The Undertaker's Deadliest Matches DVD (Disc 2) Review

The Undertaker has been in just about every type of match you could imagine. This Deadliest Matches DVD set displays the array of matches he has been in from the many years he has been taking souls.

Match 1: Raw (May 3, 1999) - The Big Show vs. The Undertaker
The first match on the disc comes from a 1999 edition of Raw that saw a quick match between the two giants with The Undertaker doing everything in his power to take down the giant. With the help of the late Paul Bearer, The Undertaker doused his elbow with ether in hopes of putting The Big Show unconscious, good luck seeing that in 2018. However, that tactic failed as The Undertaker then brought out a baseball bat and drilled Show over the head with it and disqualifies himself in the process. Quick match here that sets up for their next bout on this DVD.
Winner: The Big Show
Rating: 3/4*

Match 2: Raw (June 7, 1999) - WWF Championship - The Undertaker (c) vs. The Big Show
The Big Show promised to hit a Chokeslam on The Undertaker as he challenges him for the WWF Championship in the main event. Big Show attacks Undertaker early on as the fight spills to the outside. Pretty bland match until the finish came where Big Show hit a huge Chokeslam on Undertaker through the ring in a famous moment for Monday Night Raw. The referee calls for the bell soon after as The Acolytes run out and get handed Chokeslams for their worries. Kind of strange to fit these last two matches on the DVD. Guess they just wanted a platform to show this match for those who have never seen it.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *3/4

Match 3: Great American Bash 2004 - Concrete Crypt - The Dudley Boyz vs. The Undertaker
This is perhaps one of the oddest matches to have ever taken place in the WWE... and that is certainly saying a lot. The story behind this one is just as bizarre with Paul Heyman taking the urn from Paul Bearer and forcing The Undertaker to choose sides in either siding with Heyman and The Dudley Boyz or remaining loyal to Paul Bearer. Get it? No? Neither did I. For those who do not know, Heyman was going to drown Bearer in concrete if The Undertaker did not want to abide by Heyman's demands. Undertaker was coming off his hot return at WrestleMania XX but was unfortunately stuck with this silly story. Another story the company could not get away with in 2018. Pretty good match here with Undertaker struggling to fight out the best tag team in the world while having to deal with Heyman drowning Paul Bearer in concrete. However, Undertaker is able to fight them off and scare away Heyman afterwards. Paul Bearer is screaming in joy but instead, screams in horror as The Undertaker then drowns him in concrete himself. Like I said, another bizarre and controversial match at the time but certainly one worthy to look back at and watch for entertainment purposes.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: **3/4

Match 4: Royal Rumble 2005 - Casket - Heidenreich vs. The Undertaker (Taken from WWE Royal Rumble 2005 Review)
Heidenreich hates caskets. And here we are. The Undertaker is his opponent and must put The Undertaker in the casket. I can't believe I'm watching this 11 years later for my review. Regardless, they centered the match around Heidenreich's fear of the damn casket. They had a pretty lackluster match going on and when Undertaker looked to be in complete control, Snitsky came to Heidenreich's aid. However, Kane emerged from the casket and fought Snitsky away. Meanwhile, Heidenreich pushes the casket away with ease. Funny considering the announcers just said the thing must weigh over 500 pounds. Undertaker would later hit a Tombstone and placed Heidenreich away in the casket. Wasn't as bad as I expected but don't get it twisted, I won't be watching this again any time soon.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: *1/4

Match 5: No Mercy 2005 - Casket - Randy Orton and Bob Orton vs. The Undertaker
The two feuded for basically the entirety of 2005 with this match being the big turning point. The Undertaker would take Randy Orton and his father on another ride (pun intended) as they faced off in his famous Casket match. Despite his age, Bob Orton played a crucial role in the match and played his role perfectly. Of course, the meat of the match centered around Randy trying to take down the mighty Undertaker while The Undertaker did his best to fight off both Randy and his pesky father. With the addition of Bob Orton being in the match, he added more suspense to the match by making it more difficult for The Deadman to put both guys in the casket at the same time. Eventually, Bob Orton would help his son lock The Undertaker up in the casket after a distraction led to Randy knocking Undertaker out with a steel chair. Afterwards, they pull the casket up to the front of the stage and set it ablaze. Great match and a great way to set up for a future Hell in a Cell match to wrap up their great feud in 2005. Not sure how the WWE would get away with someone lighting another person on fire in 2018, though.
Winners: Randy Orton and Bob Orton
Rating: ***1/4

Match 6: Armageddon 2005 - Hell in a Cell - Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker
Here it is, the conclusion of a feud that was possibly the best one on SmackDown for 2005. With his father being locked outside, Randy Orton looked to beat The Deadman at his own game. In the beginning, it looked completely bleak for The Legend Killer as The Undertaker beat Orton to a pulp with a few nasty steel chair shots that left Orton dripping blood. Almost forgot how much blood can add to a match. Undertaker was dominating the match and Orton only had a few sprinkles throughout that had him in the leading position. Got to mention the part with Undertaker pulling Bob Orton into the cell from the inside and cutting him open by tossing Randy straight into him. Bob was able to enter the cell after a referee bump and later suffered a Tombstone for his troubles. Loved his participation in the match, never did it feel forced but it still felt necessary to have him inside since he was a focal point during their feud. After, Undertaker delivered one to Randy and won the match to end their lengthy feud. Another great Hell in a Cell match under the belt for The Undertaker. It certainly did have its slow parts and the crowd just was not as hot as they needed to be, but it was certainly a fulfilling end to their great feud. It was as gruesome and intense as it needed to be.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: ****1/2

Match 7: SmackDown (August 18, 2006) - Last Man Standing - The Great Khali vs. The Undertaker
This match was scheduled to be on the Summerslam card that year but plans took a hard left when the company just was not confident enough in The Great Khali's abilities so alas, it was taped on SmackDown. I have not seen this match in years and going into it, I had some mixed expectations. I really had very little recollection of this but thankfully, it exceeded those fairly low expectations. Really, it was just The Undertaker carrying Khali to a match that saw Khali look dominant as The Deadman had to fight him off. Totally different story we have become accustomed to seeing for The Deadman. They used all the smoke and mirrors to hide Khali's abilities and had Daivari do his best to help Khali but ultimately fail. Undertaker landed some nasty chair shots to Khali as blood poured down his face. 'Taker would eventually hit a big Chokeslam as the referee counted out Khali. The Undertaker finally slayed his biggest foe in Khali and had quite the exceptional match doing so. It never dragged and Undertaker really sold the story of being the underdog against the bigger and more dominant Khali. Above anything else, I think it attests to just how great The Undertaker in the ring is.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: ***1/4

Overall DVD Thoughts and Rating:
Going off the star ratings, I should probably give this disc on the DVD set a lower score. However, I think for the most part, the matches fit well and told a great story about The Undertaker's legacy and how he has been able to change and adapt to the changing times within this time frame.
Rating: 7/10