By: Brian Ethier
Published in: The Wrestler Magazine August 4, 1995
The Undertaker defeats Unibomb -aka Dr. Isaac Yankem- on a Smoky Mountain card in Tennessee. Another ho-hum victory for the Undertaker? Hardly-it may have been his most important win in years!
IF YOU LOOK closely, you might notice that there is uncharacteristically rosy flush to The Undertaker’s cheeks these days, a shimmer to his freshly polished teeth, a slight hop and a skip to his gait.
Yes, this is indeed a new Undertaker you’ve been watching in the last few months. He may claim to be half-dead, but never has this gentle giant zombie been more alive.
The man from the dark side has a new lease on life and a bright future in wrestling, thanks to a recent rendezvous with (of all people!) a dentist. The Undertakers actually smiles more these days, not because he is still woozy from the effects of nitrous oxide, not because he can lick his incisors without getting nauseated, but because he experienced an incredible spiritual awakening back in August. And for that he can give thanks to a member of the Faux Pas Dental Association, one Dr. Isaac Yankem.
The two met in the squared circle as adversaries on a special card promoted under the banner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. It was a match that children with cavities never will forget.
Wrestling under his former moniker, Unibomb, Yankem gave the Undertaker a fight the casket-dweller will always remember. And for the 4, 600 or so ecstatic fans who witnessed the match in Knoxville, Tennessee, it was an evening that proved one very important point: Dentists can be your friends!
From the outset of the breathtaking match, the moribund one and his tenacious tooth pulling opponent fought toe-to-toe, gums-to-gums. There was no stalling in this fight, no plotting, and no taunting. And maybe for the first time since he and Yokozuna competed in some of wrestling’s most shocking casket matches, The Undertaker actually looked to be at his very best.
Normally painfully slow a foot, The Undertaker moved with the flash and grace of a dancer. With Paul Bearer doing a ringside tango, the Undertaker unleashed every wrestling move and hold in his repertoire en route to the stunning victory.
“That’s the best I ever saw him,” said Robert Tanner, a 15-year-old fan who witnessed the match from the third row in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
It wasn’t just that The Undertaker won the match over his powerful foe, it was how he won that impressed his wan-faced, sunken eyed boss.
“I have to tell you, I haven’t been this excited since we first got the urn,” Paul Bearer said after the match. “The Undertaker had been given new life thanks to this outstanding opponent and this match. For the last year, he has been depressed in the ring. His sole purpose in life has been to exact revenge upon Kama and The Million-Dollar Corporation for pilfering the urn of life. But where has it gotten him?”
Without question, a rejuvenated Undertaker is now a legitimate contender for the WWF World title again. He has always had the power and technical savvy to be a consistent winner, but it’s been his attitude that has always stunted his growth in the WWF.
“You can’t expect someone to give motivational speeches when he’s supposedly died two or three times already,” said Jim Cornette. “I never figured out what makes that guy tick!”
But ticking again is what he’s doing. In fact look for Bearer to arrange future matches against, Dr. Yankem, perhaps en route to a title bout with Diesel. The next thing you know, The Undertaker will be giving motivational speeches to youngsters concerning the benefits of consistent dental hygiene.
Okay, so maybe that is unlikely, but Dr. Yankem did (probably un-wittingly) teach The Undertaker a lot. Even early on in the match, after Undertaker’s usual eerie ring entrance, he didn’t back down from the ghoulish one. He wasn’t intimidated by his lifeless stare. Yankem forced Undertaker to keep moving in the match. He challenged his endurance. Because the two had never wrestled before, Undertaker wasn’t sure what to expect from his opponent and had to keep thinking several moves ahead. He discovered he liked being challenged.
Without question, Undertaker now considers Yankem a worthy adversary with a challenging style. Like “Psycho” Sid Vicious, Yankem is a straight-ahead power wrestler, relying primarily on brute strength to overwhelm his opponent. Unlike Sid, however, Yankem at 6’7” and 345 pounds, is quick and mobile for a big man. Moreover, he is reported to be working on a few finesse moves and submission holds. And wrestling Bret Hart several times-which Yankem has already done-can only make a man a better wrestler. Look for Dr. Yankem to continue to improve.
“We hope Dr. Yankem comes up with some new moves, because this will further challenge The Undertaker,” said Bearer. “He could one day be another Diesel. So each time my Undertaker fights Dr. Yankem, he is actually training for the ultimate championship match-against ‘Big Daddy Cool.’”
Thus for The Undertaker, the pathway to another WWF World title, for so long littered with pitfalls and stumbling blocks, now appears to be clear, free, and negotiable. Dr. Isaac Yankem saw that when he stepped into the ring with him this summer. He rejuvenated The Undertaker.
Labels: Undertaker, Unibomb, Yankem
