One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WWE History

16. 2009 - Big WrestleMania Match Was Discussed

Undertaker Chris Jericho
WWE.com

You almost missed out on one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time. You wouldn’t however have missed out on the worst discourse of all-time; in this alternate timeline, it was the second Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels match that, as reported in the November 16 WON, nearly didn’t happen. 

Instead, there was talk within creative to go with Undertaker Vs. Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XXVI in the event that Edge could not make it back in time from injury. 

That plan was almost immediately abandoned and was only ever an “if we have to…” deal. Edge did end up making the ’Mania build - and just barely, gauging by that rushed performance at the 2010 Royal Rumble - and, moreover, Shawn Michaels was done by late 2009. He told everybody who’d listen that he couldn’t endure the “grind” anymore. WWE obviously wanted him to stick around, hence why, in a process of bargaining almost, the company stuck their fingers in their ears in an attempt not to listen. 

It was a desperate, fitful time in WWE. The company lost faith in one of their ideas for a key match on the biggest show of the year to such an extent that they simply ran ‘Taker Vs. Jericho - a first-time meeting - on a random episode of SmackDown instead.

 
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!