The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt: Keeping Deadman off TV Makes Match More Effective

For this year's Undertaker feud at WrestleMania, Bray Wyatt narrated the storyline by himself.

Undertaker was nowhere to be found. His mysterious aura became more literal than ever. Undertaker is currently a mystery. Where has he been? Why is he coming back? What does he look like?

At WrestleMania 31, the main draw of Undertaker's match isn't the Streak but rather the (Dead)man himself. Undertaker's absence gives the feud all the mystique it needs without going over the top.

Wyatt alone is weird enough for both characters. He hardly needs any help. Undertaker's absence allows Wyatt to grow as a heel, cutting promos of significance that antagonize a beloved hero. If Wyatt defeats Undertaker at WrestleMania, he won't be a made man solely because of the elusive win. Instead, it will be because he spent several weeks claiming to be the New Face of Fear, and he delivered.

Too many confrontations between Undertaker and Bray Wyatt could have been ridiculous enough to undermine these claims. With too many supernatural themes, fans would refuse to take Wyatt seriously even in victory. WWE is setting the stage for Wyatt to establish himself as the newer, younger, more evil version of Undertaker. Now, all he has to do is win.

By remaining dormant, Undertaker continues to sell the effect of his first WrestleMania loss to Brock Lesnar. Just as fans saw the rise of Lesnar, who became more successful and dominant than ever in WWE, they were deprived of Undertaker.

Lesnar is currently the hottest commodity in WWE.

According to WWE.com, the reigning WWE World Heavyweight champion re-signed with the company, announcing the deal on ESPN's SportsCenter during an interview with Michelle Beadle. 

It's the biggest story of the young year. Fans will rally behind him as he prepares to face Roman Reigns in a match where no outcome is off the table. It's feasible that Lesnar could have a two-year reign with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That type of run is unprecedented in the modern era. It would make CM Punk circa 2011 look like Bob Backlund circa 1994.

The year of Lesnar would not be made possible without Undertaker's loss. Lesnar's rise wouldn't be nearly as effective without Undertaker's sustained absence.

Just as Lesnar's legacy benefits every day fans don't see Undertaker, Wyatt is also able to feed off his vanishing. For now, Wyatt is stepping into Undertaker's shadow as the New Face of Fear. Until Undertaker shows up at WrestleMania and beats Wyatt, fans will begin to believe it. Undertaker connected to fans not because of what he did but because of what he stood for. Difficult as it may seem, this makes him replaceable.

Date	Pay-Per-View	Opponent	Win/Loss?
April 6, 2014	WrestleMania XXX	Brock Lesnar	Loss
April 7, 2013	WrestleMania XXIX	CM Punk	Win
April 1, 2012	WrestleMania XXVIII	Triple H	Win
April 3, 2011	WrestleMania XXVII	Triple H	Win
September 19, 2010	WWE Night of Champions	Kane	Loss

Undertaker is more of a symbol than a wrestler. This is apparent now more than ever with his career nearing its end. He represents both immortality and death. The mere mention of his name can impact an entire segment. When he materializes, each reincarnation represents new life.

During the build to SummerSlam in 1994, Undertaker—known for donning grey-and-black attire—disappeared from television only to be replaced by a Ted DiBiase-endorsed impostor. He didn't return until SummerSlam, where he adopted a new purple-and-black look. This set the stage for several disappearances and resurfaces to come. Undertaker went on to spend his entire career fending off impostors.

But Wyatt is no impostor. His continued antagonizing of Undertaker elevates his character. When Undertaker returns, one must wonder whether he is coming back for a rebirth or another death. This isn't just any Undertaker comeback.

It might be a funeral.

When Undertaker returns, it will be more of an update than a celebration. Lesnar breaking the Streak raised curiosity among fans. So many questions plague Undertaker in present day. Is he coming back to lose again? Certainly he can't lose twice at WrestleMania, right? How is he holding up since that historic loss? Is he still alive?

No longer just a Deadman, Undertaker is a ghost. His absence plays into the insecurities and doubts of his biggest fans after the most devastating loss of his career. Once known as WWE's conscious, he's not a sure thing anymore.

Undertaker's radio silence tells a story more powerful than any of his promos. This only enhances his feud with Wyatt.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty, and listen to his weekly wrestling podcast.