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WWE News: Creative Plans For The Undertaker’s Appearance This Week On ‘SmackDown Live’

By Andy Slawecki
Published on: 05:08 PST, Nov 14, 2016

You could argue that this week will mark the most significant six-day stretch in WWE since the brand extension. With Survivor Series looming on Sunday, both Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live are pulling out all the stops for their respective go-home shows in advance of the dual-branded pay-per-view. Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be special, with names like Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Edge, and the Undertaker on the marquee.

Lesnar and Goldberg will come face-to-face in a WWE ring for the first time in more than 12 years days before the showdown that’s being billed as fantasy warfare. SmackDown celebrates its 900th episode this week in what could be quite memorable. The Rated-R Superstar returns to host “The Cutting Edge” with his special guest Shane McMahon, and Dolph Ziggler puts his Intercontinental Championship on the line against The Miz. But it’s the appearance of the Undertaker that could prove the most compelling of all.

The last time the WWE Universe saw the Undertaker, of course, came after defeating Shane McMahon inside Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania. Shane recently replaced Baron Corbin on Team SmackDown for Survivor Series, and alongside Daniel Bryan, will make the voyage to RAW on Monday night to further promote the brand supremacy battle at the upcoming pay-per-view.

The Undertaker is not expected to be involved in Survivor Series, but according to Ringside News, will be involved in the beginning of a major storyline nonetheless. Initially, it was believed that the Deadman’s appearance was simply being booked as an extra special way to commemorate SmackDown’s historic achievement, but WWE officials clearly don’t want to waste this rare opportunity.

It appears that the Undertaker (once a major tent pole for SmackDown) will make his way to the blue brand to make his intentions known for WrestleMania 33 next April in Orlando. At the conclusion of his match with Shane inside AT&T Stadium, and the two months that followed, it seemed like a long shot that the Undertaker would ever wrestle again.

His relationship with Vince McMahon had become strained over several issues, including creative differences. The Undertaker’s physical condition was also slowly breaking down and eventually led to recent hip surgery. But fences and body alike were mended, and the two sides came to an agreement in which The Phenom’s road to WrestleMania will begin this Tuesday night on SmackDown Live.

Dating all the way back to the end of 2014, many within WWE were under the impression that the Undertaker and John Cena would square off on a WrestleMania stage. It didn’t work out this past year because of Cena’s injuries. John is healthy now, but he’s on hiatus filming his reality competition series for FOX and not expected to appear for his brand this week.

Whether the WWE moves forward with that particular program remains to be seen, but the Inquisitr recently reported that there was speculation going around that the reason for the Randy Orton heel turn was to eventually pit The Viper up against the Undertaker for a match at WrestleMania 33. Orton, of course, will be on Tuesday’s show, portraying his new role within The Wyatt Family, who has history of their own with the Deadman.

It’s certainly possible that the Undertaker could lay out the challenge to Cena and force the WWE Universe to wait for John’s return (either December or January) to hear his response. But if the company wants him to stand face-to-face with his future opponent, then Orton, of course, would make sense.

Cena has always been thought of as the Undertaker’s final opponent in the WWE, so if they decide to book ‘Taker with Randy Orton, that will certainly leave the door open for the Deadman to prolong his career at least one more year beyond 2017.

[Featured Image by WWE]

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