Why WWE WrestleMania 35 Match Card Is Better Off Without The Undertaker

For the first time since 2000, The Undertaker is not scheduled to compete on The Grandest Stage of Them All. But make no mistake: The WWE WrestleMania 35 card is better off without him.

The future WWE Hall of Famer, whose incomparable career has spanned almost 30 years, has been a staple at the The Show of Shows for the best part of its history. Throughout his storied stint in WWE, he has been in action at every installment save for two (WrestleMania XII and WrestleMania 2000) since his debut, going undefeated at the event for 21 consecutive matches at one point.

His most recent WrestleMania match in 2018, which saw him conquer John Cena in a matter of minutes, wasn't advertised in advance. Rather, their brief bout was a last-minute addition to the lineup, and considering how inconsequential it was, there was no need for it to happen in retrospect.

Credit: WWE.com

That odd usage of Undertaker was the first sign that a 'Mania match for him this year wouldn't be a priority. His clash with Cena served no purpose in the long run, with both guys taking time off for an extended period of time following the event.

It wasn't until the fall of 2018 that Undertaker resurfaced to rekindle his rivalry with Triple H and Shawn Michaels. After losing bouts to both members of D-Generation X at Super Show-Down and Crown Jewel, respectively, The Phenom was written out of storylines and hasn't been seen since.

Those losses sparked speculation that a third WrestleMania match against Michaels might be in the cards for WrestleMania on April 7, but nothing came of their interaction at the event in Saudi Arabia. Instead, Undertaker hasn't been seen on WWE TV leading up to the spring spectacle, and outside of a possible one-off appearance, it doesn't look like there are any plans for him to be brought in for the show.

Then again, it is probably for the best that Undertaker never wrestles again following the atrocity that was the Crown Jewel's main event, where everyone involved (excluding The Heartbreak Kid, ironically enough) produced subpar performances that indicated they were past their primes.

Truth be told, The Deadman should have retired from the ring following his Hell in a Cell match with Triple H at WrestleMania XXVIII.

It can be argued his last remarkable WrestleMania mach came in 2013, when he did battle with CM Punk. And since The Streak was broken by Brock Lesnar in 2014, Undertaker has looked his age and felt out of place on the pay-per-view he was once most synonymous with.

His subsequent encounters with Bray Wyatt, Shane McMahon, Roman Reigns and Cena were hardly necessary, leading fans to question why WWE continues to bring him back each year if his matches have gradually gotten worse.

Credit: WWE.com

Undertaker's descent into the darkness at the end of WrestleMania 33 would have been a perfect sendoff for his iconic character, but WWE apparently couldn't help itself and decided to have him take part a meaningless match the next year.

Looking at the lay of the land on Raw and SmackDown Live, there isn't anyone who would make sense as an opponent for 'Taker at WrestleMania 35 if he were to wrestle. AJ Styles could carry him to a passable outing, but that ship sailed years ago.

Despite a lackluster buildup, the upcoming installment of The Showcase of the Immortals should be strong given what's on tap. There are already a fair amount of part-timers competing on the card between Triple H, Lesnar, Batista and Shane-O-Mac, not to mention that the focus should largely be on today's talent.

There was a significant stretch of time when it wasn't WrestleMania season if Undertaker weren't around. He played an important role in the success of The Show of Shows and was always featured in a marquee match on the card, regardless of whether it wound up delivering.

In recent years, however, Undertaker hasn't made much of a difference one way or the other in terms of the excitement he generates for the event. His infrequent appearances don't help matters, and he rarely offers anything of substance in the ring or on the microphone.

Gone are the days of exhilarating Undertaker returns that result in a roar from the crowd. He has been on the brink of seclusion for several years now, and that less-than-stellar feud with Triple H and Michaels proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

With a whopping 14 matches slated to take place at WrestleMania in New Jersey (and more expected to be announced), there is no room for The Undertaker, meaning retirement could well be on the horizon for him after all.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a Quinnipiac Co and aspiring journalist. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.