Following the conclusion of Survivor Series on November 22nd, The Undertaker walked away from professional wrestling. For 30 years, Mark Calaway gave the WWE Universe some of its most memorable moments through his much-loved persona. Having made his debut with World Wrestling Entertainment in 1990, The Deadman spent the next three decades playing a central role in the organisation’s complex and well-thought-out storylines. However, sadly, even in the case of The Undertaker, nothing lasts forever. So, let’s take a look at what Calaway’s exit from the WWE means for the company.
Pressure on Others to Step Up
Throughout his professional wrestling career, The Undertaker undoubtedly established himself as one of the organisation’s most successful competitors. Across his 30-year career, he held the world heavyweight championship on seven different occasions. Not only that, but it’s impossible to overlook The Deadman’s Wrestlemania streak that first began in 1991. Prior to his defeat to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXX, the seven-time champion defeated the likes of Batista, Randy Orton, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and many more. Although the decision to end the streak was a controversial one, it signified the beginning of the end for The Undertaker’s professional career.
Regarding future plans, having Lesnar end the streak may now be seen as something of a mistake. The victory gave Brock Solid and the WWE the foundations to replace The Undertaker with a ready-made star. However, in September 2020, Lesnar left the WWE after failing to agree a new deal.
In the space of several months, the franchise lost two of their most iconic stars. Because of that, the pressure is on for the current roster to step up and fill the void. Now, the WWE need to plan for the upcoming decade with the likes of Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns at the forefront of their long-term vision. Going forward, quality should be prioritised over quantity by Vince McMahon in an effort to ease the loss of The Undertaker. Given the regularity of events, this shouldn’t be hard to achieve. Reigns, for example, is currently 8/1 at Royal Panda’s WWE Betting market to win the 2021 Royal Rumble, which would undoubtedly enhance his reputation.
The End of a Golden Era and the Start of Another?
As touched on above, The Deadman’s defeat to Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXX was a significant chapter in the WWE’s history. For decades, Calaway’s in-ring persona had been one of invincibility. Not only that, but The Undertaker was also one of the last of his generation to grace the ring. While, of course, age catches up with everyone eventually, the 56-year-old’s retirement left much of the WWE universe in disbelief.
In many ways, while The Phenom’s persona will be a significant loss, it leaves decade-long viewers of the WWE having to accept the end of the brand’s golden era. The 21st century has seen numerous much-loved stars step away from in-ring competition both officially and unofficially, including Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, and many more. Collectively, the above names played a pivotal role in growing the WWE and attracting a global audience base.
It’s a testament to the work of the above stars that the WWE continues to reap the rewards of their hard work. According to the company’s official website, their digital video views rose by three percent in the third quarter of 2020, while hours consumed also increased by the same amount. Moreover, this is also a positive sign that the current roster can continue to build on the foundations laid by former stars.
There Will Never Be Another
Ultimately, The Undertaker’s legacy will live long in the memory. In the eyes of many, he is the WWE’s best ever competitor and has been for several years. The organisation need to be inventive in seeking to fill the void, as attempting to create another Phenom will somewhat undermine his impact.
