8 Booking Steps For The Undertaker's WWE Return
5. Houston, We Have A Problem
Conveniently, SmackDown heads to The Undertaker’s Houston, Texas hometown just a few weeks later on December 6th. With the fallout from Survivor Series still fresh on everyone’s minds, this is an ideal spot to continue the angle, and it’ll start with AJ Styles.
Having defeated (and injured -- this is important) Dean Ambrose to retain his World Title at TLC a few days prior, AJ will have only one thing on his mind: The Undertaker. Let him head to the ring and rip into Taker in his hometown. AJ should really go all-out here, and by the end, the jeers should be close to drowning him out.
It comes to a conclusion with AJ calling Taker out, then mocking him for failing to emerge. Calling Taker a coward in Houston will have the crowd baying for AJ’s blood, and this is where Kane comes into play.
Nobody needs to see Kane pushed to the top of the card at this stage in his career, but he’s one of the most important figures in The Undertaker’s history. If this is Taker’s last run, Kane needs to be involved somehow, even in a peripheral role.
The Big Red Machine obviously isn’t going to take kindly to AJ’s recent shenanigans, and the two can spend the next couple of weeks feuding. That’s all they really need, and after AJ successfully overcomes The Undertaker’s brother, his path to The Deadman will be clear... or so he thinks.