The end of an era. The end of many wrestling fans’ childhood. Also what may be the end of the career for the greatest wrestling character of all-time.
After 21 straight Wrestlemania victories against some of the greatest men to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots, the Undertaker suffered his first Wrestlemania loss at Wrestlemania XXX to Brock Lesnar.
The loss will not only impact the wrestling world but pop culture in general.
If you walk down the street and ask any common person to name some wrestlers they know about, there is a small list that a majority of people can name including Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, the Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the Undertaker.
Being on such a list can be seen as a badge of honor and leave others to wonder why the Undertaker didn’t want to end his career on a high note?
Other than the fact that it is impossible for the Undertaker to be the same athlete he used to be at this stage in his career, it will be some time before we find out why the Undertaker decided to have the streak end when and how it did.
I am sure that part of the reason is because of his health and some of the changes lately for the Undertaker when it comes to wrestling.
He attended his first WWE Hall of Fame event the previous night to pay tribute to his late friend and long time manager Paul Bearer, who was inducted in the 2014 class.
Also, it may just be that he wanted to give back to the future of the business as he was leaving it.
Am I saying Lesnar is the future of wrestling?
No but it will leave another spot open on the Wrestlemania card going forward and also give someone else a chance to fill the role as a locker general and leader that many have said the Undertaker was for many years.
After the business has given the Undertaker so much and he has given so much to it, I think it was an unselfish move on his part in ending the streak instead of having the streak live on following any sort of retirement.
Much like we had to accept that his career was ending, we have to accept the fact that the streak had to have possibly ended too.
Look at the last several years, Taker was the opponent in the last big match in the careers of both Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair.
Much like those two decided to have their careers ended on the big stage of Wrestlermania, the Undertaker decided to do no different.
Many fans may never understand this completely but to guys like the Undertaker, HBK, and Flair it makes perfect sense.
Now I am sure Lesnar was the man to end the streak for a reason.
Taker has a good relationship with Lesnar and is a guy he was able to trust in the ring especially for the style of match the Undertaker needed to wrestle at this age.
While I do think it may have been a nice feather in the cap for a young star to be made such as Roman Regins or Bray Wyatt, it would also be a shame if that same guy who may have ended the streak as a rising star left the business on a sour note.
An example of this scenario is Chris Benoit, who is no longer mentioned on wrestling shows and moments such as his WWE title win at the 20-year milestone of Wrestlemania seem forgotten, ignored and erased from history.
It’s crazy for me to think back at my time as a wrestling fan and how it started because the Undertaker has always been there.
My earliest memory if not my first experience watching wrestling was a match for the (WWF) title between the Undertaker and Stone Cold on the “In Your House 15 : A Cold Day In Hell” pay per view that was held on May 11, 1997.
I watched the two athletes reverse the Undertaker’s signature Tombstone piledriver three times before he regained control and drove Stone Cold’s head into the mat to secure the victory and retain the title.
It was after that moment I was hooked and have been a fan ever since!
So whether this is the end or not, thank you Undertaker (Mark Calaway) for all the contributions you have made in the wrestling industry.
Sports Minded 