It is without a doubt that when WrestleMania comes around, all fans think of one man. A man who is just as much WrestleMania as WrestleMania is with him being a part of it. It has become the main attraction when Pro Wrestling’s Super Bowl comes around, and that is a title not taken lightly considering his career. WrestleMania is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some, who will pay top dollar to see a legend in its core existence.
That man is the Undertaker, and as storied his career is, his matches at WrestleMania are no exception. Starting with his first WrestleMania match against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka at WrestleMania VII, and his most recent one against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 32, The Undertaker singlehandedly has earned his spot in WWE history based on his twenty plus WrestleMania matches alone.
Shawn Michaels may be Mr. WrestleMania, but best believe that WrestleMania is The Undertaker’s yard.
Watching The Phenom on PPV television is one thing, but to see the man, the myth and the legend live is a completely different experience. It was my dream to attend a WrestleMania and I made it a reality in 2011 when I attended WrestleMania XXVII. It was Taker’s nineteenth WrestleMania and his was arguably the best match of the night.
Taker pulled out all the stops and even though he was stretchered out of the Georgia Dome that night, I knew that I had gotten my money’s worth watching him put on an extraordinary performance. With Taker’s current position, fans will pay money to see a rare appearance from him on the grandest stage of them all. And in turn, Taker puts on the performance of a lifetime for those fans. Even at his age and having a worn-out body, The Undertaker pulls out all the stops once when he does come around.
I’ve been to two more WrestleMania’s since then. WrestleMania 30 was my second Mania, and the pivotal question that I am asked when I tell people I attended is: “Did it really get quiet when Brock Lesnar conquered the streak?” The answer is yes. When it happened, you could hear a pin drop. I remember I had just taken a picture of Lesnar executing a final F5 on Taker before WrestleMania history was turned upside down.
The bell didn’t ring, and I knew something happened. We weren’t sure if Taker kicked out, or something went awry in the match. Fans began arguing with one another as to what really happened. I was arguing with a bunch of male fans, contesting the bell didn’t ring, so it’s not official. But when the 21-1 graphic popped up, you could hear the disbelief followed with emotions elicited throughout the Superdome. It’s a story I will tell even when I’m gray and old.
I attended WrestleMania 31, where The Phenom went toe to toe with The New Face of Fear, Bray Wyatt. I am very critical of the buildup, but they produced a great match. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong. Fans knew that night that Taker indeed still had the fight in him. I feel with Taker and Wyatt, the feud itself had so much potential. It’s a case of I’ll take what I can get. Could there be more matches with these two in the future? I can only hope.
Of course, my favorite WrestleMania match is Taker v. Michaels at WrestleMania XXV. I still think because it was the first match of his I saw at WrestleMania, The Undertaker v. Triple H is my favorite live match. But regardless, I can attest that if you go to WrestleMania just to see The Undertaker you will not be disappointed. It is indeed true that Taker steals the show at WrestleMania. I’ve been to three of them, and I can tell you five reasons why he does so. Let’s go.
1. His longevity and reputation
It goes without saying that The Undertaker is a locker room leader. He is well respected as he’s dedicated so many years to WWE. The Undertaker has literally seen it all in his twenty-five-plus year career. Through thick and thin, Taker stayed with Vince McMahon and became one of his top players.
The Undertaker is indeed McMahon’s greatest creation. Even today, the mystique of The Undertaker’s legend goes over with fans young and old. My eight-year-old nephew is enchanted with Taker, and will tell you so. With Taker’s body of work, fans know what to expect when Taker shows up to handle business.
2. Taker makes it count with rare appearances
You hear the saying of wrestlers “make your minutes count” or “maximize your minutes”. With The Undertaker, his appearances are so rare now, that when he shows up, the moment counts. Taker makes his appearances count when they matter the most. Regardless if it is just for the nostalgia factor or he is handling business, fans are happy and it is one of the biggest takeaways from the event.
Taker’s WrestleMania matches are timely, but fans aren’t bored for even a minute. Before the streak was broken, fans were on the edge of their seats, wondering if the streak will be intact. The greatest thing about pro wrestling is the emotions that come with the match. The Undertaker is the King of getting the best of fans emotional with his WrestleMania matches.
3. Taker gives 110% in his WrestleMania matches
You can’t get mad at Taker for making less than five appearances a year. He has given so much to the business that I absolutely have no problem with this scenario. But when he does show up, you can expect a fantastic performance from The Phenom.
He is not going through the motions in the ring. He is putting effort into making the best match that it can possibly be. The fact that he can still do some of his iconic moves such as The Old School is such a reward, considering the beating his body has taken. But don’t get that twisted; Taker can still hang with the best of them.
4. Storytelling
It doesn’t matter how long The Undertaker has been gone. When he is in that ring, he is telling you a story. Regardless of who wanted the win more or the fact that he shows his opponent how it is done, The Undertaker excels at storytelling. His facial expressions tell the fans everything they need to know, and when he pulls out all the stops, you know that it was a hard-fought match.
If the Tombstone didn’t take care of them, he could break out either another Tombstone or the Hells Gate and that’s a wrap. His battles with Triple H at WrestleMania XXVII and XXVIII took Taker to his limits. Perhaps one of his greatest WrestleMania battles was with Kane. Their match at WrestleMania XX may have been short and sweet, but the story that was told remains vivid in fans’ minds. Big brother came back and wasn’t playing around that time. Taker made it clear that WrestleMania was his yard that year.
5. WrestleMania track record
The streak was broken two years ago, and while that may have been tainted, the fact of the matter is that The Undertaker’s WrestleMania record at 23-1 is impressive. His 21-0 record at WrestleMania remains one of the greatest streaks in sports entertainment. The WrestleMania record is a storied piece of history that includes bloody battles to WWE World Championship wins. The record tested emotions and tested Taker’s ability to endure all his obstacles every time WrestleMania season rolls around.
Taker’s opponents tried their best to rattle the Dead Man, but every one of them had failed with the exception of Lesnar. Taker has faced legends, and ended careers with his WrestleMania record. Fans went up and down with Taker’s roller coaster of a career. Even now, fans tune in to see if Taker still has it. Can he knock off his opponents? The answer is a resounding “yes”. It is for sure that at WrestleMania, those opponents meet their Maker.
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