Smackdown Stories: Teddy Long's Undertaker Issues

One thing most wrestling fans and WWE personnel should be well aware of by now: you don't screw with the Deadman. If you do, all hell is likely to break loose. Unfortunately, Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long decided to tamper with that rule and has now payed the price.

The WWE Universe was finally given Long's explanation this past Friday on Smackdown as to why he doublecrossed Undertaker at Breaking Point. Vince McMahon caught up with the GM who has been on probation backstage, commending him on the recent surprises including Breaking Point's outcome, and then his bringing Batista to Smackdown. Vince told Long he needed to go out and explain to everyone why he doublecrossed Undertaker though. Before Long spoke, the referee involved in the Breaking Point screw job, Scott Armstrong, provided his interview to Josh Matthews. Armstrong claimed he knew the outcome before the bell even sounded and did what he did to keep his job, since he has a family to support. While Armstrong said he wasn't proud of his actions, he said he really had no choice. The outcome was of course Armstrong calling for the bell as soon as CM Punk put his Anaconda Vice on Undertaker. The match was ruled in favor of Punk despite Taker never tapping, and the World Heavyweight Title was preserved.

Long's explanation probably didn't appease the WWE fans or Undertaker from the looks and sounds of things though. The Smackdown GM, flanked by a crew of security personnel, got in the ring to explain he did what he did for the same reasons as the referee, because he has a family to support and a job to keep. Basically, Teddy was citing work pressure to do something big, or he'd get fired by the boss, Mr. McMahon. Of course, a doublecross of Undertaker is monumental, and may save your career from Vinnie Mac, but probably isn't the best "life decision". We saw that later as Long got into his limousine, discovered the driver was Undertaker, and then was trapped in the passenger area as smoke started to fill the backseats. Long screamed for help as the limo drove off.

WWE didn't have too many ways to make Undertaker lose the submission match at Breaking Point, and still make him look like the legendary phenom he always has been. The problems are due to Taker's bodily health (he has been said to be hobbled by a hip problem), and the lack of superstars on Smackdown for the title picture. Another possible outcome would be the always popular, ref is distracted, Taker gets knocked out, match is called. Or they could have introduced some third competitor into the match and had Punk beat him by submission. Nonetheless, it is what is, and last thing we saw was Teddy Long being driven away by Undertaker. It's unknown where they went and when we'll see either again. As of now there's now World Heavyweight Title match for Hell in a Cell yet, and that is a match which Undertaker typically excels at. So either he challenges Punk, forces Long to book it, or Batista somehow gets into the title picture instead. A triple threat Hell in a Cell could be rather interesting too with The Animal, Undertaker and Punk all doing battle at once...