Like most tenured main event performers in WWE, Randy Orton has been in a WrestleMania match against the Undertaker. Like almost everyone else, that match didn’t end so well for Orton. Taker’s legendary streak of course ended at WrestleMania XXX, when Brock Lesnar snapped the streak at 21 straight wins. Undertaker has picked up two more wins since then, but the one loss remains forever on his WrestleMania record (Wrecord). Until Sunday, probably, when Roman Reigns will likely hand him a second loss.
The streak ending was a huge shock to everyone, of course. It was one of the most shocking in-ring moments in wrestling history. But some people are still upset about the decision. People like Randy Orton, for example! In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Orton gushed about Undertaker’s importance to WrestleMania as an event, and didn’t mince words: he hates that Taker has a loss on the grandest stage of them all.
I think ‘Taker and ‘Mania go hand in hand. It’s unfortunate that he picked up a loss a few years back, I think that was wrong and I think everyone would agree with me for the most part with the exception of maybe Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar. I don’t believe that that loss tarnished his career, I just hate that his streak was tarnished.
You asked about me versus Taker, that was WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles, I was 25, my birthday always falls around the show, so I’m a kid, I’m a greenhorn, I grew up in the business but now I’m in a match in the biggest show you can be at, participate in as a professional wrestler, as a WWE Superstar, and I’m facing in a singles match the most legendary character that’s ever graced our presence – with maybe a few exceptions.
I was nervous, but I also knew I was in good hands. We went out there, we killed it, I reversed the chokeslam into the RKO, everybody bought it, he beat my ass and that was it. He picked up another win at ‘Mania and rightfully so because I think the WrestleMania brand and Undertaker go hand in hand. I think a lot of that had to do with the streak so I’ll never think that was the right thing to do, for him to pick up that loss, but that’s the past and we can only move on to the future here.
‘Taker is going to face Roman Reigns and that’s going to be a good one. I honestly believe that should be the last match on the card, I think that everybody will be happy with the outcome of the match. I expect the Undertaker to throw Roman Reigns around like a rag doll. Roman Reigns is going to get his, but at the same time, this is the Undertaker we’re talking about.
Will [Undertaker] be around after this? If this is his last one and there’s speculation, all I can say is I hope not. Whether it was twenty years ago or today, when he comes to the ring and the gong hits and the music plays, the energy in the arena, it’s not like that for anyone else. I don’t care if its [John] Cena, Shawn Michaels or whoever, it’s a different kind of energy and he’s got more respect from the fans than I think any character or superstar has ever had in our business.
On Sunday, it’s very likely that Orton will win a main event, while Undertaker will lose one. I hope Randy is able to be consoled if that happens. Poor Randy Orton. Sometimes it seems like nothing will ever go right for that dude.
