“You’re not gonna have careers like we had,” The Undertaker reflects on all the risks being taken for crowd reactions in today’s wrestling
The Undertaker talks about dangerous stunts in the modern professional wrestling landscape and their long-term effects.
The Undertaker speaks about high-risk spots (via WWE)
Professional wrestling has evolved tremendously over the past few decades, especially when it comes to in-ring work. Matches have gotten more fast-paced; they’re more acrobatic and technically sound in nature. Wrestlers are also more willing to take risks and put on stunts to entertain the fans. However, this may not be the best course of action for them, according to The Undertaker.
Speaking on the Hall of Fame podcast, the Demon of Death Valley emphasized the dangers of professional wrestling stunts that have become increasingly prevalent over the last few years. Such moves are only special when performed rarely to ensure that the audience does not get desensitized to them. Furthermore, they have a negative effect on one’s body, which could severely cut down the lifespan of one’s career.
WWE had almost entirely shifted away from any over-the-top stunts since their transition to the PG era. However, such things have come back in recent times, as evident by the bloody Hell in a Cell match between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk. AEW also gets a bad rep for not being protective of their wrestlers. Darby Allin is the prime example here. Allin has put his body through gruesome stunts just for the sake of fans.
The longevity of Undertaker’s own career is unmatched. He had an in-ring career of over three decades, with his first wrestling match being in 1987. However, what is even more impressive is that he stuck with the same company for 30 years since making his debut at Survivor Series 1990. Furthermore, he had been a main event attraction throughout his career from beginning to end.
The Undertaker talks about the curse of athleticism in modern wrestling
Apart from the dangerous stunts performed today, professional wrestling has also become much more athletic in nature. With Luchadors and their style becoming more prominent in mainstream wrestling, to the rise of high-flyers like Will Ospreay and Ricochet, the increase in acrobatic and athletic styles of wrestling has truly been something to behold.
Continuing his train of thought on the Hall of Fame podcast, The Phenom said that he never could have imagined wrestlers being as athletic as they are today. However, he believed that this could manifest itself as a curse. These performers are often too focused on acrobatics. This often makes them forget about the most important part of professional wrestling, storytelling.
The Undertaker even revealed that he has talked to higher-ups in WWE about this rise in athleticism. They responded by saying that it is extremely hard to reverse this now and that the “toothpaste cannot be put back in the tube.”
Mokshit Batra
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