WrestleMania 28: How Undertaker's Streak Measures Up to Other Streaks in Sports

I fully understand that The Undertaker's unbeaten streak of 19 straight at WrestleMania is predetermined, but there is no question that it's still an impressive feat.

The streak started off as a coincidence until the company became aware of it, but allowing Taker to win that many times on the big stage without a defeat proves his importance.

The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak isn't the first major streak in the history of sports, but it may be the most impressive. Taker's streak obviously has a lot of competition as the history of organized sports stretches back a long way, but it truly is synonymous with professional wrestling.

Here are some other sports streaks and some analysis on how they stack up to The Deadman.

Joe DiMaggio 56-Game Hitting Streak

The year 1941 was a very special one for New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio, as the Yankee Clipper embarked upon what very well may be the most famous streak in sports. On May 15, DiMaggio picked up a hit against the Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Smith and he would pick up at least one hit in 55 games thereafter. Joltin' Joe's 56-game hitting streak still has yet to be challenged, and it may never be broken.

Although it isn't realistic to think that The Undertaker could wrestle at and win 56 straight WrestleManias, his streak is pretty comparable. Very few wrestlers last in the business itself for 19 years, but the fact that Taker has been performing at the highest level possible for that long is completely unprecedented.

DiMaggio's streak is probably more impressive, but I don't anticipate anyone ever breaking Taker's streak, either.

Boston Celtics Eight Consecutive NBA Championships

From 1959 through 1966, the Boston Celtics won an astounding eight consecutive NBA Championships, which is a feat that was never accomplished before and will never be accomplished again.

Players Bill Russell and Bob Cousy and head coach Red Auerbach were chief among those who spearheaded the Celtics' success.

It's difficult enough to win one NBA Championship these days as evidenced by the Miami Heat's failure in the finals last year despite having LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. With that in mind, I would have to say that the Celtics beat out Taker as well.

For Undertaker's streak to be as important, he would have to be winning a world title match every year at WrestleMania. While he has done that several times, the majority of his 'Mania matches have been for bragging rights.

Cal Ripken Jr. 2,632 Consecutive Games Played

The Undertaker is arguably wrestling's iron man, but there is no question that baseball's all-time iron man is former Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman Cal Ripken Jr.

From May 30, 1982 through Sept. 19, 1998, Ripken played in 2,632 straight games, shattering the record that was previously held by Hall of Fame New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig.

In a sport that requires teams to play 162 games per season, nagging injuries are commonplace, but Ripken never let them keep him out of the lineup.

While injuries have gotten the better of The Undertaker in recent years, he truly was a workhorse throughout the early part of his career as he worked every date no matter what.

Maybe Taker doesn't have the same track record as Ripken, but when it comes to performing on the big stage, The Undertaker finds a way to get ready for it.