The Undertaker's 24 WrestleMania Matches Ranked - From Worst To Best

19. Vs. Jake Roberts - WrestleMania VIII

Taker Mania XXX
WWE.com

Only marginally better than 'Taker's bow was his second 'Mania appearance.

It was another short undercard attraction with a similarly truncated brief: to get the Undertaker character over - this time, in his babyface guise. Roberts, peerless psychologist, tackled Undertaker with a tentative hit and run strategy, very subtly underlining the risk of his approach with a subtle, timid glance in the direction of the audience.

Match quality unravelled the longer it dragged on, which, given that it lasted a mere 06:36, is an indictment of it. It was clear that 'Taker was still working out the kinks of his face act. The application of a minute-long nerve hold wasn't going to endear him to the family audience raised on Hulk Hogan's exaggerated, one-note heroism. 'Taker portrayed his character with too much deadly intent, but Bobby Heenan was his customary genius self on commentary, merrily humming the funeral march after Roberts struck 'Taker with the DDT.

It was then that 'Taker, in his first low-key WrestleMania moment, sat up. The match ended when 'Taker drilled Jake with a Tombstone piledriver on the outside. The match was characterful and violent at its conclusion, but much too short and dull to revisit.

Contributor
Contributor

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!