Predicting The Undertaker's Role in Historic WWE Raw 25th Anniversary Show

While WWE's 25th anniversary taping of Raw on January 22 is intertwined with ongoing speculation about potential returns and surprises, there is one legend already confirmed for the show: The Undertaker.

Taker hasn't been seen on WWE TV since the aftermath of his defeat to Roman Reigns at last year's WrestleMania 33 show, and his return here will set WWE fans speculating about what could lie ahead for The Deadman for the upcoming months.

Is this is a one-time appearance? Is it the start of something leading to another match? Here's a look at the possible scenarios and how The Undertaker's involvement with Raw 25 could play out.

He Appears...to Formally Retire from WWE

It's not completely impossible that, at the age of 52, The Undertaker may be completely done with in-ring competition.

The Deadman has certainly wrestled more than enough, and for long enough, to be entitled to call it a day in terms of his wrestling career.

And right now, while the possibility of him wrestling at Mania on April 8 remains open, so too does the prospect of him showing up at Raw 25 to declare that he won't be going round again this spring.

It would certainly definitively close the door on his WWE career, after fans were left wondering whether there was a slight chance of a return still after his defeat to Reigns last year.

Sure, he left his trademark hat and coat in the ring, but in WWE's world, that doesn't necessarily mean a great deal until The Deadman confirms himself that he's done. 

And who knows, perhaps that's what is happening here.

He Intends to Retire But is Persuaded to Wrestle by His Next Opponent

Of course, WWE could plan a segment where Taker appears announcing that he's done with the company and he's finishing his wrestling career...but that doesn't mean it has to play out that way.

Taker can appear saying he's done it all. He's seen the world, he's won all the championships there are to win and he's beaten everyone there is to beat.

Or has he?

Cue John Cena, who fans know will also be definitely turning up at Raw 25. A report from Dave Meltzer at Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc's Raj Giri) said that Cena is slated for a "much bigger match than AJ Styles," leading many to suspect there's a bout against Taker in the works.

Cena could emerge and say that while Taker's record at Mania is impressive, there is one big name he's yet to take on at the show. And that could lead The Deadman into being convinced to wrestle at least one more match before he hangs the boots up for good.

He Attacks Someone to Initiate a WrestleMania 34 Feud

While Taker wrestling at this year's WrestleMania remains a strong possibility, how WWE sets the match up can happen various ways.

The aforementioned method of someone like John Cena appearing to convince Taker to wrestle one more match is one way of doing things, but WWE could have Taker's appearance at Raw 25 be all the more shocking by having him attack someone.

That could well be Cena, who could be in the ring boasting how he's the man and nobody comes close to him in terms of prestige and popularity.

Then, the lights could dim, the trademark gong could sound and, suddenly, when the lights come back up, Cena is laid out in the middle of the ring with Taker stood over him.

That would certainly be one way to get the crowd to pop, that's for sure.

It doesn't have to be limited to Cena, either. With WWE's depth in terms of the roster talent, there are a multitude of options for Taker at Mania.

It's just that Cena is the most appealing, and certainly the most likely, as Raw 25 inches ever closer.