WWE: Will The Undertaker Eventually Take Down Mark Henry?

Mark Henry has yet to meet his match on SmackDown. 

Since jumping over to the blue brand in the 2011 WWE Draft, “The World’s Strongest Man” has run through everyone who’s been put in his path. 

He sidelined The Big Show for several months with a leg injury, he did the same to Kane (who still hasn’t come back yet), he effectively ended the WWE career of The Great Khali, he got the best of Sheamus at SummerSlam and he even beat Randy Orton clean on two consecutive pay-per-views.

The Big Show has since returned to SmackDown and has given Henry the toughest test of his current run on Friday Nights; but even “The World’s Largest Athlete” won’t be the one to stop Henry’s current reign of terror and rid him of the World Heavyweight Championship. 

Most wrestling fans believe that there’s only one man who can do that: The Undertaker. 

The Phenom hasn’t been seen in the WWE since his match against Triple H at WrestleMania 27. But most of us are still hoping, wishing and praying that he returns to stop Henry from wreaking havoc on SmackDown. 

There’s just one problem, though—it may not be possible. Well, at least not anytime soon. 

Sure, we think it makes a ton of sense for The Undertaker to come back and put an end to Henry’s path of destruction storyline-wise. And it does.

But, despite the fact that WWE.com continues to tease that Taker could be returning to action soon, the recent reports on his health status indicate that that probably won’t be happening. 

From PWInsider.com (via WrestleNewz.com): 

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Regarding The Undertaker’s return, nobody within WWE expects him to be back in action before WrestleMania 28. Taker still isn’t 100% confirmed for WrestleMania but if he does return, expect him to be back in early 2012 to set up a feud for the big event in April. 

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At this point in his career, I don’t think we can expect to see The Undertaker as anything more than a special occasion wrestler, and by that I mean that he only competes at WrestleMania.

The Undertaker is 46 years old, will be 47 by the time Wrestlemania 28 rolls around and has dedicated most of his life to the WWE. There’s no need to rush his return to the ring and jeopardize his health just because the company “needs someone” to stop Henry from dominating Smackdown. 

I know what you’re thinking: “Well, why doesn’t the WWE just keep the World Heavyweight title on Henry until WrestleMania 28 and then have him face Taker in a Streak-vs.-Championship match at the pay-per-view?” 

Think about that actual question for a second, and then think about all the things that are wrong with it. 

In that scenario, Henry would have to hold onto the WWE Championship for another five months. I know that his current character is way more entertaining than any of his previous ones, but that would mean we would be forced to watch Henry main event pay-per-views for nearly another half year. 

Despite all the strides that Henry has made as a character, he’s still an immobile big man who can put on decent matches but will never even put on a bout that hits three stars. 

Why on Earth would we want to see him hold onto the World title that long when there are 15 guys just on SmackDown who can outwrestle him? 

Hint: We wouldn’t. 

Henry’s run at the top has been fine, and I like the idea of him holding onto the strap for a bit longer. But keeping the title on him all the way until WrestleMania for a match with The Undertaker would not be a good business decision. 

First of all, it would combine what should be two main event-caliber matches from SmackDown into one. By that I mean that The Undertaker defending his streak should be a main event, and SmackDown’s World Heavyweight Championship match should be a completely separate main event. 

Secondly, The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry is not a match that we want to see in 2011. We saw those two face each other in a Casket Match at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, and it wasn’t good then. 

So why would it be a good idea now? 

Look, don’t get me wrong—I respect the hell out of Henry for his ability to reinvent himself so late in his career, and I obviously realize all the things that The Undertaker has done for the WWE. 

But the stars aren’t aligning for those two to face each other, and the WWE shouldn’t force them to.