The Undertaker: The End of an Era
The Undertaker is one of the greatest Superstars to ever grace a WWE ring.
In a career that has spanned three decades, he has worked with the best of the best from Hulk Hogan to John Cena and he has beaten them all. At WrestleMania 33, The Deadman will face Roman Reigns in a battle to determine who the big dog that runs the yard is.
A popular theory going into ‘The Ultimate Thrill Ride’, is that this match will signal the end of The Undertaker in the squared circle.
If he does retire, the WWE will be losing a great in-ring performer and a fantastic WrestleMania draw. Undertaker has had many 5-star matches with several performers over the years but it his WrestleMania streak that will live in infamy.
No male or female Superstar will ever come close to beating that record and no-one will ever come close to matching that record either.
The Undertaker is currently 23-1 at WrestleMania, having lost to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX. A lot of fans argued that this should not have been done, but I don’t think Undertaker was ever going to go unbeaten at the Grandest Stage of them all.
Also read: WWE WrestleMania 33: 5 potential shocks that can happen in the Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns match
This mark on his record at WrestleMania is just further proof of how loyal The Undertaker is to the WWE.
He is open to any ideas Vince McMahon presents to him and it was reported that the loss was a last minute decision by the CEO. Many Superstars of the past would have been much more protective over their achievements and probably would have come to blows backstage over the decision.
The Undertaker knows that he was presented with arguably the best gimmick there has ever been in the WWE, so he seems happy to do what the company asks of him. By changing the nuances of his character, he made The Undertaker feel fresh year after year, whether that was with new attire, new music or even a new hairstyle.
During the latter stages of the Attitude Era, The Undertaker ditched his dark ways and took on the gimmick of a Bad-Ass biker.
Though I wasn’t personally invested in the character, the WWE Universe lapped it up because it was relatable. It was during this period that he helped propel Brock Lesnar to the heights that Lesnar eventually reached. Undertaker would eventually return to the gothic attire at WrestleMania XX and has kept it ever since.
He has been in storylines both good and bad, but he has worked them all to the best of his ability.
It is no secret that he is well respected backstage and is a locker room leader. Many stories over the years have seen The Undertaker being the guy to sort disputes, hand out advice and set an example not only for the up and coming wrestlers but also the veterans that might not have the best attitude.
He has pushed the WWE to many new levels. His reputation in Hell in a Cell is unrivalled, having been in the inaugural match and throwing multiple Superstars off the top of the structure over the years.
Casket matches, Inferno matches and Buried Alive matches are just some of the contests that never really should have been over with the crowd but were, because of the charisma of The Undertaker.
He has been allowed a very light schedule over the past few years, having just a few appearances a year.
Despite this, should he retire, it would be a great loss to the company, there is no doubt that part of the excitement of WrestleMania is watching The Undertaker make his long entrance and condemn another victim to another grave.
Without this expected match, the card loses a big draw and if no-one can fill the void, the whole event suffers.
Furthermore, anyone who faces The Undertaker at WrestleMania gains a big boost to their career whether they win or lose. I can’t remember half of the cards from the last few years, but I could tell you who The Undertaker faced on every single one.
It doesn’t matter who he fights at WrestleMania, it’s always guaranteed to be an amazing match. I don’t think anyone will ever forget The Undertaker’s matches with Shawn Michaels, nor his epic battles with Triple H at the Showcase of the Immortals.
And The Undertaker truly is immortalised in the company. I think even after he retires from in-ring competition, he could still be a driving force in WWE.
The odd appearance would really boost ratings and create some memorable segments on Raw or at certain pay-per-views. However, I do believe that losing him as an in-ring competitor following this year’s event, would be a massive loss.
If The Undertaker retires this year, we would be losing a big part of the WrestleMania showcase as mentioned above, but it’s important that we recognise all the memorable moments The Undertaker has given us in an almost 30-year career. It truly would be the End of an Era and I would be very sad to see him hang up his boots.
One thing is for sure, I will be cherishing the match The Undertaker has on Sunday, knowing that it could well be his last due to impending hip surgery.
I think he will put on a clinic with the Big Dog Roman Reigns and it will certainly be a match that will be remembered, along with all of the other outings The Undertaker has had at WrestleMania.
He has put his body on the line, sacrificed his personal life and has entertained us from start to finish. I hope he does not retire on Sunday, but if he does, then I have one message.
Thank you Undertaker, from the bottom of my heart, for all you have given us over the years.
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