The Undertaker is the greatest performer in the history of WrestleMania, but barring any last-minute change of plans or major surprises, he'll be absent from the big show this year in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter already reported that Undertaker will at least be attending WWE's next show in Saudi Arabia on May 3. But why isn't The Deadman taking part in the show that has made him such a legend?

Meltzer (via Ringside News), explained why on Wrestling Observer Radio:

"He’s going to be wrestling in Saudi Arabia this year — he’s coming back. You know I guess that money was just too big to turn down and I get it.

That’s why he’s doing everything that he’s doing and god bless him. He worked really, really hard for decades to build a name and to he kept his mystique which is pretty hard to do in this business."

Brad Shepard recently said on the Oh, You Didn't Know podcast that WWE was "operating as if" The Phenom wasn't going to attend the show. Shepard added that it was  "a big surprise to people internally."

Undertaker recently turned 54 years of age and has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, so it's easy to understand why he's working a much softer schedule now - compared to previous years. He can't take all of those bumps and bruises, and 'Taker knows sacrifices must be made if he wants to remain in wrestling shape for the long run.

Related: The Best (And Worst) Undertaker Matches At WrestleMania

via WWE

It's always possible that something changes at the last minute, and even if he doesn't wrestle, Undertaker might at least appear in some capacity. Or perhaps this is a ploy from WWE for us to believe he's not actually competing, setting the stage for a huge WrestleMania surprise.

But if he doesn't appear, it'll obviously be a disappointment to the long-time WWE fans. After all, this is the man who has had so many iconic WrestleMania moments - and we'll never get tired of watching him perform on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

What This Means

Even if Undertaker doesn't appear at WrestleMania, at least fans won't have to wait long to see him again. He's rested up nicely and has trained extensively since the Crown Jewel pay-per-view, so 'Taker will be in excellent shape when he competes again.

Next: The Undertaker Is No Longer Expected To Compete At WrestleMania [Rumor]