WrestleMania 32 is now or never for The Undertaker vs Sting bout

The Undertaker over a fallen Brock Lesnar

It’s the dream match to end all dream matches. It’s the ultimate showdown of all time, the biggest one of this era. For the past 20 years fans have talked about it, writers have speculated on it and even the wrestlers themselves have imagined it. The Undertaker versus Sting; and it was this close to happening.

It was so close we could almost taste it. We could close our eyes and see it in our minds. The darkness of the arena gives way to the ominous sound of Sting’s music, then to the tolling of The Deadman’s funeral bell. Two industry icons stand face to face, eye to eye, as cameras and phones flash around them. The crowd noise swells from the bottom up until the roar is enough to take the roof off.

The sight of the lock-up, the anticipation of who would take over first, the love of the sport that led to the match that was finally taking place; it was all too much and fans could not wait for it to happen.

But now all of that is probably over. It’s not an easy admission to make and in fact, it hurts quite a bit. However barring a miracle turn of events, there is likely now a little chance that Undertaker and Sting will work a match in WWE. Of course, there is always WrestleMania.

Sting on Monday Night Raw

WrestleMania is the night when legends shine and history is made. It’s the night that fans look forward to the most, not just because it’s the most important but because they might see something they may never see again. This has never been truer than for WrestleMania 32 because that is the night when fans could finally see The Phenom versus The Icon.

This is it, it’s the only time Taker and Sting have to get it done. The match could have happened at WrestleMania 31 and WWE decided to go another way. It perhaps could have happened on RAW, but that was likely never even considered. It could’ve happened at any WWE event this year and it didn’t. The match is too big, too epic to be presented on any other stage than Mania and now 32 is the only one left.

The urgency to make this match happen has always been there, as both men are only getting older. But it’s at an all-time high now thanks to injuries Sting recently suffered at Night of Champions. Seth Rollins looked great against Sting and the bout delivered on every level, but a powerbomb into the turnbuckle put The Icon flat on his back.

Seth Rollins gloats as the ref attends to Sting

Sting’s physical well-being was of primary concern for fans, but it was surely followed by thoughts of the Undertaker dream match slipping away. Again, WWE had the opportunity to make that showdown yet did not take it. Was that the wrong move? Had Vince McMahon’s company pulled the trigger on that bout, would Sting’s injuries against Rollins have ever happened?

The fact is it’s impossible to know. The only thing for certain right now is that Sting is banged up on the sidelines and Taker is heading toward a third match with Brock Lesnar at Hell in a Cell. They’re so far apart they may as well be in separate companies again. But the question remains; is it really over for Sting versus Undertaker? Is it over before it could even begin?

WrestleMania 32 is the last best chance fans have to see this dream match take place. Speculation is already happening in regards to who Taker will face on that night, as Lesnar was perhaps the best choice before the HIAC match was booked. Sting’s heat with The Authority has likely ended now and he will probably not appear on WWE programming again anytime soon. Mania represents an ideal situation for these two legends to hook up and the truth is, it’s the only scenario that makes any sense now.

If the match does not take place it will not be the end of the world for either guy. Sting and Undertaker each have had phenomenal careers and will leave behind legacies that will not be matched by anyone. But fans will always wonder what it would have been like if they squared off in the ring. It’s the dream match to end all dream matches and WrestleMania 32 is the only stage for the dream to be realized.