A look at why the Undertaker will reign supreme over the Roman Empire come WrestleMania 33.
WWE has made it official that the Undertaker and Roman Reigns would go head-to-head at WrestleMania 33. The match could go either way as far as creative is concerned. Roman Reigns is a polarizing figure in the world of professional wrestling. Creative would push him hard at every opportunity they would see. Odds of him toppling the Dead Man at WrestleMania 33 are rather high despite how the fans would feel.
However, on the flip side, it is the Undertaker we are talking about. He is one of the most respected superstars of all time. Moreover, WrestleMania is a time and place where the Phenom does not just lose. Unless you happen to be Brock Lesnar that is. Regardless, it would feel wrong even now to just write Lesnar ended the streak. For every WWE fan, the Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak would be nothing short of an endearing memory of their childhood.
Would creative make the odd decision to hand the Dead Man his second defeat at the show of shows? That would be the biggest question heading into the Showcase of the Immortals. Had it been someone else facing the Undertaker, there wouldn’t have been such a big question mark. However, as far as Roman Reigns go, the company is high on him. They have relentlessly pushed him no matter how much fans would hate that.
But anyone would agree with me when I say Reigns doesn’t really need a win against the Phenom. Creative should rather work on repairing the damage they have done to his character. As such, when the match is over, it should be the gong that goes over the PA system and it should be the Undertaker who stands tall. Here are five reasons why that will be the case at WrestleMania 33.
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5. A Win Would Hurt Roman Reigns More
Roman Reigns is without doubt being primed to be the face of the WWE. He would perhaps be the one to lead the company into the next decade and into another ‘new era’. As such, the Big Dog is in a difficult position with the fans at the moment. No matter what he does in the ring, the crowd loves to boo him. When Reigns’ music hits one cannot ignore the fact that it is not exactly the welcome the future face of the WWE needs.
Going over the Undertaker at WrestleMania would make fans hate Reigns even more. If the company was looking for ways to get some heat on him then this would be fine. However, as it stands, there are no plans to turn him heel. At least not until now. But Reigns does not have a choice but to play the heel in this feud. Even then, defeating the Dead Man on the grandest stage of them all could mean being booed for life time. WWE cannot afford that situation.
Their best bet would indeed be to have Reigns lose the match. However, he should push the Undertaker to his very limits. They would need to take a page from the legendary match between HBK Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. Reigns would have to go down on his own terms. However, regardless of that, when the smoke settles, it should be the Phenom who stands tall.
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Creative could then have Undertaker be impressed with Reigns and his effort. He could perhaps show a sign of respect much like he did to Shawn Michaels. It goes without saying that Reigns would have to carry much of the match. Doing that and getting some praise from a respected veteran could perhaps help him get some love from the fans.
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4. Undertaker Still Has Much to Do
This is a fairly simple and mostly obvious reason. As much as the Dead Man has accomplished in his career, he still has much to do. The Dead Man is yet to come face to face with John Cena for starters. We would all want that to be a WrestleMania moment. He is also yet to have a confrontation with Sting in any manner. It doesn’t even have to be a match. But seeing these two icons share the ring would be awesome.
Lastly, he would want one last run with the WWE Universal title. If Goldberg got a shot at it after being away for 13 years, shouldn’t the Dead Man too? He has been here for 25 years now. Moreover, someone of his stature holding the title would add to his prestige. Hence before the Undertaker eventually retires he should have a short run with the Universal title. He could then drop it to someone like Finn Balor in a passing of the torch moment.
However, if the Undertaker loses at WrestleMania 33, that would be the end of it all. It would seriously hurt his legacy and his future. Moreover, there wouldn’t be much of a point to him ever coming back. Ending the streak was bad enough, to begin with. Doing it once more would send the fans into a riot. Worst of all, it would send a young superstar’s career into a forever continuing spiral of boos, hatred and fan backlash.
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3. This Could Be the Undertaker’s Last WrestleMania Outing
Every year fans would speculate whether the Phenom would be at the show case of the immortals. For 25 years, he has given us everything he had and always came through in time for the show of shows. However, time is a demon that catches up to even the best of us and Undertaker is no exception to that rule.
Over the years he would work fewer matches and make fewer appearances. He would also do much less between the ropes and would take fewer bumps. The writing on the wall wouldn’t be clearer than this. The undertaker is very much at the end of his career. Rumor has it that he has been postponing a hip replacement surgery for a while now. The many years of professional wrestling has taken its toll on him.
Fans would have wanted Cena to be the one to retire the Undertaker. However, as fate would have it, this would have to wait at least one more year. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Taker might be around in the WWE until then. Moreover, with Cena’s gradually receding WWE appearances and commitments outside the WWE, this match is never a guarantee.
Related Story: Should 2017 Be the Undertaker’s Final Year in WWE?
As much as it pains me to state this, this could possibly be the Phenom’s last outing. At least, it could be his last outing at the showcase of the immortals. To end this legend’s career on the PPV that has sort of become synonymous with his name would be quite the irony. To end it on a losing note would be even sadder. As such, Taker should go over and go big come April 2nd. The Dead Man deserves that.
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2. Reigns Doesn’t Need This Win
Roman Reigns has achieved almost everything a superstar of the new era could ever dream of achieving in a very short span. He has had multiple WWE title runs and back to back Royal Rumble wins. Moreover, if one would look back, in every Royal Rumble Reigns has been a part of, he has been in the final four; if not the final two. That goes for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Mind boggling booking indeed.
As such, Reigns does not need a win against the Undertaker at WrestleMania to boost his legacy in any way. Someone like Bray Wyatt two years ago could have certainly used that. However, with Reigns that is never the case. Reigns is a permanent main event performer. Creative does not have to worry about his legacy at this moment.
Moreover, WWE has been steadily moving forward with their plans to make Reigns the future face of the WWE. If being booed by a very vocal portion of the fans isn’t enough, that section would only grow in size if Reigns is to go over at WrestleMania 33. Such negative reaction would seriously hurt WWE’s plans to make Reigns a mega star for the future. Instead, as I suggested before, earning the respect of the Undertaker would in turn help him to earn the respect of the fans.
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1. The Undertaker Deserves to Go Out on a High Note
The Undertaker has done so much for the WWE. What he did for the company could never be compared to anything else. Because, honestly, there is nothing that comes close to the level of Taker’s loyalty, integrity and work ethics. Whether that means allowing Lesnar to go over at WrestleMania 30 or completing an Elimination Chamber match after suffering first and second-degree burns.
For 25 years he has given the business and the fans he loves, his everything. The Dead Man has put his body and his soul to the character of the Undertaker. To be frank, his WrestleMania streak should have never ended. However, as it stands, creative and Vince McMahon of all people should let that one loss be his only loss in WrestleManias.
For as much as he did for the WWE, Taker should never again be beaten in a WrestleMania. Even if he faces John Cena next year, Undertaker should go out on his own terms.
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As a loyal fan of the Dead Man, for his own safety and well-being he should stop now. As such, this could very well be his last ride with the WWE. It should remain a special one forever. The Dead Man deserves to go out with a bang. If WrestleMania 33 is indeed his final WrestleMania appearance, then Taker should most definitely go out with a win. He deserves it. Moreover, the company owes it to him to ensure he goes out on a high note.