The Undertaker is one of the most recognizable names in wrestling history, and for good reason. Debuting in 1990, the Deadman has beaten the best names ever and left fans with memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, over the last few years, age has caught up with Big Evil, and fans have left his matches a little less than satisfied. In fact, many believe he should hang up the boots for good.
While we won't take a stance on this particular topic, we do think there are a few good names in the WWE right now that could believably retire The Undertaker for good, and there were a few that could have but didn't. So, we're going to explore both camps. Here are 5 Wrestlers Who Should Retire The Undertaker (& 5 Who Should Have But Didn’t).
10 Should: Finn Balor
Ever since Finn Balor debuted in WWE, he's had one thing set him apart from the dozens of talented superstars on the roster — his Demon Persona. We're not saying he offers nothing else — he's easily one of the best hands in the company — but his alter ego is a difference maker.
The Demon vs The Deadman would be a fantastic build up for a match, and we think Finn Balor could put on one heck of a performance, and hide any of 'Taker's rust, while the seasoned veteran could help Balor pace the match. There would be a lot of emotion when all is said and done there would be a lot of tears, but when the dust settles, Balor would be a made man in WWE.
9 Should Have: Randy Orton
Randy Orton's "Legend Killer" gimmick was fantastic. Every week, it seemed like he was defeating a new WWE legend, but when it came to Undertaker at WrestleMania, he couldn't get the job done. Sure, he ended up getting that win later, but at that point, it didn't matter as much.
Undertaker still had many fantastic years ahead of him, but the impact of Orton retiring Undertaker when it wasn't expected could have been something we'd talk about for years to come.
8 Should: Aleister Black
Aleister Black debuted on WWE's main roster without much to do, but those who watched his run in NXT was fantastic. The silent superstar put on fantastic matches against the likes of The Velveteen Dream and Andrade, and he proudly held the show's top championship for nine months before losing the strap to Tomasso Ciampa.
Much like Finn Balor, Aleister Black's darker aesthetic makes him a great opponent for The Undertaker, and at 34 years old, he still has a lot to offer. The Dutch superstar's hard-hitting style would believably put an end to the older superstar, and his speed and agility could easily be what puts him over in this bout.
7 Should Have: CM Punk
Sometimes, we wonder what would have happened if CM Punk beat Undertaker at WrestleMania. It could have altered the entire history of the company. Still, with the match they put on, we kind of wish it went the other way.
In reality, this was probably the last great Undertaker match, and it could have been the perfect note to end his career on. Punk would have something to brag about for the rest of his career, and maybe, he'd stay and give WWE a top guy to carry them through the post-John Cena era.
6 Should Have: Triple H
Triple H's wars with The Undertaker were something of Legend. Sure, he didn't put on classics like Shawn Michaels did the two years prior, but they were far more physical. In reality, you could choose either one of their matches as Taker's last, but we think the legendary "End of an Era" Hell in a Cell match from WrestleMania XXVII match was the perfect send-off.
Considering the intensity of the match, one would think this was 'Taker's swan song, and the final image of he, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels at the top of the ramp to close out the segment would have been far more impactful.
5 Should: Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe is a little old to be on this list, but his MMA-inspired style and his size make him the perfect man to be the Undertaker's final opponent.
Much like Undertaker, Joe is a seasoned veteran, who's had success everywhere he went. His matches against CM Punk in Ring of Honor were legendary. His run in TNA was a bright spot for the company, and his run in the promotions X-Division champion was memorable. While in WWE he's been just as successful. He's won the NXT Championship (twice) and after main eventing a handful of pay-per-views against Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles, he's found his groove as the United States Champion. One more feather in his cap could be retiring the most legendary name in wrestling history.
4 Should Have: Bray Wyatt
WWE had something with Bray Wyatt heading into his match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXXI. Calling himself "The New Face of Fear", he was absolutely unsettling. Not only that, but most of us believed that there was no way Wyatt would have his hand raised at the end of the night. The shock value would be worth it.
A win over The Undertaker would have cemented Wyatt as the new supernatural superstar, and maybe, it could have changed his career forever.
3 Should: AJ Styles
AJ Styles doesn't have many more years left in him, but his wrestling ability alone should put him in the running to retire The Undertaker. Since his debut in 2016, Styles has absolutely run the WWE. In fact, he and 'Taker share a common role as they both were the face of the SmackDown brand at one point.
Sure, AJ Styles is in his 40s, but that shouldn't deter the WWE from using him as the guy to retire Undertaker. In fact, he'd be one of the few wrestlers we'd trust to send The Deadman off the right way.
2 Should Have: Brock Lesnar
At the end of the day, the last time we should have seen The Undertaker (outside of a Hall of Fame induction appearance) was when he walked through the curtain after his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX.
While Undertaker was legitimately hurt during the bout, it was the right way for him to go. No one expected him to return, and while it was special to see him return, it would have been better to have it all end here.
1 Should: Braun Strowman
The Monster Among Men is a destructive force in WWE, and he's proven time and time again that he can be an absolute beast.
There are few WWE superstars with the potential of Braun Strowman. The WWE sort of missed the boat to make him a true top guy when he lost to Brock Lesnar multiple times. Still, he hasn't come close to peaking yet. A great way to do that is by taking down the Deadman. The match in our minds would be short, but impactful, and it would set in motion a reign of terror we've never seen before.