The Undertaker Should Not Compete at WWE WrestleMania 31

For months now, there have been rumblings of The Undertaker’s potential appearance at WWE's WrestleMania 31.

It was initially thought that he may make his comeback against former WCW legend Sting, though as The Icon is now heavily involved in a storyline with Triple H, it seems such a match could only happen another year down the line, as reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Inquisitr.com).

Following a series of cryptic promos from The Eater of Worlds, various sources including Wrestling Inc have reported that Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker is a distinct possibility. While many fans are looking forward to this potential matchup, the outcome would threaten to damage either The Undertaker’s legacy or Brock Lesnar’s main event.

Wyatt has been ascending ever since his feud with Dean Ambrose. With both stars frequently stealing the show as they exchanged victories, it was Wyatt who would emerge victorious, delivering two Sister Abigails in an Ambulance Match to temporarily rule a line under the rivalry.

Since then, Wyatt has destroyed every opponent in his path, proving to be the destructive force many anticipated he would be following his initial introduction to Monday Night Raw.

WWE are currently pushing a new crop of talent. In addition to the increasing popularity of NXT as both a standalone product and a way to introduce new talent to the Raw roster, the long-term face of WWE, John Cena, has been relegated to competing for the United States Championship as the likes of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins continue to move up the card.

Among these relatively new faces making a name for themselves is Wyatt, so it is no surprise to hear rumours that he will face The Deadman at WrestleMania 31 from F4WOnline.com (h/t Wrestling Inc.).

With both superstars emitting enigmatic and supernatural auras, the buildup to the encounter would be just as interesting as the in-ring confrontation. Wyatt’s feud with Ambrose demonstrated his ability to put his body through the ringer, so the caveat of Wyatt's flying through a table would suit an aging Undertaker and help slow down the match.

There is little doubt that the match would be a huge draw and certainly one fans would want to see. Everything seems to be in place for The Undertaker to come back as a relevant force at WrestleMania again.

Yet there is no logical outcome that will benefit both parties.

Should The Undertaker win, he would prove he has time left in his career and would then be available for future WrestleManias, possibly against Sting, as previously mentioned. His defeat to Brock Lesnar would be viewed as an anomaly rather than the end of a legend. But it will slow down Wyatt’s trajectory again.

On multiple occasions Wyatt has been built up only to fall short and take a step back. The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family made for a classic stable vs. stable match, but both were split up, with all three Shield characters taking the limelight more than the Wyatts.

Erick Rowan's transformation into a cartoon character didn’t help Bray’s continued attempts at portraying a demonic and elusive persona. Feuds with John Cena and (to a lesser extent) Chris Jericho didn’t reflect Wyatt as the unstoppable monster he could’ve been.

Simply being in the ring with The Undertaker will elevate Wyatt’s status, but yet another loss to a big name will prove to be another stumbling block in his career.

Indeed, it won’t prove an immeasurable obstacle, but given the current trend of pushing midcard wrestlers to main event status, the idea of a returning legend handing an up-and-comer a defeat doesn’t seem like the best decision, even if it does make for a thrilling match.

Wyatt could, of course, win the match. It is widely acknowledge that the man born Mark Calaway has a selfless adoration for the industry, and therefore it is possible he would be willing to take another fall at the year’s biggest stage in the interest of helping Wyatt develop to the next level. This would give fans the match they crave and turn Wyatt into a genuine main event contender.

But what would that mean moving into the main event?

Lesnar has been built up as a beast for a full year, and at WrestleMania his journey will come full circle. The hype leading up to and particularly on the night of WrestleMania will focus heavily on Lesnar’s achievements over the past year, and there will be no limit to the amount of times the end of The Streak is mentioned.

Lesnar has impressed in every bout, but the standout moment that will go down in wrestling folklore is the one in which he hit the 1-2-3 on The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30.

WWE.com

This pivotal moment will be incredibly diluted if the record is 21-2 leading up to the championship match. The promos leading into the main event will lose a lot of relevance. Lesnar’s take-notice moment will not be viewed as a unique achievement but simply convenient timing.

If The Undertaker is seen as a spent force, Lesnar’s potential loss will not have the same impact it could.

Were The Undertaker undefeated at WrestleMania, I would see no reason for Wyatt not to face him in March’s showpiece event. As it stands, this match may be better left to the imagination, in spite of its huge appeal.