Undertaker’s Silence Speaks Volumes for John Cena and WrestleMania 34

But maybe it was not meant to be his last match. Maybe it was truly about passing the torch to Reigns in the middle of the ring. Perhaps that loss was not what the fans wanted. But it’s what The Phenom wanted. He lost the streak. He lost the war to Brock Lesnar. The only thing he had left was his spot. He gave that to Reigns.

Undertaker is old school. He came up during the last gasp of the territory days so he understood what honor meant. He fought the best in the business so he understood what pride meant. The Undertaker became a megastar in WWE, where legend after legend did the job so that he may prosper. The Undertaker understands what respect is.

He has respect for WWE and more importantly, he has respect for the business. What he once received, he now gives back. But the man he will face at WrestleMania 34 also knows a great deal about respect. That’s why their match will end with a win for The Deadman.

John Cena incites the wrath of Kane after insulting The Undertaker: Raw, March 19, 2018

Had John Cena been the new face of WWE in 2017, he would have pinned The Undertaker and this would be an entirely different conversation. If Cena were still the face of WWE now, it would also be a much different conversation. But this Cena is a man that’s made peace with his new role. When he’s on TV, Cena is conflicted. He doesn’t want to leave. He knows he still has some fight left in him.

But when he’s out of the spotlight, Cena surely knows that this is no longer about him. He’s done his part to carry WWE over the years and he’s done a much better job than many will ever give him credit for. This John Cena has nothing to gain by pinning The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34. Cena may or may not have several more WrestleManias ahead and he certainly has more years behind him than in front of him.

That is why Cena will do the right thing and show respect to WWE’s greatest performer of all time on April 8 at WrestleMania. He may have called The Undertaker a coward, but that was only done to force his hand. Taker gave Cena his stamp of approval when Cena hit the main roster in 2002. Without The Undertaker, there is no John Cena. Now it’s Cena’s turn to pay him back.

The Undertaker was indeed quiet on March 19 but he will not be quiet for long. Kane stepped up to Cena and the two men will face off on the March 26 Monday Night Raw. Taker is already making his presence known and that will surely be the case when this match ends. The bell will gong. The smoke will rise and The Undertaker will appear.

Perhaps he will return on the bike. Or maybe he will return with the druids. But no matter how he comes back, he’s doing so because WrestleMania 34 is his last stand. What better way to end it all than with a win over a man that’s arguably worked harder than anyone else over the past decade in WWE? What better way to call it a career than by helping that man back to his feet and shaking his hand?

WrestleMania 34 is not about putting over the top guy. It’s also not about ignoring the work done to make the top guy. This is about one legend doing the honors to another legend. This is about The Undertaker going out with his head up. He has already done the work on his back. Now it’s time to stand on his feet once again.

WWE will forever be indebted to The Undertaker for all he has done. The same is true of the fans.

 

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumours. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online at boinkstudios.com