The Undertaker's 23 WrestleMania Matches - From Worst To Best
19. Big Show And A-Train (WrestleMania XIX)
The original plans for Undertaker at WrestleMania XIX were so bad that WWE had to change them ON THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW to prevent a potential embarrassment. Nathan Jones was nowhere near ready to perform in a match the magnitude of a 'Mania bout. To paraphrase the great "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he was "greener than goose s***". Somehow, no one realized this prior to the biggest Sunday of the year, waiting until the Sunday Night Heat broadcast prior to the show to eliminate him from the equation. Undertaker was left to battle the colossal duo of A-Train and Big Show by himself in what was the first, and only, time he had to defend his undefeated streak against two men at once. Unfortunately, the match was about as good as the talent involved would dictate. Undertaker was in the midst of an in-ring renaissance, employing a more submission-based style that he had adopted due to his fandom of mixed martial arts. But even his determination to have a great match could not force a strong showing out of a lethargic Big Show and a motivated A-Train who simply did not have the ring time to affect the quality. The outcome was never in question, the action never got out of neutral and a late-match appearance by Jones only magnified the stupidity of the match in the first place.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.