10 Moments Which Define The Undertaker's WrestleMania Legacy

1. The Last Ride (WrestleMania 33)

Undertaker WrestleMania 33
WWE.com

The Undertaker’s WrestleMania performances nosedived after wrestling CM Punk. The Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon bouts flopped, and while the Bray Wyatt match wasn’t awful, it was entirely forgettable. His body was failing him, and sooner rather than later, 'The Deadman's run would have to come to an end.

That moment came at WrestleMania 33 when, in one of the saddest “farewell” performances of all-time, 'Taker fell to Roman Reigns. The match itself was a mess, and 'Taker looked legitimately lost at times, while Roman could do nothing to carry his 52-year-old opponent to a respectable performance. In the end, Reigns’ win was nothing more than a mercy killing, and 'Taker, no longer fit for this line of work, was given the Old Yeller treatment.

After incurring his second 'Mania loss, 'Taker slowly pulled his finger-less gloves off and dropped them in the middle of the ring. His jacket followed, then his hat, and as 'The Deadman' broke character to kiss wife, then sombrely made his way up the ramp, it was immediately clear that this was "goodbye". The match stunk, but the aftermath was a fitting conclusion to an iconic WrestleMania career.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.