10 Cringeworthy Moments From WWE Greatest Royal Rumble

8. Undertaker Can't Reach The Casket

Jinder Mahal Jeff Hardy botch
WWE

Undertaker looked like a million dollars when he made his return at WrestleMania this year, shining in a three-minute demolition job on John Cena. He was swiftly booked to take on Rusev, amid the most impressive surge of popularity in the Bulgarian's career, in a casket match at Greatest Royal Rumble. Rusev was briefly removed from the match, but was ultimately handed the spot back.

The casket match was a surprisingly solid affair given the inherent constraints of both the gimmick and the age of The Undertaker. It culminated in Undertaker tossing Rusev into the casket, before delivering a Tombstone Piledriver to Aiden English and rolling him into the box at ringside as well. When the time came to close the lid, though, Undertaker struggled to reach the casket through the ropes, leading to an agonising couple of moments in which he reached out in vain.

This period of awkwardness had nothing on the horrific cringe factor of his WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns last year, but it's another symptom of the diminishing flexibility of Undertaker's body. WWE will have to be careful and book the Deadman in such a way that his deficiencies are thoroughly masked, just as they were against Cena.

 
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Freelance film journalist and fan of professional wrestling. Usually found in a darkened screening room looking for an aisle seat and telling people to put away their mobile phones. Also known to do a bit of stand-up comedy, so I'm used to the occasional heckle.