If pirates from 500 years ago heard professional wrestlers from the 1980s talking about how tough their lives are they'd laugh their asses off too. It's all perspective.
What are the wrestlers supposed to do??? 75% of them dont even get the chance to be on live TV... Even if they stepped up for themselves they'd just lose their job so whats the point? To call them soft over something that they have no control over is petty at the least i could give a fuck what "era" were in.... their in the business already so that alone doesn't make them "soft" and a lot of them have some serious skills that they cant even express or show because the creative team doesnt fucking let them.... so please before you just take his side because you're a fangirl use your fucking brain in a more complex way
Anytime Undertaker dares give his honest opinion on the product, the Internet cries and whines without thinking about his perspective. He came from a different era and Flair explains it best here.
@Versatile Wolf NWO Watch Brody, Race, or Hansen then tell me who is soft. Flair has wrestled more big names than anybody in history. Let todays guys go an hour with Harley 4 nights a week or work with Brody or Hansen in Japan.
@Kevin Green Showing your ignorance there. Newsflash politics and sports has always gone hand in hand. Also, you wanted a guy to just shut up about police brutality, which is a thing that effects black people and 80% of the NFL is black? Maybe try actually listening and looking up history, I'm serious, you'd be surprised.
Undertaker opinion comes from a guy who wrestled with crushed ribs and put on a flak jacket. A guy who wrestled with his half his face crushed. These guys today are not that dedicated. The sport itself has become a much softer product. That’s just truth.
Hes blaming the wrestlers though which is bullshit... in no ones fault but Vinces, but Taker doesnt have the balls to speak up... just takes his side. 👋
@@kingzshallrize6756 I mean...none of today's wrestlers could do what he did with all of those injuries and none of them can cut a promo too save there ass.
I would also say that your position on the card is very different, if let's say Triple H had an injury, yeah he may be able to continue the match but if some lower on the card, let's say Sami or Austin Theory had a similar injury I would say the people in the back would stop the match
Taker didn't piss his money away (well, outside of his well known love of strip clubs) but I understand he went heavy into property and could have retired whenever he wanted but always felt he had to come back if Vince needed him.
The Hall of Fame exists in every pro wrestling fans heart. We'll never forget you Ric and all those who came before you and all those who came after you!
The fact is today's society get butt hurt to the nth degree if you cough to close to them. Opinions are no longer accepted, your just supposed to get in line and do what your told, not question anything. Also the lost art of losing, nobody looked better at losing than taker and he always made mediocre heels look like monsters
I think what frustrates guys like undertaker the most is they literally Invested 24 hours a day, on the road, training, traveling, wrestling, and you hear alot from guys especially ones leaving WWE whining about Vince. When the new talents STOP blaming Vince and STOP WHINING, and push the limits, like austin and rock and DX AND NWO.
Hes definetly not wrong, society in general has gotten soft. Now you can't say anything without offending a group or a label or a belief. It's reflected in everything these days.
Old old men for decades have been calling youngsters soft and it transcends into every occupation..Undertaker is just being a jealous prune balls in adult diapers
Taker is right and it isnt anybody's fault, just how the world evolved over the past couple decades. Violence is looked down upon in today's society, so if any wrestlers have beef now, they talk smack over Twitter. 30 years ago you would have Meng biting people's noses off without any repercussion, but today you're not even allowed to hurt anybody's feelings or the world will cancel you.
@@BrandonHeat243 Yeah lol, but that was a cowardly bitch slap though, not an old fashion brawl. Chris hurt Jada's feelings first, so the violence is "warranted" apparently....I think most people are on Chris Rock's side though, the man did nothing wrong other than a lukewarm joke. Comedians will no longer exist if this generation of crybabies keep getting offended over every little thing.
@@SkullTaker You and I might like to think most people support Chris but that's not what the polls say. The polls are generally split 50/50. Meaning half this country sides with Will. *Half.* And yeah, comedians no longer existing seems to be the endgame for a lot of people.
Undertaker is lighting a fire for the younger generation. It's reverse psychology. Every generation is a little softer than the men that paved the way for that generation. Just the way it is. Not a bad thing. It makes me appreciate how we got it now.
I'm out of the loop since I haven't watched since 05. But the business model seemed built on pushing envelopes. After ruthless aggression, there's only so many Rocks, Cenas, and Kurts. You needed guys like HHH, Kane, Taker, JBL, Batista, and Edge. Them dudes were absolute savages on screen.
Wrestlers are soft and at least the wrestlers from back in the day were able to sell their performance and promos better, they performed and act better.. it was believable... just like basketball players now,they're soft as well....
I am usually just entertained by Ric, but in this video, he actually offers truly smart and insightful comments. If you are reading the comments Mark Madden, more of this!
Ric knows Undertaker is right! The business was hectic & seriously hectic back then. Ric knows he had stadiums turn on them back in the day & had to fight to get outta the ring from the crowd. All the way to locker rooms or even their cars. Crowds thought it was all real so would try attack wrestlers even stabbings etc. Wrestlers were tuff bustards back then!
I happen to know a old skool wrastler and he was once telling me one of his ol tales and said in one match he was doing in Canada where he was the heel, and the match had to go off script when a fan/junkie jumped up on the apron and tried to stab him with a used syringe, he couldn’t see because the fan jumped up on the apron behind him, but the guy who was playing face he was working with spotted what was going down and ran at him tackling him into the fan knocking him off the apron, he then told my mate to run back stage and the face chased him, trying to keep in Kayfabe, once though the curtain they jumped strait in the car and bolted the venue as the crowd had begun to riot
@Micro he was comparing when he started to now. He's not wrong. Guarantee days off compare to back in the day where you worked twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday. It's just the facts
RIC, hello from Kansas is there anyway to obtain an autograph photo of you? it's been a dream besides meeting you! :) WOOOOOOOO my all time favorite of your acting is when you become partners with Vince! lol his facial expression when you were announcing that and dancing.
This is a fascinating insight . Thank you Ric , you’re a true legend . Subscribed and so happy you have made a channel , huge love and respect from England . 🏴
I think its also the Roster in which Undertaker came up & mentioned (ya had all these rough guys around in the lockeroom Rick Rude Ultimate warrior Hercules Bret jim the anvil Diesel Macho man Mr perfect earthquake jake the snake demolition powers of pain on & on) still if you compare the lockerroom with then & now ...
The wrestlers today definitely aren't soft, they're in better shape, are more athletic and tougher than in the past. Sure the old school guys put up with a lot of shit, but they also did it with the help of drugs and alcohol which doesn't make you tough.
80's/90's had guys like the Steiner Brothers, Powers Of Pain and Haku. Today you have the New Day, Young Bucks, Miz. Note the stark difference between the two.
@@sgzartan today we have Brock Lesnar, Adam Scherr, Wardlow, Ronda all pretty tough badass people. And unlike the Steiners and Powers of Pain, the guys today aren't on steroids
@@williammccollom6847 Lesnar had gyno, got caught with steroids in OVW and failed his last drug test in the UFC. I've heard first hand accounts from people under contract of how the company has a doctor that prescribes testosterone. They're aren't as many mass monsters today as compared to decades past but there are still guys in the business that are on the stuff. You think Jinder Mahal got jacked with acne in a short amount of time from a keto diet? Or Brian Cage going from 215 - 285 shredded in a few years? Wake up.
You must be smoking drugs if you think today's beta male wrestlers are tougher than the past. Many male wrestlers today seem to lack more testosterone rather than estrogen due to how insensitive they get.
These guys today could not have done what his generation did. I bounced in bars and clubs in Tampa in the 80s. I've been body pressed by Hawk in the middle of the dance floor. The boys from that time were built different!
It’s a Billion Dollar business right now with responsibilities to shareholders, sponsors, etc. You cannot compare things now to things back then-everything now is managed right to the letter. There’s like 20 writers. Every second is planned. So u can’t go off script. Totally different business now.
It's not so much that today's wrestlers are soft, I think taker gets pissed that today's wrestlers don't listen to his generation, they laid the ground work that has allowed today's wrestlers to have a much easier path to the big leagues. Today's wrestlers don't have to put in the life on the road in the same way guys did 25 years ago. It's just different and it has made the business softer in general. Vince don't push the limits anymore either, vince has gotten softer, therefore it trickles down from there.
Hes not the most respected wrestler ever for no reason, when he talks they should listen, he's never done anything to hurt the business, he's actually been the most protective of it
@@stevecrawford5619 taker been in the business for so many years all these wrestlers today they should take his advices and should stop getting offended by his comments and crying on internet
"allowed today's wrestlers to have a much easier path to the big leagues" Before the PG era, sure. Since it started, it's harder than ever to make it to the top, because no good deed goes unpunished.
@@goodday2760 today's wrestling it all about athleticism and gymnastics they need to learn how to build a character for themselves and learn how to cut promos cus my god most wrestlers nowadays sounds the same and look the same yeah I agree it's so hard to get over nowadays
I dunno man, have you seen a Danielson match lately? They aren't all soft. Flair's worked punches and moves were much less impactful than some of these guys kicks and forearm shivers. The Japanese generally beat the hell out of each other as well.
Most, I agree but there are at least 5-10 others that aren't. If hard hitters are what you enjoy don't deprive yourself of the ones that do actually exist :).
No possible comparison TBH since people just didn't had to go through those hardships...people can't just use that to discredit today's people in general My parents always tell me I never starved or needed to fight for my food and yeah I never did that doesn't make anybody softer or tougher than someone else since we didn't go through the same problems
Could be a positive really. A lot of the things that come with being "hard" arent really good. Just thinking about all that shit that happened to people because of it.
Who else in the business could top his experience and what’s he’s accomplished outside of a few wrestlers. What he says will have an impact. He was in the game for sooooo long at a high level too.
I agree with undertaker just from all the story's I have heard from different wrestlers on RU-vid the life style is tottaly different drugs, booze, partying hence why so many wrestlers died so long but they made the business what it is today I noticed how vince is with all the older wrestlers compared to the younger ones I thibk he respects them more
I think it requires context, All the wrestlers past and present put their bodies through hell and the travel schedule is insane, I couldn't do half of what they do so I couldn't criticize their work ethic
@@simonkeegan5580 You’re Right. I was misremembering. But, then what’s the long interview that Ric Flair had a little while ago? Who’s show was that on? I could have sworn it was Rogan.
Wrestlers today ARE soft. There is no way Roman, Seth, AJ, etc., could have, gone to the gym for 2 hours, then do an hour long Broadway, then go to the bar and drink 'til 4am, then get up @ 8am, and do it all over again, 300 times a year !! Flair, Blanchard, & Arn were the MASTERS of that !! So could Sullivan, Piper, Dusty, Mark Lewin, Harley, Ray Stevens, on & on. Today's guys would be DEAD in a month !!!!!!
@@michaelking2582 i mean... He's not wrong, if your definition of tough is drinking your arse off 24/7 there's definitely something wrong with you. I agree that wrestlers back then was definitely tougher simply because of the much rougher environment, but drinking has nothing to do with being tough.
@@thecutter199 Oh my God !!!!!!!!!! I am so fucking sick of petty little bitches splitting fucking hairs !! OK. Let me try it another way so every fucking person under 35 can walk away from this feeling good about themselves with a "participation fucking trophy" !!! Back in the day, they wrestled 300-350 days a year. On Tubi they have a documentary about that very thing, entitled, "350 Days". Today, they might go 150. Today they get off work and play video games. It took Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, 20 years to win the World and WWE belts respectively. Today, the average career is 7, maybe 8 or 9 years @ 150, not 20 at 350. Most matches don't go past 20 minutes, certainly not a 60 "Broadway" or "Dusty finish". Go tell Ron Simmons, Haku, or one of those guys that Kevin Owens or Roman Reigns is tougher than Jericho or Lesnar, not in an "Elimination Chamber flying rotating Death Match", but outside the arena at the end of the night !! That is just some of it. Now drinking wasn't involved. Does everyone feel morally superior now ? Do we all feel chest thumping better about ourselves ? Jesus. You fucking people have never done dick in life, but want to scream what a wonderful, fulfilling generation y'all are !! Hopefully I have articulated (broke it down) it more sufficiently for everyone !!
I think the Hall of Fame is a great honor but the problem is they leave out guys like Rick Martel but then have Coco b. Ware in there. Not a knock-on Coco but he never really won any significant matches versus Rick Martel if I'm not mistaken was the AWA heavyweight champion and he was the Intercontinental Champion in the WWF.
Seen Ric Flair at the Toronto airport a few years ago. If it wasn't the homeland security lineup I would've gave a WOOOO. So here it is WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Older guys always say that shit about the new generation. But let’s keep it a buck, in the 90s marquee guys were snorting coke and doing weird shit in the locker room. The ppl mark was cool with were known for it. I don’t see how you could say ppl soft for playing ps5 instead of that
Shut the hell up. Computer Games are designed to take the men out of the warzone and occupy them while the illuminati plot the demise of America. Have a look bitch. You got men racing against women and trying to be them while your eyes are glued a war is going on . A REAL COLD ONE.
That's the problem... Many wrestlers today are refusing to improve on their mic skills and instead, they are too focused on their video games. They ought to leave the gaming at home and get into shape for work related purposes.
@@GalinaDub07 but that has nothing to do with wrestlers being “soft”. Marks peers were snorting all types of coke and doing all types of drugs and some of their mic skills also sucked. Instead of working on that, they just did drugs. Will they be tougher if they hop on that type of shit?
Every generation even outside of wrestling has a take like this when the new generation comes up. If you ask our grandparents if our generation is soft they would probably agree. I don’t necessarily think they mean it as a sign of disrespect or to make fun of us I think that they realize and I think we also need to realize we all grow up in different times our parents generation was different from our generation our parents parents generation grew up much differently than our generation and so forth and to be completely honest with you when comparing our time to the time of people before us we do have it a lot easier. Now does that mean we’re soft not necessarily and I think taker could’ve found a better word but I definitely think overall we’re a lot more privileged and blessed now in whatever circumstances whether that be social life or to go back to the topic as in being wrestlers that we don’t have to experience some of the agonizing things the ones before us did.
Real talk , if you take a look at the younger generation of men they look like girls . They look and act effeminate . I'm glad I was part of the 80's and 90's growing up 👍
Alright here it is, it's hard to swallow but you know why people are soft now? Because there are less number of assholes there. I'm glad people aren't making others miserable and then being praised and called badasses for it.
Pretty sure Greg Gagne revealed that they never had to jump off a hayloft - that was a rib that they told Ric to scare him… they only revealed at the end that he didn’t have to do it! Lol… the one time Greg Gagne was more honest than somebody else….
Is he wrong though? Coming from the era they come from the shit they complain about now would of been laughable to these guys who dealt with way worse. The world has become full of snowflakes
Pretty sure Taker didn't intend to disrespect anyone, he just gave his honest opinion. He came from an era where guys were literally performing every day and driving thousands of miles to make very little money, so of course he's going to have a different perspective.
They prove the point when they cry about it, there's maybe a few guys who are believable and that's like drew McIntyre, Roman, and Brock, and they're vets. Alot of them are great physically but mentally there's alot of issues
Anyone else watch this can see why Ric chose not to keep Mark on the show... They just weren't clicking for whatever reason. Mark seemed to want to ask the "HARD HITTING" questions about WWE and well Conrad is well known to be WWE friendly. Sadly for Ric I don't see WWE ever hiring him again really unless it was some backstage stuff, even then they just fired a TON of staff. I see why he kind protects WWE; they hold his legacy on tape. However this seems to be a good choice but I'm not that into Conrad either.......
That sux imagine working that hard for decades & all his ex wife's have all his money & even worse have his robes & wrestling attire & belts etc. That must really hurt him & sux. The wrestling stuff can't be replaced like money! And you know they did it our of spite to hurt him as they know what that stuff means to him, plus they know it's valuable!
Yeah his name is Rex Steiner & he is good he is in NXT he is Ricks son, in WWE the bad creative have given him the name Bron Breakker yes with two k's really stupid, go check him out now though good talent!
They could not do what old school did for how much they did it for. Todays Wrestlers want a title shot after a few wins but we all know that what brings the money is who gets the title shot *Ahem Goldberg.
I personally believe what is killing pro wrestling today is the sjw wrestling fan. They're literally like 2% of the American population and movie companies and pro wrestling companies try to cater to them. They're easily offended virgin basement dwellers. The reason pro wrestling was so successful in the attitude era was it had a little bit of everything. It had great characters, compelling storylines and yes sexy women. A lot of today's virgin wrestling fans don't understand, yes most men like sexy women. I was a teenager during the attitude era most people who watched didn't even like wrestling. They watched for the sexy women. At least most people I knew. So the virgin basement dwellers like the violins, they like the blood and the cursing. But for some reason they get offended when a woman is not wearing much.
Hes right ...taker i mean....look at aew...cm punk still crying about being let go by wwe...i never saw guys back in days with exception of bret hart whine so much about being cut ect...jeff jarrett was fired live wendy ritcher was screwed before bret it was business to those ppl...nowdays is traumatic to guys when they get cut
Nobody's soft? I'm sorry Rick but wrestlers shaking their butts (New Day🤦🏾) and not taking bumps is considered soft. Rick you know this better than anyone.
The guys today are in better shape, better athletes. They don't party like rock stars and do a ton of drugs, alcohol, and get mad when they can't get away with using their status as famous celebrities to sexually harass and assault women. It's rich hearing Taker and Flair talk about the old days. Flair and Taker weren't doing the same bumps the guys do today, and that's why Flair could go everyday with his safe style where the only bump he took was being throw from the top turnbuckle. Yes he had great matches with Steamboat and others, but he wasn't doing that same match day in and day out. All of their peers are unfortunately dead from years of rampant steroid abuse, drug abuse, and alcohol. Taker at times sounds more like the MAGA guy who thinks the country was better when women just stayed in the kitchen to cook and clean.
Taker is right but to be fair the state of the business is Taker's generations fault. They raised the stakes too high and it never will again. Also, they did a poor job bringing up this gen of wrestlers. The final blame comes to older gen for raising them to be entitled.
@@dickdastardly107 he is already a legend and has a good following of supporters. No one cares if he has less followers on youtube. Learn to live in real life and not just online
Yep thats right. I would even say society is soft when it comes to the current Generation. Hard times create strong men. Strong men create easy times. Easy times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.
I agree with Ric. It is simply a different time. Why criticize the new generation for being soft? Roman Reigns soft? Brock Lesnar soft? I kinda get it, the "average?" wrestler is no where near as tough, but they are not soft.
