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Having dispelled the skepticism regarding the condition of his health with a fighter’s performance at Wrestlemania 31, the Undertaker and his fans alike can now look forward to Wrestlemania 32 with the knowledge that he is good to go for one more round.Also read: 5 wrestlers who have kicked out of The Undertaker's tombstone piledriverThe legend of the Undertaker had been diminished and questioned by the rough shod way in which Brock Lesnar had set about breaking the streak. His Wrestlemania 31 bout though, against the eater of worlds Bray Wyatt, restored some much needed credibility to the Deadman’s aura.The word now about the Undertaker is that Wrestlemania 32 might possibly be his swansong. Having come off a hugely successful Wrestlemania 31, the WWE have a multitude of superstars who can be primed and prepared in order to face the Undertaker next year. However, in lieu of the exemplary contribution that the Undertaker has provided the WWE with over the last 20 odd years, nothing short of the most befitting final tribute would suffice. Enter John Cena.Here is a look at 5 reasons why John Cena vs The Undertaker needs to be the final chapter in the mythical career of the Phenom.
#1 Hustle, Loyalty and Respect
The phrase “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect” has always been the identity of John Cena, but to consign the virtues that those three words symbolize solely to him, would be doing a disservice to the legacy that the Undertaker has sculpted.
All through the Monday Night Wars, the Undertaker stood firm behind the WWE, unwavering and staunch in his loyalty, despite being privy to a plethora stars who were conveniently jumping ship to the WCW. Through the previous few years, we have witnessed the Undertaker hustle and fight as much against his own aging body, as he did against each vaunted opponent who stepped up to the plate at Wrestlemania.
Each year the fans expected to see a desperate match for the streak, rich in its intensity and tensely combated. Each year, the Undertaker has unerringly delivered (barring the debacle against Brock Lesnar, of course). The Undertaker has been the personification of Hustle and Loyalty. Surely, he deserves the highest form of Respect if he decides to call it a day; and who better to represent the respect that the WWE and fans have for the Undertaker than John Cena?
#2 Title Picture
Though John Cena currently holds the US Title, it is imperative to note that he is not in the WWE World Heavyweight Title picture. This is reflective of the change in significance of John Cena to the company, with reports pointing toward a Jericho-like run awaiting, in putting over new talent. If this indeed is the path that the WWE choose to tread, it is conceivable that John Cena might not be in any title picture in the near future, thus clearing the path for a showdown with the Phenom.
Facing the Undertaker at Wrestlemania is such a grandiose and note-worthy occasion in itself, that it does not require the further advertisement of being a Title match. The WWE has maintained status quo with regards to this in the recent years, and there is no reason to suggest the trend stands to be bucked at Wrestlemania 32. With Cena likely to drop the US Title to a younger talent in the near future, he could yet be the perfect opponent for the Undertaker when Wrestlemania comes around.
#3 Leader vs Leader
The IWC is generally abuzz with inside stories about many people even remotely associated with the WWE. The Undertaker has been quoted by many wrestlers who came into the WWE after him, as being the leader in the dressing room. Who would deny him that honour considering that he is currently the longest-serving active member in the WWE roster? Year after year, the Undertaker has set the standard to aspire to, with his dexterity in maintaining his shape and fitness levels despite only wrestling once a year, particularly deserving credit.
Juxtaposing Mark Calaway with John Cena, the clean-cut, ex-marine, big-hearted leader and poster-boy of the WWE during the PG era, yields an interesting dynamic between two natural leaders. With the Reality Era now mostly laying to waste kayfabe, the WWE has the licence to exploit this dynamic and construct a feud around it. While the Undertaker has been a near timeless presence of power in the WWE, John Cena has undoubtedly been more relevant, though in a narrower time frame. Who is the greater? Wrestlemania 32 could tell.
#4 Novelty
Facing the Undertaker at Wrestlemania is an honour afforded only to select superstars in the wrestling world. With the new generation of stars seemingly poised to fight it out for the respective Title belts, and considering that Wrestlemania 32 might be the Undertaker’s final match, the WWE might not have much of a choice on the issue.
Thus the only match that the WWE can book at Wrestlemania 32, without being repetitive of course, is the Undertaker vs John Cena match. Maintaining the match as a novelty when the Undertaker has already wrestled most other superstars who possess the required profile, leaves only one realistic option for the WWE. The WWE could not risk exposing either Cena or Undertaker to a loss earlier, as both the PG era and the Streak still had relevance then. By Wrestlemania 32 however, these tags would have been completely shed, and the only real remaining novelty match-up in the WWE roster might finally find fruition.
#5 How it began, so it shall end.
In 2002, after John Cena’s debut match on Smackdown against Kurt Angle, a backstage segment showed superstars congratulating Cena on a solid performance. It was painfully obvious even then that the WWE had plans for young Cena, but when The Undertaker showed up and offered a congratulatory handshake, the audience realised that John Cena was there to stay.
After 13 years, and more importantly, 15 WWE and/or World Heavyweight Titles later for John Cena, the prophetic nature of the segment hits home. As Undertaker was there to herald the beginning of the phenomenon that is John Cena, who better than John Cena to possibly to offer a fitting tribute to mark the end of the Phenom? It would be poetic justice, would it not?
