5 Superstars WWE should start building as the 'next' Undertaker

He was The Phenom. He was The Lord of Darkness. He was The Undertaker. A creation that stemmed from the mind of Vince McMahon, but made whole by the man behind the gimmick, Mark Calaway.

Ever since he made his debut so many years ago back at WWE Survivor Series 1990, The Undertaker has stayed in the hearts and minds of the WWE Universe for 30 years. Even though he is 'retired,' he will continue to do so.

But who is The Undertaker?

Is he just a WrestleMania streak? Is he a legend created by Vince McMahon perpetuated by the several WWE Superstars who grew watching him? Is he one of the most significant pro wrestling characters of all time? He is all of these things, and so much more that it would be hard to define his legacy.

It isn't that the character dabbled in the dark arts; instead, it was his steadfast devotion to the character and his ability to reinvent to stay relevant in times that demanded it. Of course, being undefeated at WrestleMania undoubtedly hastened that reality. Still, his tenacity to be a creative force and his devotion to the the industry grew his legend even more.

It was as if he was the last of his ilk. That devotion to staying in character. Only in recent years did fans see the man behind The Deadman. Those qualities are hard to even pick who could take up that mantle, as very few possess it and have long retired.

With that said, the essential task would be to pick someone who could be the 'Next' Undertaker. Here are 5 WWE Superstars who might fit the bill.

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#5 Aleister Black

There's something about Aleister (Pic Source: WWE)

Aleister Black is probably one of the more interesting WWE characters who hasn't had an expansive run at the top. That has to do more with the booking rather than the wrestler himself. The tattoos, the innate fascination, and the presentation of an innate loner lend itself to be a fascinating personality that has some comparisons with The Undertaker.

While it may seem blasphemous to suggest that any wrestler could take The Undertaker's mantle, Aleister Black has that innate quality that would allow for those comparisons. The Undertaker had an air of a brutal killer inside the ring, and Black provides that same instinct as soon as he steps through those ropes.

Could Aleister Black be the next coming of The Man from Death Valley? Only time will tell.

#4 Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair may not seem like the most obvious choice to be on this list; she possesses an innate quality that is integral to her character. The Undertaker exuded charisma, power, and technique whenever he was in the ring, and Flair is no different.

While some fans in the WWE Universe will most surely point out that Flair is more like her father, her in-ring work is of the highest quality. There is no doubt that Ric Flair was a legend, which will never be matched. Charlotte brings that same intrinsic believability that would put her along the same lines of The Undertaker.

Part of The Undertaker was that he, for the most part, lived the gimmick. Combine that with Charlotte's family legacy and her booking as one of the top female wrestlers in the company; the reasons become more compelling. If WWE were to give her a distinct streak like The Deadman, there is no telling where she will stand in the years to come.

While she may not be a 'dark' character, the list is about a wrestler who can change with the times, and Flair would undoubtedly fit the bill.

#3 Braun Strowman

A monster of a character (Pic Source: WWE)

If there has been one real success story from the last few years, it's been the rise of Braun Strowman. The Monster Among Men is built like a tank and gives the vibes of a Viking bent on a path of destruction and leaving his opponents floored (literally). Coming to prominence with The Wyatt Family, Strowman came across as The Monster that had alluded WWE for quite some time. It is in keeping with this thought process that the idea of Strowman being the 'next' Undertaker doesn't seem far off.

Like Undertaker, Strowman prompts fear in his opponents, and his simple baritone promos pushes his character to great heights. Like The Deadman, his promo skills have evolved to give the character more dimension that most didn't think possible.

If Vince McMahon books this correctly, Strowman could be 'the guy' to beat in the years to come. The character is already primed, and it only needs a fire to spark the flame. The Undertaker boots are hard to fill, but Strowman could be up to the job.

#2 Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is an inspiring addition to the list. Reigns is certainly a polarising figure with the WWE Universe. But his rise in WWE is no different than John Cena, and on top of that, he has beaten The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

After his cancer diagnosis, it's fair to say that WWE fans changed their minds on the guy. Reigns has always possessed natural charisma and pure confidence every time he has strode to the ring. Remembering that WWE has already invested in the character for many years, the next step would be to give him that essence of a walking legend.

Roman Reigns lives the character much like The Undertaker. Like The Deadman, he has the reputation of being a locker room leader, and when his cancer diagnosis became public, several members of that roster were in tears.

Legends are made and not born, and over time, if booked correctly, Roman Reigns could create that same legacy in the same vein of The Undertaker. Perhaps, in time, that will come to pass.

#1 Bray Wyatt / The Fiend

The most obvious choice (Pic Source: WWE)

If there were a true heir to the legacy of The Undertaker, it would be Bray Wyatt. His re-introduction to the WWE Universe has been one of the successes in recent WWE history, and the entire fanbase is genuinely behind the character.

When Bray Wyatt got started, the comparisons were already in play, though the original character was more of a heightened Waylon Mercy. But over time, the character's 'affiliation' with the dark arts became more apparent with The Fiend, being his most violent persona.

But Wyatt's most striking similarity with The Undertaker is the ability to evolve and change. It is that quality that allowed The Deadman to survive all these years and still have fans clamoring for more.

While some questionable booking decisions may not have helped Bray Wyatt in the short term, he is still a long way to go and many opponents to beat, in order to create a career that would equal The Phenom.

The Undertaker stroke fear in the hearts of many WWE Superstars and thrilled fans alike. Wyatt is only just getting started, and there is no telling where he will end up.