a couple of quick questions.

Why was Paul Heyman on commentary during some of 2001 and not The King?

When did Undertaker debut his American Bad Ass character and how was it received?

Lawler was dating a diva who was fired I think. Lawler left in protest....

American Bad Ass debuted around 2000 I think. Personally I thought it was awful. I think Taker has been quoted as saying he hated it but it definately freshed up his character

I only wanted to know about Taker because as much as I can remember it didn't last long but I'm watching KOTR 2001 and was suprised to see him in that character

He was the American Badass when he returned at the 2000 Armageddon and attacked Triple H.

Best thing about the bad ass character was his entrance anything else stank

Best moment of the Bad ass character;

Maven knocking him out at the 2002 Rumble. One of my biggest mark out moments ever!

AberdeenSteve wrote:Best moment of the Bad ass character;

Maven knocking him out at the 2002 Rumble. One of my biggest mark out moments ever!

Totally agree! I remember thinking WTF!!

I was the exact same mate, I couldn't believe it. You had to literally rub your eyes to make sure it happened.

The chair shot to the head he took after was brutal too


On the Heyman situation too;
It would have had something to do with the InVasion storyline too. KoTR was just one PPV before it.

Maven could of been pushed hard after this, another missed oppurtunity.... Makes me think they shouldn't give the streak to an up & comer

Lawler was married to the Kat who was fired and Lawler quit in protest. Heyman came in since ECW has just gone bust and was on commentary leading up to the invasion angle and I think it was a happy coincidence that he was able to be a heel during the angle as part of ECW. Perhaps we was only placed on commentary in preparation for the invasion I don't know.

Taker debuted the bad ass character at Judgment Day 2000 and it lasted til I think Survivor Series 2003- then redebuted as the deadman at WM 20. I'd be surprised if Taker said he hated the gimmick as it was basically him in real life but I stand to be corrected on that. I thought it was ok as a character and it fit the WWF/E's direction towards more realism. Him and kane were in many ways the last 2 'supernaturals'

Sarsippius wrote:Lawler was married to the Kat who was fired and Lawler quit in protest. Heyman came in since ECW has just gone bust and was on commentary leading up to the invasion angle and I think it was a happy coincidence that he was able to be a heel during the angle as part of ECW. Perhaps we was only placed on commentary in preparation for the invasion I don't know.

Taker debuted the bad ass character at Judgment Day 2000 and it lasted til I think Survivor Series 2003- then redebuted as the deadman at WM 20. I'd be surprised if Taker said he hated the gimmick as it was basically him in real life but I stand to be corrected on that. I thought it was ok as a character and it fit the WWF/E's direction towards more realism. Him and kane were in many ways the last 2 'supernaturals'

John "Superman" Cena....

I don't know if Taker hated the character, but it was definitely poorly received from a critical standpoint. He felt that he needed to "humanise" the character as the Undertaker gimmick felt dated. He did really well post-2003 to merge the classic gimmick with the more three-dimensional biker character, so it wasn't a waste of time, but it was not a massive success either.

I hated the Bad Ass gimmick so very much and my favourite Taker is that of 98-00. Probably too dark for TV these days, but I didn't understand the transition to biker...and then back to Dead Man again.