The Undertaker may have a glowing online reputation these days, and rightfully so. However, it was not always that way. In the early 2000s, The Dead Man was vilified in the wrestling press due to his lacklustre performances between-the-ropes and his supposed politicking backstage. 'Taker was having a particularly humdrum 2002, sleepwalking through uninspired matches with the usual faces. Then he got transferred to Smackdown and, would you believe it, he started having good matches for the first time in a long time. Against super workers like Angle and Lesnar, and with Heyman, 'Taker looked more motivated than he had in years. There was one regrettable incident, when The Phenom decided that he didn't want to do a job to Brock at Unforgiven but, besides that, it was plain sailing. His Hell in a Cell match against Lesnar at No Mercy was a minor classic and he had great matches on Smackdown against Angle and Chris Benoit. Suddenly, the conversation switched from how 'boring and broken down' Undertaker was to how good he looked, what great matches he was having and how much he was helping elevate younger talent.
