July 17, 2020
By Ryan Porzl
In recent months, the WWE had been releasing parts of a new documentary called "The Undertaker: The Last Ride" which chronicled The Undertaker coming to terms his legendary career was coming to an end and was seeking that one great match he can close his career on. The documentary was praised and at the end of it, Taker hinted at retirement after competing in the Boneyard Match at Wrestlemania 36 Night 1 against AJ Styles. Following this, social media was flooded with the hashtag #ThankyouTaker as fans paid tribute to The Dead Man and his 30 year WWE run. However, I can't help but think because of Taker's legacy that fans are overlooking certain things namely the fact he should've called it a career long ago as his work was deteriorating and it was just painful to watch a talented legend just limp and stumble through match after match like some aging punch drunk fighter who shouldn't be fighting anymore but can't stop until they get that elusive win or that "one more big run" that will never come. Perhaps even more painful, people also ignore Taker's selfishness towards the end of his run and the damage he did for WWE whether it be his refusal to lose to up and comers in order to establish new stars for the future to flat out burying young stars with potential and not giving them the same opportunities he was given by legends before him to taking big spots at Wrestlemania when he should've taken a step back and let the next generation take center stage and overall, despite long being considered a locker room leader, he failed to lead by example. This article will do what many don't want to do and that is take off the rose colored glasses and reveal that while Taker has earned respect, it shouldn't be "Thank You Taker" but rather "Good Riddance".
