WrestleMania and The Undertaker are inseparable, their history intertwined with the grandest stage of them all.
Over the years, the Deadman’s most iconic moments and rivalries have unfolded at this epic event, earning his opinions great respect, particularly regarding his matches at ‘Mania. However, in 2018, things took an unexpected turn.
Leading up to his clash against John Cena at WrestleMania 34, The Undertaker was notably absent, leading many to doubt if he would even make an appearance—including Cena himself.
Yet, against the odds, the Deadman emerged and swiftly defeated the leader of the Cenation in under three minutes. Surprisingly, this wasn’t what The Undertaker had planned; it was a decision influenced by Vince McMahon and John Cena.
— WrestleClipsnVids (@wrestlevidsclip) October 21, 2023
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, The Undertaker disclosed that he was informed about the match’s short duration on the very same day.
This news didn’t sit well with him, having trained for a much longer bout. Upon learning of the match’s brevity, he threatened to walk out unless it was extended to at least 30 minutes.
Despite his initial protest, The Deadman relented after a conversation with John Cena. Cena explained that his trash-talking had warranted a swift defeat, and it was better to get it over with quickly.
The Undertaker humorously recounted feeling ganged up on by Vince and Cena but ultimately performed the match as planned.
While most fans were disappointed by the abrupt ending, another unexpected reaction came from The Undertaker’s daughter, who was upset for a different reason altogether.
The #Undertaker has answered the call.#WrestleMania @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/DjveaXlUxN
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
In an interview with Kevin Hart, The Deadman revealed that his daughter was a fan of John Cena and was angry at her father for defeating her favorite wrestler.
To console her, The Undertaker sought out Cena, who reassured her that the defeat was justified given his earlier remarks.
As for their current whereabouts, The Undertaker has retired from in-ring competition and was honored with induction into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
However, he remains active in endeavors such as his “1 deadMAN Show.” Meanwhile, John Cena has shifted his focus to Hollywood but continues to make occasional appearances in WWE.
Despite their initial differences, it’s reassuring to see The Undertaker and John Cena reach a resolution they could both accept.
