LogFAQs > #919636231

6. Wrestlemania 31: Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt "And Then There Was Darkness"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0VkJmrz6zI" data-time="

There's gotta be something really hard about how to handle storytelling with Taker post-streak. You could use various methods to sell it. Some so desperate to prove they can beat him they'll risk everything. Some using mind games to get him off his game. The point was always "here's how I'll beat the streak."

Now the story is "how does Taker recover from the loss of the streak."

The use of old folk style music is a common occurrence in Taker promos, and using "The Man Comes Around" is a little bit of an odd choice. The more uptempo sound to sell the streak and then using a pretty basic music cutoff for when the streak actually ends. The choir singing Undertaker off is kinda corny, but still enjoyable.

Then Shaman's Harvest comes in and Bray starts tormenting Taker and it becomes brilliant. "Last night I had a real bad dream that you left me" could be interpreted as quite a few things: Wyatt lamenting the loss of the "darkness" in wrestling, the fans lamenting the loss of both the streak and Taker himself (who literally had not appeared since his defeat). "You didn't have a single word to say, you just walked away." I mean, it's literally there in the song.

And god, Bray was (is?) still such a great promo. You can tell he's attacking Taker from so many angles. Mocking him, goading him, practically begging him for this match at WM. Bray doesn't care nor ever did about the streak. He just wanted to destroy Taker. And keep in mind this whole build literally featured, what, 2 lines from Mean Mark? Yet thanks to Bray's promos they were able to pull out all these great lines to build this video and justify the entire Takerless build. Like you really can believe that Bray thinks he will become a god by defeating the Undertaker in a standard wrestling match.

As usual, good production. Mirroring Taker's image to Bray at various points sells the basic idea of "Bray is seeking to replace Taker" and it honestly reminds me of how much better Bray looked with his stringy, unkempt hair than his stupid braided hair. Like that man looked terrifying and unhinged when his hair was in his face.

Also, the lightning striking a chair while Bray laughs maniacally is good, dumb, fun.
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TheRock ~ I had a name, my father called me Blues.