Jim Ross On The Undertaker: ‘I Don’t Think He’s Retiring Anytime Soon’
We’ve been hearing rumors that WWE legend The Undertaker was planning to retire for several years now, and it’s no different this year. The retirement rumors really started to pick up some steam after “The Deadman” was pulled from WWE’s European tour. But, at least for now, The Undertaker hasn’t officially called it a career.
After his bout with Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 32, The Undertaker was reportedly telling people backstage that he was planning to retire. So, there’s a chance that he’s already had his last match, but WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross doesn’t believe that’s the case.
Ross commented on The Undertaker’s status on a recent episode of his podcast, The Ross Report, and he said that, in his opinion, “The Deadman” won’t be retiring anytime soon, because if he was planning on retiring, WWE would make a big deal out of it, which they clearly didn’t do after WrestleMania 32.
“I don’t think The Undertaker is going to retire anytime soon. I think that when he does retire, unless there is complete insanity that has engulfed the world of sports entertainment, that it will be the biggest news of the year, the last match for ‘The Deadman.’ And I think that last match for ‘The Deadman’ will be at a WrestleMania. When that happens, I don’t know. WrestleMania 33? I don’t know. WrestleMania 34? Who knows?”
You would think that if Undertaker let it be known that he was planning to retire, WWE would do something big to honor him. But, there’s a chance that “The Phenom” just wants to ride off into the sunset quietly.
The Undertaker retirement rumors began following his loss to Brock Lesnar back at WrestleMania 30. Even WWE Chairman Vince McMahon believed that “The Phenom’s” match against Lesnar was going to be his last, which is why he made the decision to end Undertaker’s undefeated streak.
Most believed that WrestleMania 32 was the perfect place to end The Undertaker’s career, as it was in his home state of Texas. In fact, the rumor for the year leading up to this year’s WrestleMania was that WWE would induct Undertaker into the Hall of Fame, and that he would wrestle his final match the next night. Obviously, the Hall of Fame induction didn’t happen, but there’s always a chance that his match with Shane McMahon was his last.
If The Undertaker does end up wrestling again, there’s no clear-cut direction for him. He may end up waiting until next year’s WrestleMania to return to action, and if that’s the case, there are a few guys who would be great opponents for him.
Kevin Owens has said that he would love to wrestle The Undertaker. It’s a match that WWE fans would definitely be excited to see. So, you can’t rule out Taker vs. Owens for next year.
Seth Rollins is another possible opponent for “The Deadman” next year. In fact, there’s a strong possibility that Rollins will face Undertaker at WrestleMania 33 if WWE doesn’t decide to do Cena vs. Undertaker.
Undertaker was significantly more active in 2015 than he had been in previous years. So, if he’s not planning on retiring, he may end up wrestling on one or two pay-per-views other than WrestleMania this year.
[Image via WWE]
