Talking Taker

112 - SummerSlam 2005

It's Taker vs Orton, Round 2! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover the second meeting between The Legend and The Legend Killer at SummerSlam 2005. It's a rivalry that put Orton on the map, and this next chapter is an important piece of the story as it truly becomes a family affair by the end of the match. Along the way we'll also discuss the buildup including a déjà vu match against JBL, Teddy Long bowing up, an alphabet lesson from The Dead Man, Mr. McMahon's first Presidential campaign ad, and the return of The Ugandan Giant Kamala! Oh my! Plus we'll discuss The Undertaker's all-time record at the summer spectacular and debate if he's the low-key "Mr. SummerSlam". Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy! 
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Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match - updated every week! 
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111 - Great American Bash 2005

It's one of the most controversial moments in The Undertaker and the WWE's history on this week's Talking Taker! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover the chaotic clash between Muhammad Hassan and The Undertaker at the 2005 Great American Bash. The match itself gives us plenty to talk about including Hassan's (very) Last Ride in the company. But what we're really here to discuss is the so-called "terrorist" angle from July 7, 2005. It's a storyline that would have had people talking no matter what. Unfortunately it just so happened to air on the same day as a major terrorist attack. We'll discuss how this through this storyline into chaos, if anything could have been done to change it, how the WWE reacted, and what did (and didn't) work about the Hassan and Daivari characters. As if that's not enough, we'll also cover the 2005 Draft, Randy Orton's WrestleMania revenge, Muhammad Hassan's attorney who would go on to NXT stardom, another raucous match with JBL, Cole and Tazz's continual stupidity, and a few things we think could have saved the Muhammad Hassan character. Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy!
Get a FREE MONTH of exclusive and ad-free podcasts on Stitcher Premium when you use the code TALKINGTAKER
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match - updated every week! 
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110 - WrestleMania 21

It's The Legend vs. The Legend Killer! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover one of the most important battles in The Dead Man's career as he tries to take The Streak to 13-0 at WrestleMania 21 against a young Randy Orton. This is the rare match that not only changes the careers of both performers, but also the course of the WWE itself. On this supersized episode we explain just why it's such an influential and important match that redefined WrestleMania and what The Streak would come to mean. Don't worry - it's not all serious talk either as we continue to poke fun at all the ridiculous stuff that hasn't aged well over the last 14 years. And speaking of not aging well, that means we're covering the returns of Jake The Snake and Cowboy Bob Orton, an out-of-nowhere assault on Stacy Keibler, a bizarre interlude with Carlito, a Tombstone for a Frenchman, the final burials for Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak, the classic WrestleMania Goes Hollywood trailers, and so much more. So get your popcorn ready, put your headphones on, and Taker Easy! 
Get a FREE MONTH of exclusive and ad-free podcasts on Stitcher Premium when you use the code TALKINGTAKER
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match - updated every week! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

109 - No Way Out 2005

The Undertaker's rivalry with the Reigns family begins on this week's Talking Taker! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover the battle between Roman's forgotten Uncle Luther and The Dead Man in a WCW Saturday Night main event! Just kidding - this actually happened on PPV at No Way Out 2005? How did the former "Horshu" end up in a singles match with The Phenom? We'll try to get to the bottom of it. Perhaps it was his unique promo work? We'll discuss Luther's intense interviews which revealed even more of his hard knock life here as we discuss this brief but memorable rivalry. Along the way we'll also cover The Dead Man's encounter with Rene Dupree in an underwhelming tournament, Smackdown's trip to Japan, some of the worst entrance music you'll ever hear, interactions with Mark Jindrak and The Bashams, more Michael Cole mispronunciations, and the very real and very surprising parallels between Luther Reigns' and Roman Reigns' feuds with The Phenom. Plus we'll also discuss The Undertaker's recent appearances on Smackdown and ESPN College Gameday! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy! 
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match - updated every week! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

108 - Royal Rumble 2005

It's the return of the Casket Match - and the return of Heidenreich! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they kick off 2005 with one of El Hombre Muerto's signature matches and a Royal Rumble clash with one of his worst opponents. Is it one of the most embarrassing in-ring performances we've ever covered on the show? Or is it actually surprisingly entertaining? Our hosts were split on this one and they'll both argue their cases as we cover the match and all the wild build-up. Along the way we'll talk Taker's first Tribute To The Troops, Feretrophobia, a historic quote from Theodore Long, Heidenreich's continual lack of clothes, the temporary burial of The Dead Man's greatest rival, Taker's side-hustle creating wax figures, more poetry smackdowns, even more absurd Cole and Tazz commentary quotes, the Brothers Of Destruction reunion, WrestleMania plans with "Snitskenreich" that never came to fruition, and some shoot interview insight from the Blond Haired Psychotic Poet himself! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy! 
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match - updated every week! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

107 - Armageddon 2004

¡Ay Dios Mio - Es El Hombre Muerto! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover a star-studded Fatal 4 Way from Armageddon 2004 featuring Taker taking on JBL, Booker T, and Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship. It's a fun way to close out what's been an uneven year for the Phenom. Plus it's the only PPV encounter between Taker and the legendary Latino Heat, so we dream up what it might have been had these 2 icons ever got to have a proper rivalry. But it's not all fun and games - we still have to cover the likes of Heidenreich and The Basham Brothers. Ugh. Along the way we'll also talk the debut of Undertaker's future wife, Eddie's odd fashion choices, some ridiculous Cole and Tazz moments, Amy Weber (who?), Pilgrims and Indians, another new nickname for Taker, and why this build-up never quite clicked despite all the star power. Plus we break down our new favorite segment of all time - The Big Show's Thanksgiving! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy!
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

106 - Royal Rumble 1991 Watch-Along

Our time-traveling hearse is spinning out of control as we take a detour from our encyclopedic exploration all the way back to 1991! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they give you sort of a bonus show and hit one of the matches they skipped over in the early days of the podcast as The Dead Man enters his very first Royal Rumble in just his second ever PPV appearance. We're doing this one watch-along style so we'll give you the timestamp on the WWE Network so you can cue it up and listen as we provide an alternate running commentary for this true throwback. But don't worry - as usual it's just as entertaining even if you can't watch the match along with us. The Undertaker, still flanked by Brother Love at this point, makes quite the impact as he comes in about midway through the match. We'll discuss this earliest incarnation of his character, what defining traits were already shining through, and a rivalry that begins in this match that would last over 25 years! Plus we'll riff on the likes of Hulk Hogan, The Nasty Boys, The Bushwhackers, Saba Simba, Shane McMahon, Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, Texas Tornado, Haku, Tugboat, and more! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy!
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
 

105 - Survivor Series 2004

Roses are red, violets are blue, we suffered through Heidenreich, and we did it for you! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they cover The Dead Man's battle with the poet laureate of the WWE at Survivor Series 2004. We turned over a new leaf with JBL last week - could we possibly find something to like about Heidenreich this week? (Spoiler: nope.) We'll cover Taker's match with this very green giant and all the silly build including poetry smackdowns, fan beatdowns, mental breakdowns, Paul Heyman trying his best, Heidenreich's lack of street clothes and preference for straightjackets, the new season of Tough Enough, the WWE Fantasy game, Carlito's debut, diva arm wrestling, a mysterious contract signing, Snitsky and Heidenreich's meet-cute, and so much more. Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy!
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match! 
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

104 - No Mercy 2004

Did we...did we just become JBL fans?! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV match as they let The Dead Man and JBL borrow their time-traveling hearse for their Last Ride Match at No Mercy 2004. As we review the buildup the match, we wrestle with the fact that the man that drove us away from Smackdown back in the day might be our new favorite wrestler. What is happening?! One guy we're definitely not becoming fans of though is Heidenreich, and we'll also discuss his disturbing introduction to the WWE and his disappointing tie-in to a shockingly great match. Plus we're also talking JBL's hilarious halo, Orlando Jordan as WWE Champion for a night, Teddy Long's tears, more bizarre analogies from Tazz, more forgettable Smackdown theme songs, a shocking Symbolization, a Bronco joyride, and most importantly the epic returns of Gangrel and Viscera - a.k.a. JBL's Middle Aged Ministry! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy! 
 
Check out our Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match! 
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

103 - SummerSlam 2004

JBL tries to give The Undertaker - and us - the Summertime Blues on this week's Talking Taker! Join wrestling superfans Alex Doriot and Travis White on their journey through every Undertaker PPV as they cover this clash between the King Of Gong Style and the Wolf Of Wall Street at SummerSlam 2004 for the WWE Championship. We both hated JBL back in the day - so much so that we quit watching Smackdown. Could 15 years of perspective finally help us turn the corner and actually start appreciating his heel work? Or will we end up like the Toronto crowd and just start doing the wave to entertain ourselves during this one? Before we get to the match we'll also talk Taker's reasoning for murdering his mentor, Paul Heyman's award-worthy apology, the looming debut of Heidenreich, The UnderToddler, Shannon Moore, Orlando Jordan, and the debut of one of Undertaker's biggest fans - General Manager Theodore Long! 
Plus, make sure you stick around to the very end of the show for a very special musical performance you don't want to miss. Trust us - it's gonna be the song of the summer! Download, enjoy, and Taker Easy!
 
Check out our brand new Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music featured across our episodes throughout the years and see if you can remember which songs went with each match! 
Pick up the BRAND NEW King Of *GONG* Style shirt & merch at TeePublic to help support the show!
Join our Creature Community by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!