As of now, the Undertaker is a 6/4 favourite to win the Royal Rumble and as history has shown us, it's futile to bet against the Deadman. When the Phenom announced his entry to the Royal Rumble on Monday Night Raw, the outcome of the match became evidently clear.
The odds don't lie and the dirt sheets are rarely wrong, the Undertaker is going to win the Royal Rumble, it's something we'll just have to get used to.
Everybody can see the WWE are considering a John Cena (c) vs. Undertaker spectacle at WM33, but surely there's another way to reach this destination without ‘Taker ruining the Rumble.
Here are five reasons why the Undertaker doesn't need to win the Royal Rumble.
#5 He's above status quo
Let's be frank, there are only three men in the company today that can go off on a long hiatus, come back and demand a Championship match; John Cena, Brock Lesnar and the Undertaker. When you're a larger than life figure like the Undertaker you don't need to abide by the rules or the laws.
Like he said on Monday Night Raw this week, "he goes where he wants, when he wants." He has no ties to a 'brand' or 'authority figure'.
At the Royal Rumble, there is only one winner, but there are two world titles to challenge for. So say for example a Raw Superstar wins the match, they then challenge for the Universal Championship, leaving SmackDown without a no.1 contender...thus allowing the Phenom to challenge for the WWE Championship.
He doesn't need to do things the conventional way, he's big enough to get a pass once in a while.
#4 Make a new star, not boost an old one:
He's there to add star power to the bout, not win it. At the age of 51, the Undertaker doesn't have it in him to bring more casual viewers to the company, he's drawn all he can over 24 years, and we thank him for that.
Him announcing himself in the Royal Rumble match was done to add more star power to the bout. This star power should then be used as a launchpad to create a new star.
The WWE is never going to progress if they have to keep on relying on part-timers to sell PPVs. With Goldberg, Lesnar and ‘Taker all in the Rumble, there has never been a better opportunity to make a new star attraction.
In a career-defining year for the likes of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, there would be no greater travesty than to have the Undertaker win the Rumble ahead of full-time talents who have had MVP years.
#3 He doesn't need a title to main event WM:
Let's not beat around the bush, the Undertaker is one of, if not the most famous WWE Superstar of the past two decades. The man has been a prominent figure of two different eras and stayed at the top of the ladder for twenty years. His status alone allows him to headline shows. If the Undertaker doesn't have a title, he's still a draw.
For twenty four Wrestlemanias, the Deadman has been the centrepiece of every card. Some would even argue that he would not need to win the Rumble to main event WM33, as he's the main event of every Wrestlemania anyway.
As Vince once famously said: "It's not the title that makes the man, it's the man that makes the title." Titles and title opportunities don't necessarily make stars, neither do they increase the stardom of any already established performer.
#2 He only appears twice a year
One of the great things about the Undertaker is his illusiveness. When he turns up it's a big deal because he hasn't been overexposed to the WWE Universe. He carries a mystical aura about him that creates spectacular television.
If ‘Taker were to win the Rumble and then win whichever title he goes for, he would be appearing more often than he usually does, thus reducing his mystique. If you reduce his mystique then you diminish the appeal of the Undertaker.
If ‘Taker was to win the Rumble it would be a mistake, but if he did have a title opportunity he should put over the Champion and ghost until next year. But we all know that that's unlikely to happen, the Undertaker is one of the most protected wrestlers in WWE history.
The Deadman has won over 70% of his matches in the ring, and of course 95% at Wrestlemania. If ‘Taker wins the Rumble, he's winning the title, and that's what nobody wants to see.
#1 Taker vs. Cena doesn't need a title
When you talk about Wrestlemania dream matches that are yet to happen, only a few spring to mind; Austin vs. Hogan, Shawn Michaels vs. Bruno Sammartino and John Cena vs. the Undertaker. The two biggest names in professional wrestling over the past decade, have somehow avoided each other at the biggest PPV.
For years people thought Cena was the chosen one to break the streak, instead, Vince decided to waste that rub on Lesnar. Yes, wasted. Lesnar is a part-timer that doesn't put anyone over and when he does, it's another part-timer in Goldberg; wasted.
Now that the streak is over, the appeal of a Taker vs. Cena has not diminished, this is the one untouched bout that has the potential to set new WM records. There's no bigger fight present seeing as Austin or Hogan are not coming back. Cena vs. Taker is money, with or without the title.
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