As The Undertaker prepares for his final farewell at Survivor Series, which moments from The Phenom’s 30-year career stand the test of time?
Drew McIntyre is the new WWE Champion, but is he a more appealing prospect than Randy Orton to represent Raw against SmackDown’s Roman Reigns?
And, after much anticipation, how excited are we for AEW’s proposed video games?
Join us as we answer these—and more—questions in this week’s Gimme Five!
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1. Survivor Series will host The Undertaker’s final farewell on Monday, 30 years after The Phenom’s debut. Looking back, what are some of your favourite Undertaker moments from the past three decades?
AJ Murtagh (@AJMurtagh):
For me, it’s impossible to go past that first run against Kane in 1997 and 1998 – so epic and almost operatic. His feud with Mick Foley from 1996 to 1998, his promos while building caskets, and I even have a soft spot for the Ministry of Darkness.
Grady Hooker (@GradyHooker):
I can’t look past his epic clashes with Shawn Michaels. Totally not because I watch the Running Up That Hill video package on a loop…
David Dunn (@david_dunn):
I cannot get enough of the American Badass. Is that contentious? Rollin’, Harley-Davidson, beating up DDP for stalking his then-wife… I can watch Undertaker segments from 2001 on a weekly basis.
Sammy G (@RealSammyG):
The Undertaker has been a pillar of WWE for 30 years and, as he’s the reason I got into wrestling in the late90s, it’s hard to summarise in just a few moments. Part of the greatness of his character is knowing when he’s beaten down or buried or locked in a casket or set on fire, you know his return is going to be epic and he’ll be more focused than ever! His ability to adapt to the times is also highly respectable. Monday is going to be a rough day. #ThankYouTaker
Steve McCleary (@SJMcCleary):
My favourite moment is a tie between DDP being revealed as a stalker, because I’m a big DDP mark despite the silly story, and that time Taker wore snakeskin pants to wrestle Kurt Angle. But in general, Ministry Taker —where the gimmick was he was always playing a character but now he’d gone crazy and believed he was a cult leader—is probably my go-to when I think about Undertaker moments.
2. Drew McIntyre is the new WWE Champion after dethroning Randy Orton on Raw. Who’s your preferred titleholder heading into Survivor Series and a match with Universal Champion Roman Reigns?
AJ:
I was fine with Orton winning the title but wanted WWE to invest in the reign, but I think Drew vs. Roman is more appealing. I’m a mess of contradictions!
Grady:
I love Drew McIntyre, he is my boy, but I was really looking forward to a Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns match. I’m still happy with what we will get, but I would have preferred Orton hold onto the belt.
David:
McIntyre vs. Reigns feels like such a big match that I was expecting—maybe even hoping—Randy Orton would stay WWE Champion. Is that strange to say? I should want the biggest matches possible—and here’s one of the absolute biggest possible—but I almost wish McIntyre vs. Reigns was going down at a WrestleMania instead.
Sammy G:
Either man would have been interesting, to be honest. Drew’s win has given him and Raw some momentum heading into Survivor Series. Perhaps a vengeful RKO on the night could derail McIntyre’s chances of beating Roman. Ego vs. Brand Supremacy…
Steve:
Definitely McIntyre. He and Reigns match up well in both styles and how their current characters are portrayed. It’s an easy main event-calibre match.
3. NJPW’s World Tag League and Best of the Super Junior tournaments are underway. Who are you backing to advance to Wrestle Kingdom?
AJ:
I haven’t been following as closely as I should but I’ve been into Evil joining Bullet Club so I’m backing him and Yujiro Takahashi. On the Super Junior side, I could be okay with Taiji Ishimori taking it out, though I’ve read a few predictors picking Sho.
Grady:
I have to support Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare for World Tag League, but I’ll also throw some support to the oddball pairing of Evil and Yujiro Takahashi. For the Super Juniors, it has to be Robbie Eagles. I love seeing what that kid can do!
David:
Grady gets it! How can you want anyone but HenarAce and Robbie Eagles to take out their tournaments? I’ll allow support for Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens too, but anything else is treason.
Keep on fighting!#njwtl pic.twitter.com/cnR9ZhBIKr
— Henare | ヘナーレ (@HenareNZ) November 19, 2020
Sammy G:
If Henare is doing something awesome, he has my pick! (I once did a training session with him – amazing guy!)
Steve:
I don’t keep up with NJPW much due to time constraints, so I’ll just repeat Robbie Eagles’ name five times: Robbie Eagles, Robbie Eagles, Robbie Eagles, Robbie Eagles, Robbie Eagles.
4. AEW recently revealed plans for multiple video games. Which have got you most excited?
AJ:
I’m excited about all of them. The console game is topping my list but the Elite General Manager mobile game is a close second.
Grady:
There was no Wacky Races game, so I can’t be excited at all. But as long as the main console game has The Dark Order in it, then I’ll concede and pick that one. I’m not a huge mobile gaming guy.
David:
I’ve likely spent more time playing General Manager Mode in SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 than I’ve spent playing any other video game, so I’m cautiously optimistic for Elite General Manager.
Sammy G:
Honestly, the Elite General Manager game looks like it could be fun! I will hold judgement on the other games until there are a few more trailers or gameplay videos released. It looks like AEW is on the right path to something awesome though.
Steve:
I’m extremely excited for everything they’ve got coming. There’s a desperate need for another player in the wrestling console game market, and I think the slightly-exaggerated models will prove to be a smart decision in multiple areas of game development and enjoyment. And while there’s some fun options for General Managing out there already, I’m keen to see what they do with their version. And as a sucker who loves blackjack and poker, I fall into that weird market who’d probably play their branded casino game. I wish they’d titled it ‘Cash Grab’, though. Missed opportunity.
5. The Young Bucks’ book, Killing the Business, is available worldwide as of this week. What was the last great wrestling book you read?
AJ:
This is obvious and it’s taken me a long time to get to it, but I just finished Mick Foley’s Have A Nice Day, 21 years late.
Grady:
What is reading? Is that the thing with the words?
David:
I’m currently making my way through Jim Ross’ second memoir, Under the Black Hat. It’s got some great first-hand accounts from someone who was around for one of the most significant time periods in North American wrestling.
Sammy G:
I haven’t read any wrestler biographies in book form since the early 2000s. I did read an unofficial biography of The Undertaker (no surprises there) as an e-book. I do have a physical copy of Mick Foley’s Tietam Brown which is a favourite of my collection. Anybody have a copy of Eric Bischoff’s Controversy Creates Cash they’d like to sell?
Steve:
For years now I keep starting them and not finishing, so it’s a tough field. Foley’s and Jericho’s first books will probably always hold the record. I weirdly feel like I should read JTG’s one for sheer entertainment value.