Undertaker's WrestleMania Opponent Should Be Decided in Royal Rumble Match

WrestleMania. The Streak. The Undertaker.

All three of these things are synonymous with professional wrestling history. 

What's more polarizing than the Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania, is the selection of his victims.

Nineteen different times, a Superstar has decided to tempt fate and do what's been proven to be impossible; defeat the Undertaker at WrestleMania.

Some of the greatest superstars have tried and failed.

From Kane to Triple H to Shawn Michaels, all who have stepped into the Deadman's yard have gone down in history as just another victim.

This year, Undertaker looks to go for 20-0, claiming yet another victim on his way into the history books.

The questions are: Who will be the next one to step toe-to-toe with the Undertaker? And, who will try to take away everything he's worked his entire career for?

One way to decide who should be facing the Undertaker, struck me as a perfect way to go about doing so. 

Yes, I'm aware of the fact that Triple H is currently rumored to have a rematch from last year already in place, but that's the easy way out.

Instead of having Undertaker take on somebody he has faced numerous times throughout his career, why not let a young, up and coming superstar prove his worth in the ring with one of the greatest of all-time?

The way to go about doing so would be to change the stipulation for the Royal Rumble match.

I know it's very unlikely they would do that, or would even consider it. But look at it this way; what's bigger than a world championship match at WrestleMania?

Simple answer: To have a match with the Deadman at WrestleMania.

Think about it. As it currently stands, the world title scenes on both Raw and Smackdown can easily be decided without having the Rumble winner decide who to go after.

John Cena already has a match set, so he's out. Daniel Bryan looks to be on his way to Mania with the World title, so he's basically set; same goes for CM Punk. 

Randy Orton will more than likely challenge a heel Bryan for the World title because, well, he's Randy Orton. Chris Jericho can be used in any way, shape, or form and it will be magic. Plus, it looks like Jericho will eventually tangle with Punk, so the titles are all set.

Why not spice things up a notch? Make the winner of the Royal Rumble match be the next person to test fate with the Deadman, and try to end the streak.

It may be unconventional, it may cause uproar for the winner who, more than likely, would not want to take up the challenge, but it's something that could make for some great television on the way to WrestleMania.

Say, the winner of the Rumble is Wade Barrett. The guy is already on a massive run as of late, and nothing appears to be slowing him down. He wins the Rumble thinking he's earned a title shot.

Enter John "Mr. Excitement" Laurinaitis. 

He comes out and states that rather than earning a title shot, Barrett has earned himself a shot at history and trying to end the streak.

In the months leading up to his big encounter, Barrett is put through a number of challenge matches and stipulations to help him get into the mindset of Undertaker. To pick his opponent's brain and get to the root of what makes him tick.

Conclude it on the final Smackdown before Mania, by having Barrett compete in a Hell in the Cell or Inferno match against Kane, the man who knows Undertaker better than anybody. 

What a way to make a rising star a megastar in just a few short months.

That is why the Royal Rumble winner should be challenging the Undertaker, rather than for a world title at this year's WrestleMania.

It would create a rather unorthodox and unique situation, but what a way for some lucky superstar to make his mark and be forever known as the man who took the Undertaker Streak Challenge.