It's just as well the streak came along for The Undertaker to build his legacy upon ... because his title reigns in the 90's were nothing to write home about at all. Undertaker was slotted into the role of Champion more out of circumstance than meritocracy in 1997. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were disgracing themselves backstage and Steve Austin still had question marks in the mind of Vince McMahon. Taker was deemed a safe choice to put the belt on for a while, which may also have been a measure to protect the belt with Hart talking to WCW and Michaels having at one point asked for a release. Taker was never really the fan choice as champion. He was McMahon's choice, with buys reflecting this. Undertaker's Wrestlemania 13 main event was the worst performing Mania main event EVER. Coming in at barely 237,000 buys for Wrestlemania 13, Undertaker will forever have the distinction of being the worst draw at a Wrestlemania ever. Amazingly he held the title until Summerslam of that year, despite business arrowing down quicker than a lead weight. The Summerslam buyrate came in at 177,000 buys, again down from the previous year. Taker jobbed to Bret Hart in that match and business improved in the proceeding months. All in all, 1997 was a year to forget for the Deadman.
