I didn’t want to believe the news that the Wrestling Observer Newsletter posted, being that the proposed match between John Cena and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33 was nixed because Vince apparently wanted to look at the long-term and not the short-term. As if that was a plausible reason as to why WWE should rob fans of what is probably their last big match with The Undertaker. Cena and Undertaker have risen to become two legendary figures in WWE, for better of or worse, but the bottom line is that they’ve accomplished anything any
Cena and Undertaker have risen to become two legendary figures in WWE, for better of or worse, but the bottom line is that they’ve accomplished anything any main-event level superstar has done. Whether it is multiple WWE Championship reigns or main eventing WrestleMania, Cena and Undertaker’s careers have been solidified in WWE history. However, there is one last thing that they can add to their list of memories and great matches. Facing each other.
Now, believe it or not, John Cena and The Undertaker have faced off before (Vengeance 2003), but John Cena was nowhere near the star that he was today and The Undertaker didn’t have the aura of his WrestleMania streak attached to his character. Even though he said that the streak will no longer define who The Undertaker is (which may lead one to assume that he will lose another match at WrestleMania), facing the Undertaker at WrestleMania is still a huge accomplishment.
Rumblings of John Cena facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania really started two to three years ago, when many started to question how long The Undertaker has left in WWE, and many wanted for The Undertaker to face Sting at WrestleMania. While odds are that match wasn’t going to happen, people came up with the next big name that they could think of that The Undertaker has yet to face at WrestleMania, John Cena. Cena is arguably the most polarizing figure that WWE has seen. Whether positive or negative, Cena is one of the only superstars to consistently gain a strong reaction. Meanwhile, the Undertaker has become a powerful symbol of longevity as he’s been a part of the WWE family since the early 90s and is still going on strong today.
According to rumors across the internet, rumored WrestleMania opponents for The Undertaker have gone from Braun Strowman to Roman Reigns, and if the reports are true, he will be facing someone from the RAW roster. Odds are, one of those two may end up being his opponent seeing as how other top tier superstars on the red brand such as Seth Rollins, Chris Jericho are occupied. It would appear as though that the WrestleMania fates of the top Smackdown tier superstars are more in limbo, all the more reason why it’s befuddling why The Undertaker would face someone from the RAW brand. Did The Undertaker not make his return to Smackdown LIVE before Survivor Series and threaten to lay down punishment for anyone who cost Team Smackdown LIVE the match? Of course The Undertaker just stated that he can go wherever he wants or wherever he pleases, but giving Roman and Braun a match with The Undertaker can absolutely backfire.
I find it interesting that Vince (if the report is true) nixed the match between these two because he wants to look at the long term instead of the short term. Let’s take a look at previous WWE Championship matches at WrestleMania in years past. Roman Reigns vs. Triple H. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns. John Cena vs. The Rock. None of these championship matches was intended to build to anything into the long-term future. What makes a John Cena/Undertaker match (probably for the WWE Championship) any different? Cena has basically become a part-timer, so he can lose the WWE Championship to any top tier heel on the Smackdown roster at any moment, and this also may be Undertaker’s last hoorah. Should it really be against an unproven Braun Strowman, or a man who’s highly unfavorable with WrestleMania crowds, Roman Reigns?
Love or hate John Cena, he’s earned a match with The Undertaker, and he’s the one who would give a WrestleMania match that would not only have the best match quality wise, but in terms of meaning. Many actually pondered that a feud with The Undertaker could lead to a long-awaited heel turn for John Cena. Had a feud between the two been done right, WWE could have done a storyline where Cena would chase after his sixtenth world championship, and The Undertaker, who has lost only once in all of his WrestleManias would be in his way. Like it or not, this would be a big-time feud, and WWE’s foolish to deprive it’s fans, and the two superstars involved, of having this match.
Odds are good that no one affiliated with WWE in the booking process will come across this article, but Cena and Undertaker are the only big moments they have left in their respective careers. John Cena and The Undertaker have faced, for the most part, every big name that they’ve come across. Why not create more memories with The Phenom taking on The Franchise? Agree with me? Disagree? Let me know. Until next time.
