10 Promos That Totally Changed Your Opinion Of A Wrestler

3. The Undertaker Becomes That Bloke Down The Pub

I Don T Sleep
WWE Network

Before the promo:

He was the Undertaker. His 1999 exploits were corny and farcical, but that is definitely a subjective and retrospective criticism; his programme with Steve Austin broke and broke forever the per-segment Nielsen rating, on June 28, 1999, and his declining in-ring level didn't matter. The WWF of early-to-mid 1999 was incomprehensible goofy trash, but in a sobering stat, the company was never more popular. 'Taker and the Ministry, speaking in tongues, were at the heart of it. This was such WrestleCrap-calibre spooky bullsh*t in the era of nu-metal that they may as well have called them the Dunjin Ov Doom.

But it was over.

After the promo:

The WWF formed the Unholy Union of 'Taker and the Big Show in a bid to make the Big Show less sh*t. On the August 16, 1999 RAW, 'Taker told us all a story, in which he tested what Show was made of by taking him out to the desert on a pair of Harleys with no food, water or gas for the ride home. Show claimed he'd eat a snake and then his sleeping mentor, or some absolute b*llocks, but 'Taker didn't sleep. Here, 'Taker evolved into the insufferable bullsh*t artist who had seen Bruce Lee fight Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon.

It's a Mandela Effect special of a time-bending promo, because it only takes a minute or two for Chris Jericho's merciful interruption, and yet it feels like days.

He became Biker Taker not long after because he had to.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!