We always hear about sports stars not being able to accept retirement whether it’s because they don’t get to experience the fan reaction or hang out with the locker room.
A decade ago (has it really been so long?) we had Favre watch as Brett Favre went back and forth with his retirement plans, and recently Tom Brady did the dance.
We’ve seen musicians have multiple farewell tours as well as staying retired is often harder than working, and wrestlers are no different.
In general, people get used to following a schedule, and not having to follow it anymore is a blessing and a curse.
It’s not the same
Since retiring from in ring action, the Undertaker followed what many others have done and started his own show, UNDERTAKER deadMAN SHOW from the road before WWE’s big events.
While it’s not a podcast in the true sense of the word, it is a way for him to stay around the business while not stepping into the ring, but it’s nowhere near the same thing.
The Undertaker appeared on the Hawk vs. Wolf podcast and he talked about life after wrestling and how he’s struggled with the transition.
“I would be [out there] without any hesitation at all if I thought I could deliver a performance that people expect when they see my name on the card. I would do it, but I know I can’t. It’s been a horrible transition. I don’t know that I’ll ever find a passion like I did for actually being in the ring. I’m doing the one-man show, and I’m enjoying that it’s new to me. I can pour myself into it again, but I don’t know if I’ll ever have that passion that wrestling gave to me. And then again, I watch the product, and I’m like, ‘damn, I would have done that differently. Why won’t you work!’’”
He’s needed
The Undertaker has taken some heat for his opinions on the current wrestling style, and that’s why veterans like him are needed in the sport.
While opinions like his aren’t very popular with some fans or wrestlers, they’re important for a few reasons.
For one, his career speaks to the fact he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to how to work a match and what to expect.
While the sport is always evolving, it’s continuing to morph into video game wrestling where ring psychology and storylines are often on the back burner for spot fests, not selling, and multiple finishers per match.
While he may not be able to wrestle at the level he feels fans deserve, that would make him a great producer as he’d put together matches that work and help talent reach their full potential.
What do you think? Would you like to see the Undertaker as a producer? Let us know in the comments below.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6twuNKSbiBc
