The Last Ride documentary returns this Sunday for its second-to-last episode. The 48-minute fourth installment, “The Battle Within,” is an accurate portrayal of The Undertaker’s desire to retire with his legacy intact, juxtaposed with his refusal to walk away.
The doc opens with an enthralling first five minutes, as we hear insight from Bruce Prichard, an out-of-character Bray Wyatt, and the now deceased Paul Bearer, as well as see some fascinating B-roll of The Undertaker during old-school WWF promos where he was digging graves, blacksmithing and building caskets. The brilliance of his past is contrasted by the abject disappointment of Taker’s trip to Saudi Arabia, where he tagged with Kane against Triple H and the returning Shawn Michaels, a match that served as a harsh reminder that younger opponents were needed in order for The Undertaker to come close to approaching anything great again in the ring.
That never-ending contrast is a driving force in this part of Last Ride. This latest episode also provides a look into the psyche and vulnerability of The Undertaker. He jokingly refers to himself as WWE’s godfather, bestowed endless respect upon arrival. The lucrative pay days, spotlight, and reverence from his peers make it impossible for Mark Calaway to close the casket on his career.
Parts of chapter four were uncomfortable. At WrestleMania 35, Taker looked more like the late Dennis Stamp, endlessly wrestling with the fact he wasn’t booked. Vince McMahon, who has some incredible cameos throughout this episode, had Taker booked for the following night’s Raw, but it was humbling for Calaway to see himself as another aging legend rather than a preeminent part of WrestleMania. The show always goes on, with or without The Undertaker, which only made Calaway’s drive to return even stronger.
It is possible that The Undertaker was not booked at WrestleMania 35 as he served out his penance after accepting a booking at Conrad Thompson’s Starrcast wrestling convention. Fans of the “Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard” podcas
The doc opens with an enthralling first five minutes, as we hear insight from Bruce Prichard, an out-of-character Bray Wyatt, and the now deceased Paul Bearer, as well as see some fascinating B-roll of The Undertaker during old-school WWF promos where he was digging graves, blacksmithing and building caskets. The brilliance of his past is contrasted by the abject disappointment of Taker’s trip to Saudi Arabia, where he tagged with Kane against Triple H and the returning Shawn Michaels, a match that served as a harsh reminder that younger opponents were needed in order for The Undertaker to come close to approaching anything great again in the ring.
That never-ending contrast is a driving force in this part of Last Ride. This latest episode also provides a look into the psyche and vulnerability of The Undertaker. He jokingly refers to himself as WWE’s godfather, bestowed endless respect upon arrival. The lucrative pay days, spotlight, and reverence from his peers make it impossible for Mark Calaway to close the casket on his career.
Parts of chapter four were uncomfortable. At WrestleMania 35, Taker looked more like the late Dennis Stamp, endlessly wrestling with the fact he wasn’t booked. Vince McMahon, who has some incredible cameos throughout this episode, had Taker booked for the following night’s Raw, but it was humbling for Calaway to see himself as another aging legend rather than a preeminent part of WrestleMania. The show always goes on, with or without The Undertaker, which only made Calaway’s drive to return even stronger.
It is possible that The Undertaker was not booked at WrestleMania 35 as he served out his penance after accepting a booking at Conrad Thompson’s Starrcast wrestling convention. Fans of the “Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard” podcas
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