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The Undertaker has been synonymous with the name WrestleMania over the last two decades. His legendary streak of 21 consecutive wins, his first defeat at the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’ at the hands of Brock Lesnar, and his ‘retirement’ after losing against Roman Reigns have all been a huge part of his legendary WWE career.
The Undertaker is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Superstars to have graced the squared circle and he is arguably the most devoted employee that Vince McMahon ever had by his side. Over the years, The Phenom has given his best in his matches but time has started to take its toll on his body.
The Undertaker seems to have gotten a lot better inside the ring in his last few appearances. However, it is evident that The Deadman deserves to hang his boots and rest – something that he has earned with his dedication and service to the business.
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The creative must set up one final storyline against a worthy opponent so that The Undertaker gets a farewell that he deserves. But the responsibility to retire a Superstar as iconic as him should be given to one who deserves it.
In this list, we will take a look at five current Superstars who can script the best ending of The Undertaker’s career.
#5 AJ Styles
WWE Superstar AJ Styles is one of the best pro-wrestlers in the entire business. From his jaw-dropping in-ring skills to his engaging work on the mic, the ‘Phenomenal One’ guarantees entertainment every time he steps inside the ring. He can play the roles of both babyface and heel to perfection. There is no doubt that Styles has earned enough credibility to be the one who retires The Undertaker.
Styles is set to compete with The Undertaker at this year’s WrestleMania after they began feuding last month. Although it was The Phenom who initiated this rivalry, it was Styles who made it a lot personal for both Superstars involved. They will now lock horns in a Boneyard match at the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’.
Given the fact that their feud had very little build-up and that there will be no live audience, the majority of signs hint towards The Undertaker winning their upcoming match.
However, it can always set the ground for an extended feud that can lead to a match between Styles and ‘Taker at next year’s WrestleMania.
If booked well, this storyline has the potential of turning into an unforgettable narration that will see a deserving opponent retiring one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time.
#4 Daniel Bryan
The reason behind including Daniel Bryan in this list is the same as AJ Styles. They both are extremely safe inside the ring and can carry most of the match effortlessly without putting their opponent in the bad light – something that The Undertaker’s matches need right now. Although The Phenom has started to look better inside the ring, he still needs an opponent like Bryan who can work the storyline well and end it with a great match.
Bryan’s in-ring skills have ensured that his name is etched in the list of finest pro-wrestlers of all time. He is one of the most popular WWE Superstars today and can work wonders when booked against the likes of The Undertaker.
It is highly unlikely for Bryan to be involved in a title picture soon and he doesn’t need a title to be relevant. Hence, he can be booked to be the one who retires The Undertaker.
A loss against Bryan won’t even hurt The Undertaker’s legacy as his last match will be against someone who himself is bound to be considered as an all-time great after he retires.
In Bryan, the Deadman will find a worthy rival with whom he can be involved in an engaging storyline one last time.
#3 The Demon King
Finn Balor’s alter-ego, The Demon King, has rarely made any memorable appearances in the last two years. Sure, the gimmick has been used to grant Balor a couple of important wins but it has hardly done anything in strengthening the character. Although Balor is a part of the NXT roster now, his ‘Demon King’ avatar could very well be the one that retires The Undertaker.
By the looks of it, Balor’s heel turn was solely meant to remind everyone of his potential and the brutal side of the ‘Prince’. Hence, we may not see him relying on his alter-ego to win in his matches anytime soon. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of the ‘Demon King’ reappearing in WWE. If that happens, he would make for a great choice to be the one who retires The Undertaker.
Balor is an exceptionally talented Superstar who has unfortunately been underused on more than one occasion. He has once again found his prime ever since his move to the black and gold brand and has mesmerized the WWE Universe with his new attitude.
However, his ‘Demon King’ persona is at the risk of fading into oblivion even though that gimmick deserves better. If he loses any momentum over time, retiring The Undertaker will not only revive Balor’s alter-ego but also it will bring more attention to his main character.
#2 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt
There are not many Superstars who work as hard as Bray Wyatt does on making his gimmicks more and more appealing. After his hiatus from WWE, Bray shocked the world upon his return as he introduced his alter ego – The Fiend, which is arguably the best character to have graced the WWE ring in recent years.
The Fiend went on to win the Universal Championship and brought it to SmackDown. Along the way, he conquered several Superstars including Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, The Miz, Finn Balor, etc.
He was expected to have one of the most historical title reigns as he was immensely over with the crowd. However, much to the shock of the WWE Universe, The Fiend ended up losing his title to Goldberg at WWE Super ShowDown.
This result sparked a lot of controversies as fans started debating about the future of The Fiend in WWE. While some say that his character has ‘buried’, I wouldn’t go that far. He is too big to be forgotten with a single loss.
Having said that, once can’t deny the harm caused to the gimmick. However, WWE can revive The Fiend entirely if they choose him to be the one who retires The Undertaker. It would be epic to see an iconic character ending the illustrious run of another.
#1 Aleister Black
Aleister Black is one of the most talented Superstars in WWE today. He was brilliant during his time in NXT and has proved that he has the potential to reach the pinnacle of Sports Entertainment. While his run on the black and gold brand was incredible, he has not been the same ever since his move to the main roster last year.
Although he did well in the initial days as a part of the tag team division, he soon found himself in squash matches while hunting for opponents. He was finally involved in a good feud against Buddy Murphy which elevated the stakes of both Superstars on the Red brand. It is important to note that Black remained unbeaten on RAW until recently when he suffered defeat at the hands of AJ Styles.
Despite his fewer appearances, the crowd has always shown enthusiasm while watching him perform. He naturally has a great gimmick and is the best option for the job. Black is also portrayed as an intimidating figure and his in-ring maneuvers are bound to get your attention. He deserves a better push and the opportunity to retire The Undertaker might just do the trick.
The Phenom is known for helping younger talents and he would do a huge favor to Black by letting him be his final opponent. Black can help The Undertaker put a respectful end to his iconic career in WWE.
