the success that Farley did. Farley had the ability to make other comedians laugh out loud,and was regularly the center of attention where ever he was. I won't use this to put down Belushi,though.
Foley was the better adversary for the Undertaker because the story involved escalated confrontations as opposed to an immediate commitment to an extreme match.
The Foley storyline took longer to tell.
Ay yo , why am I paying you on patreon for anymore? There is nothing posted there anymore