The gong resonated across the Citrus Bowl, a ring of finality clinging on to it even as a packed house of seventy-odd thousand fans desperately scanned their minds for a befitting reaction to settle on. The mood in the arena, however, was one of overbearing emptiness.
No one quite knew how to respond to what they had just witnessed. There was a mixture of shock, indignation, denial, anger...but everyone’s gaze was unanimously strained on the Undertaker’s ring gear, imploring it to make sense of the situation for them. And yet, it simply lay there in the middle of the ring; silent, brooding and stoic – almost like the man himself.
Trending
Was this goodbye? Or in scripting what reads like an ending open to interpretation, has the WWE actually kept the door open for the Undertaker's return at some point in the future?
Top name doesn't want to enter the WWE Hall of Fame. More details HERE.
Sure, the man’s actions made it quite clear that he’s done with an active in-ring career...but the company hasn’t confirmed anything and as we’ve learnt time and again over the years, never say never when it comes to the WWE.
In keeping with that, here are 5 interesting ways in which the Undertaker can be brought back to television programming in the future.
To put over Roman Reigns
Those of you looking puzzled are well within your rights to do so. Didn't Undertaker, braving stiff chair shots and all, just put over Roman Reigns big time at WrestleMania 33? Of course he did, but it wasn't one bit well-received by the WWE Universe, was it?
In fact, the heat on Reigns has been turned up a notch ever since he decommissioned the Deadman.
All in all, not a scenario that the WWE ideally favours. Should they will it, however, bringing back the Undertaker could yet help in redeeming the situation. He definitely wouldn’t face Reigns in a match again, but he could still address him on the microphone and give him props for bringing the ‘Big Fight’ at Mania in an attempt to put him over.
It would probably still elicit nuclear heat on Reigns, but at least for the storyline’s sake, a sporting handshake and an admission from the Phenom that the best man won wouldn’t be amiss at all.
One last sign-off with Kane
The Undertaker has always been an incomparable symbol of the otherworldly in the WWE, but his storyline brother Kane has also been an equally awe-inspiring presence for much of his career.
Yes, the sheen was somewhat spoiled by a number of slipshod storylines involving him, but the audience rarely fails to pop when Kane appears together with the Undertaker as the Brothers of Destruction. What’s more, a great number of people still perceive their characters to be intertwined...so much so that Kane was discussed as a quite a realistic option for the Undertaker’s last match at WrestleMania.
And with Glenn Jacobs also winding down his career now, a storyline – or even a segment – involving the last stand of the Brothers could be money as far as the WWE is concerned.
As an enforcer on both brands
When Undertaker was re-introduced to WWE television programming in the lead up to Royal Rumble, he was positioned initially as a sheriff type of character for SmackDown, what with his “taking souls and digging holes” promo.
Although the storyline hardly developed from there, in my mind, it could be an excellent way to reintroduce the Deadman to the WWE after his loss at WrestleMania 33.
He could flit between brands as per his convenience, and still not be actually required to wrestle matches. On the other hand, the idea of a guardian angel, watching over the WWE is a fantastic concept to sell as a story and could fit perfectly with a sparse schedule that is tailored to the Undertaker.
Win-win.
To make a retirement speech
Was anyone else left unsatisfied with Taker’s retirement shtick after losing to Roman Reigns? Yes, he was deliciously symbolic as ever, bundling up his ring gear and placing it in the middle of the ring to signify that he’s left it all out for us...but it was a sendoff that befitted him?
It’s highly unlike the WWE to not milk every penny from Undertaker’s retirement and to be honest, the fans deserve an opportunity to thank the custodian for his inimitable contributions to the industry.
Which is why the company would do well to have him come back for a formal retirement segment.
He’s been in character for so many years now that, as fans, perhaps we need to see him break kayfabe and be Mark Calaway the man for us to truly believe that he’s done with the WWE.
After all that he’s done for pro-wrestling, he deserves to ride off into the glorious sunset and not just disappear into the dark of the night.
Wrestle one more match
This is the least viable option that the WWE can avail to bring the Undertaker back into the fray, but since they’ve not announced his retirement officially, we can’t write it off either.
Yes, for all intents and purposes it seemed like he was done with in-ring competition at Mania and to be fair, he does look like all the years of cumulative damage that he has suffered has taken a toll on his body. But there have been reports that he was done with in-ring competition for the past 2-3 years and Vince has coaxed him to don his patented coroner’s hat every time since.
Could he manage to get him to wrestle one more match? Or perhaps put over one more talent that deserves to be given the rub?
As fans, we’re torn on the prospect. One one hand, there is nothing more enticing than watching the man perform at the stage that he has made his own, and yet, we grapple with the acute realization that he deserves to put his feet up and call it a day after the stupendous career he’s had.
Either way, thank you Taker.
