Opinion: Why Shawn Michaels should not face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 35
So yes. The 35th edition of WrestleMania is fast approaching and the rumors about whether the greatest performer in the history of the Show of Shows would be competing this year have already started doing the rounds.
The Undertaker, if rumors are to be believed, has not yet been slated for a match for the 35th installment of WrestleMania, but in all probability, ‘The Phenom’ would compete one final time this year, before bringing the curtains down on his illustrious career.
Without a shadow of a doubt, The Undertaker is the greatest Superstar to ever set foot in WrestleMania. Out of the 34 editions of WrestleMania, he has been a part of 26 of them. This needs to be stated starkly so that the magnitude of the statement sinks in.
Out of those 26 appearances, ‘The Deadman’ has a whopping 24 victories, including an unprecedented run of 21 straight victories- famously referred to as ‘The Streak’. He has given WWE fans memories that will last a lifetime.
Now, the question is, who is the man who would be retiring The Undertaker at WrestleMania this year?
One of the names that have been doing the rounds is that of Mr. WrestleMania- Shawn Michaels. The WWE threw in a big surprise last year when they made Michaels come out of retirement and made him team up with Triple H to take on the Brothers of Destruction at Crown Jewel.
Now, the question is, did the WWE have such a big Superstar like Shawn Michaels return for just one Tag Team match, and that too at Crown Jewel?
Now, there is a good chance that Michaels would be booked as The Undertaker’s opponent at WrestleMania 35, and that is exactly what the WWE must not do.
The question is- What would the WWE achieve by booking Shawn Michaels Vs The Undertaker for a third time at WrestleMania this year?
In fact now, both these icons are well past their prime and are nowhere near their best. A below par performance this year would only tarnish the everlasting memories provided by these two legends at WrestleMania 25 and 26.
The Streak Vs Career match at WrestleMania 26 was a perfect ending to a legendary rivalry. Both these Superstars enthralled and bewitched the WWE Universe at WrestleMania 26 with an ethereal display. The emotions running through, the high octane in-ring action that these two provided a decade ago is etched in the minds of every WWE fan.
Now, a match at WrestleMania 35 would only tarnish their legacies further. And that is precisely the reason why Shawn Michaels should not be booked against The Undertaker for this year’s WrestleMania.
An icon of the stature of The Undertaker certainly deserves a farewell match at WrestleMania 35. This is where the WWE can book someone like Finn Balor, Aleister Black or even AJ Styles as The Undertaker’s opponent.
Now, is it important for us to understand this- irrespective of who retires him at WrestleMania 35, The Undertaker will go down as the greatest performer ever, at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
If someone like Finn Balor faces The Undertaker and gets a chance to retire him, his stature and stock would certainly shoot up. Also, if the WWE can make Finn Balor return in his ‘Demon King’ avatar, it will add the extra spice needed for the bout.
The Undertaker certainly deserves a farewell match at WrestleMania 35, but it should not be Shawn Michaels who should face him.