The Journey So Far: The Undertaker's record 21-0 streak at WWE WrestleMania

The Undertaker

Two decades back, The Undertaker used to be a WCW star who was trying to break into the main event scene from the mid card. And fast forward to the present, he’s the man who made WrestleMania a three main event pay-per-view.

Every year when the WrestleMania approaches the most heated debates are always about Taker’s streak. Who will be his next opponent? Will the streak be finally broken? Will Undertaker retire? There are so many such questions that’ll only be cleared when the event finally arrives.

The streak has been one of the most illustrious stories in professional wrestling business so here is a walk down the memory lane to look back at the matches that wrote the tales of Undertaker and his Streak.

WrestleMania VII- The Undertaker vs. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (1-0)

The match marked the start of Taker’s epic run at WrestleMania. It lasted just over five minutes but the fans back then had no idea that this would be the start of something special.

There were plenty of headline grabbers in the night with Hulk Hogan ending Sgt. Slaughter’s title reign and Ultimate Warrior burying the career of Randy Savage.

With such big names on the match card, Taker’s WrestleMania debut didn’t produce any kind of fuzz apart from him beating a wrestling legend in such a short time.

WrestleMania VIII- The Undertaker vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (2-0)

A die hard wrestling fan would look back on the feud between the two as one of the most memorable rivalries that the Undertaker had in his career.

The amount of in ring psychology simply was too high for the match. It was also a contrasting feud as Taker was someone who rarely spoke while Roberts was the master of microphone.

Taker dominated most of the match and even took two DDT’s from Roberts. But the Phenom would emerge victorious in the end with his signature Tombstone Pile driver.

WrestleMania IX- The Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzales (3-0)

This was the only match in the streak which Taker won via disqualification. Gonzalez suffocated Undertaker with a cloth which was soaked in chloroform.

An unconscious Taker was then taken backstage on a stretcher. He would then return back in his signature style to knock down Gonzales after a gong sound. Taker then delivered three deadly clotheslines to the giant to take him out of his feet.

WrestleMania XI- The Undertaker vs. King Kong Bundy (4-0)

This match was part of Taker’s feud with the Million Dollar Corporation. The stable stole Taker’s Urn and the Phenom would then seek revenge for the same with a match against Bundy.

Taker won the match with a flying clothesline. However, he did not get the urn back because Kama stole it from Paul Bearer after the Undertaker took it from Ted DiBiase.

But the storyline was pushed further with Taker getting one over the heel stable.

WrestleMania XII – The Undertaker vs. Diesel (5-0)

The feud between the two was a result of the interferences that they would make in each other’s WWE Championship quest. The wrestlers would then decide to settle the score once and for all at WrestleMania.

The match between two big men went to and fro with each trading moves like big boots, clothesline and finishers. Taker would then win the bout with a Tombstone pile driver after giving a choke slam to Diesel.

WrestleMania 13 – The Undertaker vs. Sycho Sid (6-0)

Taker’s first title match in WrestleMania, this was another big man-big man fight which went down the wire for the WWE Championship.

The two traded finishers at various points of the match and Taker was dressed in his trench coat attire which he used during his starting days.

Bret Hart would make two interferences in the match before Taker pinned Sid with a Tombstone Piledriver and started Taker’s second title reign.

WrestleMania XIV- The Undertaker vs. Kane (7-0)

The kayfabe brothers fighting it out at WrestleMania was one of the hottest storylines back then. The rivalry started when Kane cost Taker his hell in a cell match against Shawn Michaels. But Taker refused to fight his brother.

It then took a lot of taunting from Paul Bearer and Kane to set the match. Kane even locked Taker in a casket and set it on fire during the hyped buildup.

Kane dominated for most of the time during the match but Taker would then go home with the win after giving three tombstone piledrivers to his brother.

WrestleMania XV- The Undertaker vs. Big Boss Man (8-0)

The match came in between the Dark Ministry- Vince’s corporation feud and was the first Hell in a Cell match of the Streak.

Vince instructed his enforcer Big Boss Man to take care of Undertaker and thus the match was made. A bloodied Taker would dominate the enforcer. Taker won the match with a tombstone pile driver but the Brood (Gangrel, Edge and Christian) would then come in and give Taker a noose.

Taker would then use it on the Big Boss Man and then Paul Bearer was seen controlling the stage. The post-match segment ended with Big Boss Man hanging on the cell as it rose up.

WrestleMania X-Seven- The Undertaker vs. Triple H (9-0)

Triple H was cutting a promo on SmackDown saying that he has beaten everyone that he needed to beat. Then the Undertaker came in and challenged the Game for a match and this was the start of the feud.

The rivalry culminated at WrestleMania. The two would fight even after the referee being knocked out. One of the memorable moments of the match was Taker chokeslaming Triple H in between a sea of WWE fans.

A busted open Taker then gave a last ride off the top rope to win the match. People started to take notice of Taker’s streak after this match and it still stands out as one of the best matches from the lot.

WrestleMania X8- The Undertaker vs. Ric Flair (10-0)

The feud between Taker and Flair started on a minimal note but then went on a personal level to culminate in an emotional encounter at WrestleMania.

First Flair attacked Taker and cost him his match against The Rock. Taker would then challenge Flair to a match which the nature boy refused until Taker attacked Flair’s son. The Phenom also threatened to attack Flair’s daughter to finally make him agree for a match.

Taker won despite interference from Arn Anderson and this was the official start to the undefeated streak.

WrestleMania XIX – The Undertaker vs. The Big Show and A-Train (11-0)

According to the storyline, the match was supposed to be a tag team match with Nathan Jones on Taker’s side. Jones was seen trained by Taker as preparation for the match but later pulled out to make a handicap match.

Taker dominated throughout the match despite the nature of handicap matches and as he ran into ome trouble, Nathan Jones would come to his aid and help keep his streak intact.

WrestleMania XX- The Undertaker vs. Kane (12-0)

Taker was having a buried alive match with Vince McMahon when Kane decided to interfere and bury his brother. Kane would then go on telling everyone that Taker is finally dead.

But as always Taker played a lot of mind games during the buildup and finally the feud culminated at the twentieth anniversary of WrestleMania.

Thus the dead man persona of Undertaker was born and the match went to and fro before Taker finally delivered a tomb stone pile driver to win the match.

WrestleMania 21 – The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (13-0)

The legend vs. legend killer story line had a lot of twists and turns before it saw its climax at WrestleMania.

Many thought that the WWE would finally end Taker’s illustrious streak to give Orton a bigger push and some points of the match clearly said the same. But even after interference from Bob Orton and a RKO, Taker emerged victories with a tombstone pile driver which came as a reverse of Orton’s attempts to do the same.

WrestleMania XXII- The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry (14-0)

The first casket match in WrestleMania history, this was one of the best performances of Mark Henry’s career. It was the last match to use the old coffin style caskets which were later replaced by modern ones.

Taker won the match without any problems and would send a lightning bolt to the casket after the match to give a memorable moment.

WrestleMania 23- The Undertaker vs. Batista (15-0)

The most surprising event of the match was the rise of Batista to the occasion. He gave an excellent competition with the fans expecting least from him.

The emotions were on an all-time high after the match as Taker would win the World Heavyweight championship from The Animal. But Batista definetly gave the Phenom a run for his money before giving up on the three count.

WrestleMania XXIV- The Undertaker vs. Edge (16-0)

This was the first match which the Undertaker won through Submission. Taker used his Hell’s gate hold to make the Rated R superstar tap out and thus won the World Heavyweight championship.

But the title was later vacated by Vickie Guerrero, who at that time was dating Edge. The reason for the action was tagged on Taker’s submission hold which was termed as dangerous.

WrestleMania XXV- The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (17-0)

Arguably the best match in the streak, Michaels came the closest to ending Taker’s long run. The match received a five star rating from critics all over the world.

It was a lengthy match which was filled with action and was also named as the best match of 2009.

WrestleMania XXVI- The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels II (18-0)

After failing to break the streak last time around, Michaels came with a Career vs. Streak offer which Taker accepted.

The stakes were really high for the match and no one expected Michaels to end his career in favor of the streak. It wasn’t equal to the match that the two had the previous year, but the match involving these two promised to be a classic and lived up to the expectations.

WrestleMania XXVII- The Undertaker vs. Triple H II (19-0)

The feud started when both Taker and Triple H made their return. The Game would challenge Taker for a match to which the Phenom responded positively.

During the buildup Triple H gave finishers to any random wrestler to give a message to Taker. He would also take a dig at Shawn Michaels and promised to end Taker’s streak. The match ended up being a no hold barred match with both men punishing eachother to their limits.

Despite winning the match, Taker was taken out in a cart because of the punishment he took at the hands of Triple H and this lead to their next match at WrestleMania.

WrestleMania XXVIII- The Undertaker vs. Triple H III (20-0)

As an after effect of their previous encounter, Taker returned and challenged Triple H for a match which the game refused. Triple H felt that ending the streak would be bad for business and stayed away from the offer.

But after a lot of taunting and the involvement of Shawn Michaels the match was finally booked with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.

After giving an exciting match, Taker would take the sweet chin music and pedigree only to kick out of the three count. He would then rise from the dead and give a tombstone Piledriver to Triple H to win the match. After the match, Taker and Michaels carried away Triple H and signaled an end of an era.

WrestleMania 29- The Undertaker vs. CM Punk (21-0)

Punk got the opportunity to face Taker by winning a fatal four way match against Randy Orton, Big Show and Sheamus.

The straight edge vs. Streak storyline would be more known for the use of Paul Bearer’s death as a cheap catalyst. Just after weeks of Bearer’s real death, Punk was seen playing with Bearer’s urn and ashes in order to taunt Taker.

The match only turned out to be a solid one as Taker’s age was taking a toll on him. Punk gave an impressive performance and tried everything in his power to put a stop to the streak but Taker won the match with a Piledriver and kept his streak intact.