Who's Next In Line To Challenge The Undertaker's Streak at Wrestlemania?

The Undertaker will undoubtedly return on the Road to Wrestlemania to add arguably the top attraction to WWE diehards at the year’s biggest show. While the pair of World Title matches are always hotly anticipated, the Taker win streak, if booked well, shapes up to be the high point of the night…

But for this match to draw big money and big emotion, it must present the reasonable possibility that Taker could lose (Batista, Randy Orton), and the opponent must bring the prospect of a four star match (Edge, HBK).

So who will it be? And who do we WANT it to be?

The Yawners...

For my money, it’s a sin to waste this storyline on stinkers like Marc Henry or a Price Albert handicap match, or even worse, another bout with Kane. No disrespect to the BRM, but the two of them just don’t tango anymore, if they ever really did.

So here’s to slamming the door on the possibilities like Alex Riley, Ezekiel Jackson, or even Sheamus, a solid worker who doesn’t have enough heat at the moment…

The Young Guns...

Let’s be honest, it would take a lot of build-up for a Drew McIntyre or Dolph Ziggler to look even remotely like they belong in this match, though both are great workers!

With the right build-up, however, both could potentially come close to the excitement of the Orton-Taker match from WM 21 (when I truly thought the Legend Killer was going to shock the wrestling world). Jack Swagger has been buried too many times, but again, had the right build-up taken place, he could’ve been in the discussion. 

Young Guns II

Out of all the younger faces in the WWE, Daniel Bryan has the most potential to blow the roof off of the Georgia Dome. Alberto Del Rio also has all the momentum in the world to make the fans believe he could pull it off in the match itself, if not going in.

Whose Nexus?

Wade Barrett presents an interesting prospect. He only picks fights with those he respects. The guy can wrestle, and he has the size and presence to make an aging Taker look more than vulnerable.

I CREATED THE STREAK!!! AND NOW... I'M GONNA KILL IT!!!

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GREEN BAY, WI - JUNE 22: Vince McMahon attends a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

If this were 2003, I’d be all in. McMahon’s previous Mania encounters with Hulk Hogan and Shane McMahon were outstanding. While not Flair-Steamboat in the actual wrestling department, the storytelling was some of the best I’ve seen. 

McMahon-Hart was a disaster last year, and McMahon-Michaels was possibly the most undeserving PWI Match of the Year in history. With both Vince and Taker way too old to carry the other, this match doesn’t have the potential it once did, and the only thing that could save it is a host of surprise run-ins, ala Arn Anderson at X8 and Piper at XIX.       

AWESOME

What a waste this would be to burn the two in one match, as Miz will undoubtedly still carry the strap heading into Mania. But the entertainment potential is limitless, and The Miz could really build up the match on the mic in the coming weeks.

The Biggest Name

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BURBANK, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Pro-wrestler John Cena arrives at the Inagural 'Arby's Action Sports Awards' held at Center Staging on November 30, 2006 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Again, Cena is almost certainly destined to face and beat The Miz at Mania, but talk about high marks in the believability department when it comes to beating Taker. Cena almost NEVER loses, carrying a record of clean victories matched only by Austin and Hogan over the last 30 years.

I truly believed Cena would be the one to break the streak years ago, but now, the victory probably isn’t necessary, as Cena is the biggest name in wrestling, and whoever beats Taker should stand to gain more than Cena, who’s already beat everybody there is to beat.

The Re-Match

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LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 19: WWE wrestler Triple H poses in the ring after the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena September 19, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Image

From a storyline perspective, it makes the most sense. Taker retired Shawn Michaels, and while Triple H is likely to burn the ratings boost his return can equal on a feud with Sheamus, I just don’t feel the Celtic warrior has the buzz right now for anyone to care about this match other than for Triple H returning…

It might be better served to build up a Game-Taker rematch, and just think of the pop in Atlanta when HOF inductee Shawn Michaels comes out of nowhere to superkick the Deadman at a crucial moment.  

At the moment, I can’t see Triple H, even with all of his backstage stroke, putting himself over the streak, or in a match where he is not the main focus, so look for him to roll over Sheamus.

Straight Edge

Sure, this doesn’t even seem to be in the works with the dueling Nexus storylines. CM Punk has really come into his comfort zone both on the mic and in the ring. The guy can wrestle, and after years of six minute let-down matches in WWE, the kid is bringing the house down again like he did in ROH. On the mic, he has no equal.

In terms of believability, I think the heat Punk will bring and the emotion he can bring out of the fans make this the best bet. It will probably not happen, but Punk-Taker seems like a winner to me!

What Do You Think?

Leave a comment and tell me your pick to take on the Dead Man as he attempts to extend his streak to an unheard of 19-0!