7 WrestleMania Matches The Undertaker Almost Had
The seven Undertaker WrestleMania matches that never were.
From WrestleMania 7 to WrestleMania 33, The Undertaker faced 21 different competitors at the Show of Shows, embarking on an unprecedented undefeated streak that lasted over two decades. Of course, some of those 'Mania matches were better than others (best forget about his encounters with Giant Gonzalez and Big Boss Man), but all them solidified their spot in history one way or another.
Earlier this month, The Deadman seemingly called it a career when he suffered only his second ever loss on the grandest stage to Roman Reigns. The 'Mania main event received its fair share of flack from fans who were expecting more from the contest, leaving them to wonder how much better the bout could have been had Undertaker's (mooted) final opponent been a certain someone else before plans changed.
Interestingly enough, Undertaker is no stranger to having the identity of his opponent switched months ahead of the event. Reigns might have been the last, but he was far from the first person to benefit from Undertaker's WrestleMania plans changing - with these seven matches being the most prominent instances.
7. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 22)
The Undertaker's WrestleMania 21 plans changed quite a few times (more on that later), but it did appear he was destined to do battle with Kurt Angle at the event considering they were kept apart on the SmackDown brand since Undertaker reemerged as The Deadman. Instead, Angle went on to face Shawn Michaels and 'Taker feuded with and elevated Randy Orton, so it was for the better that their contest didn't come to fruition that year.
Talks of the two facing each other at WrestleMania were fuelled the following year when Angle returned to SmackDown at the onset of 2006 and immediately won the World Heavyweight Championship. Regardless of whether it would have been for the title or not, Undertaker vs. Angle was at one point penciled in for WrestleMania 22 before Angle was shoehorned into the title match with Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton - which was random considering Mysterio vs. Orton was the real rivalry.
Angle has gone on the record before in saying Undertaker would have been honored to allow the Olympic Gold Medalist to break the streak that year, but officials were more determined to get Mark Henry, who had just returned to TV, in the ring with Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Angle and Undertaker had an instant classic at No Way Out, but it would have been best saved for the Show of Shows.