Greatness in sports is often defined by numbers. These numbers & streaks create benchmarks as well as make individual star or team legendary. The greatest franchise in professional sports NEWYORK YANKEES won 5 consecutive World Series beginning in 1941.Austrialian cricket team won 3 consecutive world cups 1999, 2003 & 2007.Those accomplishments were unparallel but as far individual streaks goes, there is only one number & only one streak. Nearly 23 years ago, a dark scary individual step foot at grand stage of them all “WRESTLEMANIA”. It would become his platform, his moment & his night. Many had won WWE championship & become larger than life superstar at Wrestlemania but no one able to surpass what he did. When it comes to Wrestlemania there is only one question needed to be answered. Can undertaker will ever taste the defeat on biggest night of WWE history. The streak stands 21-0, will ever 1 be added to right side of this equation?
Undertaker made his Wrestlemania debut against jimmy snuka(WWE hall of fame) at Wrestlemania 7(1991) in Los Angeles, California. That was the night when the streak was born with an impressive victory. Next year, the outspoken jake “the snake “Roberts was the victim of the phenom as streak goes 2-0.By the time of 1993, he had created the aura of being unstoppable. So, Larger than life opponent is essential to stop the demon of Death Valley. So, at Wrestlemania 9(1993) Giant Gonzales nearly 8 foot monster was appointed but he too was not enough to slow down the undertaker. In 1995, the man who originally introduced the undertaker Ted Dibiasi aka Million Dollar Man trying to eliminate the dead man legacy through King Kong Bundy but the streak went to 4-0.At Wrestlemania 12(1996), undertaker faced the man who rivaled him in terms of size & strength Diesel aka Kevin Nash but result was the same as streak goes 5-0.
Trending
At Wrestlemania 13(1997), undertaker entered into Wretlemania against psycho Sid in a WWE championship match for the first time. Sid was no doubt an impressive specimen but in the end he had surrendered his title through defeat & streak was gained momentum being 6-0. But in late 1997 a monster cut from the same mode “KANE” entered in the WWE ring with only one aim in mind Revenge. Undertaker never wants to fight with his brother but he had no other alternative. At Wrestlemania 14(1998), it was Kane vs. the undertaker. One most inspiring thing about that match was undertaker’s entrance. In the match, he had took 3 tombstone’s(finishing move) to pin kane & streak became 7-0.At late 1998 an evil dark-side persona of the undertaker came into picture as he formed a faction named “Ministry Of Darkness”. So, at Wrestlemania 15(1999), the big boss man entered not only to challenge the undertaker but inside hell in a cell. It was first time when a “hell in a cell “match was happening at the grand stage. The phenom came out victorious & streak continued with 8-0.Greatness can be defined in many different ways but ability to keep it current & elevate once image to another level is the real challenge. As the Dawn of a new century was also a dawn of a new undertaker. With “American bad-ass” persona undertaker entered into Wrestlemania 17(2001), as he being challenged by cerebral assassin “Triple H” but the result was the same as streak goes 9-0. From then onwards, streak became the fabric of Wrestlemania & it requires someone of legendary status to step & challenge. So former 16 time world heavyweight championship ric flair seize the opportunity but he also faced at same fate like 9 previous opponents as streak was astonishing 10-0.
By this point of time everybody started noticing “THE STREAK” as cemented his legacy as greatest sports entertainer of all time. So, at Wrestlemania 19(2003) the dead man had faced not one but two opponents (Big show & A-train) in a handicap match. Even with the odds were against the undertaker, He still able to make equation 11-0. Wrestlemania 20(2004) was labeled as “where all begins again”. He returned with his original persona “dead man” as he was poised once again to face his brother Kane & streak continues as 12-0. At Wrestlemania 21(2005), the self-proclaimed legend killer Randy Orton was fixed to kill the legacy of undertaker’s streak & 3RD generation superstar was too close to do just that but there was nothing unlucky about number 13 for the undertaker as streak continues 13-0. Following year in Chicago the world strongest man mark henry took aim against the streak in a match which is tailor-made for the dead man “A CASKET MATCH”. Undertaker slammed & door shut in 14-0 streak. With 80000 WWE fans at Fortfeild, Detroit for Wrestlemania 23(2007) & this time it was world heavyweight champion Batista. Batista stole the show but phenom won the match & became world heavyweight champion with streak 15-0.
A top AEW star just called one of his colleagues 'spoiled' and 'narcissistic' HERE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6PLqF0BnUc
The dead man’s next challenger was the Rated-R superstar Edge at Wrestlemania 24(2008).Before facing the undertaker at Wrestlemania, Edge was never being defeated at the grand stage but one streak had to end but it was not for undertaker as streak was 16-0. It became crystal clear a show stopping performance is needed to end the streak. So who was better than Mr.Wrestlemania himself “Shawn Michaels “. No one had ever out-performed Heart-break kid at grand stage but no had ever beaten the undertaker. HBK came so close to pulling of the impossible but somehow streak was alive with 17-0 at Wrestlemania 25(2009). HBK didn’t quit as he decided to risk it all for one last chance as he put his career on the line in attempt to end the streak. The anticipation for the rematch was off the charts as the streak match became the main event of the show. The two gladiators not only gave an extraordinary performance but a match full of emotions. THAT WAS THE ONLY MATCH WHICH MADE ME CRY. But in the end Shawn’s career came to an end as streak was intact 18-0. Watching his best friends career came to an end was a heart trenching experience for Triple H. So He entered into Wrestlemania 27(2011) fuel with emotion & retribution. Somehow undertaker manage to won & streak was 19-0 but despite being victorious yet again undertaker’s physical state was compromised as he was not able to woke out from the match on his own feet due to Triple H’s beating. So at Wrestlemania 28, it was “HELL IN A CELL” match between phenom & the game with guest referee Shawn Michaels. The phenom got a standing ovation as he was victorious & streak became legendeary 20-0. Following year, At Wrestlemania 29(2013) he faced straight edge messiah CM Punk but streak lived long as 21-0.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_udBpK4F6gk
Surely, He is the “LAST-OUTLAW” in WWE. He is called as“THE PHENOM” because of his commitment & sacrifice he did for this business. Whenever Wrestlemania period of the year comes around, the question always arises, who going to challenge the streak this year. He had created a benchmark which never been duplicated again. The streak is now become synonymous to Wrestlemania & chances of someone ending the streak are now being slimmer & slimmer. At the age of 49 it’s only the streak which make him comeback again & again. I never want streak being over because for me WWE & Wrestlemania is worthless without “THE UNDERTAKER”.
PHENOM FOREVER
