1. The Mind Games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf3NXDPyrZw Without a shadow of a doubt, The Undertaker is king of the mind games. Often, this was the best part of watching him feud with people, just the way he would engage them in psychological warfare, often without needing to set foot in the ring or even the arena. The run-up to Wrestlemania 20 and his match with Kane in particular stands out. For weeks, without seeing 'Taker or hearing his voice, Kane was plagued by The Deadman's presence. The bells, the fog, the rain, the lightning, the blurred images on screen. He reduced Kane to a screaming, gibbering wreck before Wrestlemania, and his expression upon finally seeing The Phenom was priceless. No-one can play mind games better than The Undertaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6yVUxXnyA With the exception of Bray Wyatt. And the fact that I'm saying that when he's not even a year into his career speaks volumes. The man is a twisted genius, able to target where his opponent is most vulnerable. Take this segment from Monday Night Raw. I have been watching wrestling for years, and a lot of you have probably watched longer than me. We all thought that we'd seen everything new that there was to see, but I have NEVER seen anything like what we witnessed on Monday. The angle seems centred around turning John Cena heel. Now, this has been tried before, when Cena feuded with Kane as he attempted to get Cena to "embrace the hate", but feel how much more effective this is. Cena has always been associated with children, he's one of the most prominent people associated with "Make A Wish". Bray used this to target him, as he surrounded Cena with brainwashed children, all singing "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", before the lights went out. And when they went back up, every boy and girl in that choir was wearing the lamb mask of the Wyatts. Bray had taken one of Cena's biggest strengths and prides, and turned it into a weakness. We could see how shaken up Cena was, and bear in mind, we have NEVER seen fear from John Cena before. Bray Wyatt is a dark force unlike anything we have ever seen before, including The Undertaker. He has all the tools he needs to make the WWE his own, and is the logical successor to The Phenom. He well and truly has the whole WWE Universe in his hands. What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section, and for instant updates on new articles, add me on twitter at @IAMMARZI
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Stephen Maher has been a rock star, a bouncer, a banker and a busker on various streets in various countries. He's hung out with Robert Plant, he was at Nelson Mandela's birthday and he's swapped stories with prostitutes and crack addicts. He once performed at a Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras by accident. These days, he passes the time by writing about music, wrestling, games and other forms of nerdery. And he rarely drinks the blood of the innocent.
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