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Article from WrestlingInc.


The Undertaker’s legendary streak should end on April 7, 2013.

Blasphemy? In the eyes of many, yes. But since when has WWE shied away from blasphemy, especially if it will inflate viewership and revenues?

Amid all the lore and tradition that surrounds WWE’s flagship event, perhaps nothing is considered more sacred and unassailable than the Undertaker’s annual victory. And maybe that’s the perfect reason to shatter the tradition.

A streak-ending loss for the Undertaker would be a game-changer, and would catapult his opponent to an unprecedented position in wrestling history.

Plenty of fans would be upset – some might feel disillusioned or even betrayed. The social media chatter and debate would reverberate for weeks.

In short, it would be great for business.

Properly written and promoted, the lead-up to the Undertaker’s match at WrestleMania 29 – and the fall-out that would follow his loss – could make for some of the most compelling TV WWE has produced in years.

There are plenty of reasons for WWE to seriously consider putting an end to the streak this April:

1. The Undertaker needs to retire eventually. In most cases, a retiring wrestler is expected to “do the honors” by going out on his back. The lore of the Undertaker’s streak complicates this noble notion, but doesn’t necessarily prohibit it. The key is for the Undertaker to lose the match without “losing face,” and there are ways to make that happen.

2. WWE needs to think of the future, not necessarily maintain a beloved tradition. The company stands to benefit more from a young star attaining an unprecedented victory than from continuing the streak.

3. It’s a fact of life that heroes sometimes lose. Sports fans don’t abandon their beloved team after a big loss, or even a pathetic season. A loss at WrestleMania will not diminish fans’ respect for everything the Undertaker has done in WWE. Ric Flair got superkicked into “retirement” with tears in his eyes, and fans showed him more love afterwards than perhaps ever before.

4. Undertaker will still have an unparalleled 20-match “streak” at WrestleMania, even if the tally becomes 20-1 this year. Nothing can diminish the enormity of what he has already achieved.

5. One more win at WrestleMania – or even three or four more – wouldn’t contribute any significant value to the streak. After the 20-0 milestone, more victories will offer diminishing returns (unless he makes it to 30, which isn’t likely).

Ending the Undertaker’s streak would surely require some clever planning by WWE, since it is too big an opportunity to squander. And it would require the perfect opponent.

There’s the tricky part. Who should break the streak?

Only a handful of candidates qualify, and fewer seem currently poised to achieve such an important milestone. Then again, the big event is still months away, and WWE has a track record of building great stories when it truly matters.

A few candidates:

1. John Cena
Despite being essentially indestructible for years, WWE’s golden goose has been directionless and saddled with cheesy soap opera theatrics lately. A victory against the Undertaker at WrestleMania would be the perfect opportunity for Cena’s long-awaited heel turn. Fans would surely make signs reading “If Cena Wins, We Riot.” In this case, they’d probably follow through on the threat.

2. The Rock
Although he’s one of the few men with the star power and in-ring abilities to be a convincing threat to the streak, he’s also unlikely to hang around WWE after WrestleMania. So ending the streak would not serve the purpose of elevating a WWE roster mainstay.

3. CM Punk
The man who feels chronically disrespected gets a shot at the most respected man (and arguably the most respected milestone) in WWE? Now that’s a storyline. Is Punk considered a viable contender? Probably not, and that’s what makes the notion compelling. A victory for him would be a victory for every undersized, disenfranchised underdog – and he wouldn’t be shy about repeatedly saying so.

4. Triple H
In a way, this makes sense, given the history between these men, and The Game’s position in the company. But really, who on earth wants to see this match again?

5. Ryback
Yes, he’s steamrolling through the competition in WWE, and yes, fans seem to be gobbling it up. But is he ready for the Undertaker? Probably not. He’d be a good opponent to lose to the Undertaker, but ending the streak? Ryback’s not there yet.

Our pick: Punk

It would make a great story, especially if Undertaker made a gesture of “passing the torch” to someone he sees as the next leader of the pack. It could go down as one of the most important and controversial WrestleMania moments ever.

[Kabraxal]

I would love to see Punk/Taker. And if we get truly lucky and it's title v streak, that could be something special build wise. Hell, just at RR alone, you could have him beat the Rock and he gets that smirk while holding the title... then the gong hits and it goes black... the Road to Wrestlemania ia slready on fire.

The thing that is key is if this will be Taker's last match... if it is, it has to be against someone that can use the momentum of ending the streak. If people thought it was his last match, and he's going against someone like Punk who many feel hasn't gotten that final push... there will be that seed planted that Taker could actually lose. Not just be somewhat built during the match... but actually going into the bout you couldn't say for certain that Taker is wining. That would make for such an explosive atmosphere at WM.

[StonePunk3:16]

Triple H's ego wouldn't allow someone smaller than him beat The Undertaker.

[Starbuck]

If they don't do Brock/Taker then fuck that. It writes itself. Punk/Taker is a joke of a match and Brock/HHH is a rematch we really don't need to see. I don't buy all this talk about Punk/Taker anyways. Taker isn't that stupid. He knows that facing Punk is a HUGE step backwards after his last few matches. No offense to Punk or anything but it's the truth. I still say Brock/Taker is for 29 and Cena/Taker for 30.

[Kabraxal]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

If they don't do Brock/Taker then fuck that. It writes itself. Punk/Taker is a joke of a match and Brock/HHH is a rematch we really don't need to see. I don't buy all this talk about Punk/Taker anyways. Taker isn't that stupid. He knows that facing Punk is a HUGE step backwards after his last few matches. No offense to Punk or anything but it's the truth. I still say Brock/Taker is for 29 and Cena/Taker for 30.

That would be a boring match actually... Brock doesn't need the win and it doesn't hold the history of HHH/Taker or HBK/Taker.

[Shazayum]

Agree with Kabraxal the match seems out of nowhere and even if it had a decent backstory I think, despite their match like 9 years ago at HIAC being awesome, it wouldn't be that good.

[Starbuck]

Originally Posted by Kabraxal

That would be a boring match actually... Brock doesn't need the win and it doesn't hold the history of HHH/Taker or HBK/Taker.

Nobody needs the win against Taker. Besides, Brock and Taker have much more history together than Punk and Taker who have practically none. Punk/Taker does nothing for me and I don't want to see it. I'd much rather have Brock/Taker. For me there are only 2 guys left for Taker to face; Brock and Cena. Trips isn't an option this time and everybody else is nowhere near credible enough including Punk which is why I still don't buy into the match happening. Taker knows it, Vince knows it and I'm sure even Punk knows it himself.

[Choke2Death]

Nobody should beat The Undertaker, specially not a joke like Punk. If that match actually happens and Taker loses, I genuinely hope there'll be a riot in the arena. But nah, I'm not worried. They are definitely saving Cena/Taker for WM30 and if Punk/Taker happens next year, it'll obviously be just a filler match.

Brock/Taker is a no-brainer and they are stupid if they actually give this opportunity a pass to do an unneeded rematch between Brock/HHH and Taker/Punk.

[Starbuck]

If Brock/Taker doesn't happen I reckon it's down to Taker simply not wanting to work with Brock. Aren't they supposed to have heat or whatever? I don't know. Brock/Taker would be beast though. I really hope it happens. If we end up with Rock/Cena II, HHH/Brock II and Taker/Punk, I'll buy it because it's Mania and all but more out of misguided loyalty and the fact that it's Mania more than anything else tbh. I guess if that happens they really will be saving all their big matches for a Mania 30 supercard in Rock/Brock and Taker/Cena. If that happened and I went to 29 I'd be pissed lol. Talk about getting shafted, haha.

[Shazayum]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

If Brock/Taker doesn't happen I reckon it's down to Taker simply not wanting to work with Brock. Aren't they supposed to have heat or whatever? I don't know. Brock/Taker would be beast though. I really hope it happens. If we end up with Rock/Cena II, HHH/Brock II and Taker/Punk, I'll buy it because it's Mania and all but more out of misguided loyalty and the fact that it's Mania more than anything else tbh. I guess if that happens they really will be saving all their big matches for a Mania 30 supercard in Rock/Brock and Taker/Cena. If that happened and I went to 29 I'd be pissed lol. Talk about getting shafted, haha.

If they have heat the match shouldn't happen. We all know what happens when two people who don't care for each other have a big match........ring a bell?