There are few chapters in pro wrestling lore as mythic—and as gut-wrenching—as the end of The Undertaker’s legendary WrestleMania streak. For over two decades, “The Deadman” stood unbeatable at WWE’s grandest stage, racking up win after win against the biggest names in the business. That is, until WrestleMania 30 in 2014, when Brock Lesnar delivered the unthinkable.
In front of a stunned crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, The Undertaker’s perfect 21-0 streak came to a screeching halt after a grueling 25-minute battle with “The Beast Incarnate.” Despite hitting all his signature offense—including chokeslams, Hell’s Gate, and even a tombstone piledriver—The Phenom couldn’t keep Lesnar down. A third and final F-5 sealed the deal, as the referee’s hand hit the mat for the three-count and an audible gasp swept through the WWE Universe.
But as iconic as that moment is in wrestling history, The Undertaker himself has little memory of it.
“Like Somebody Unplugged the Lamp”
Speaking on his Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway podcast, Undertaker opened up about that night in a way few had heard before. He revealed that he has no recollection of the match itself—his last memory from that day was a conversation backstage with his wife, Michelle McCool. Everything after that? A blank.
He later woke up in a hospital bed, unable to recall his name or even his birthday. Doctors told him he had suffered a severe concussion, likening the experience to a lamp being unplugged. Vince McMahon was so concerned, he actually left his post in gorilla position mid-WrestleMania—a rare move that speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation.
Despite watching the match back multiple times, The Undertaker says he still can’t identify the exact moment the injury occurred. However, he could tell from his own body language on-screen that something was off—and even noted that Brock Lesnar had to wait for him to call spots during the match, unaware that anything was wrong.
Second Thoughts on the Streak’s End
While The Undertaker initially seemed at peace with Lesnar breaking the streak—his main regret being the concussion—his perspective has evolved over time. Speaking with Ariel Helwani in 2023, and later during a 2024 Q&A, he shared that in hindsight, he believes Brock Lesnar didn’t need that victory.
Lesnar was already a massive draw and a proven main-eventer. As Undertaker sees it, giving the honor of ending the streak to someone on the rise—like Roman Reigns or even Bray Wyatt—could’ve meant more in the long run. Reigns, of course, did eventually defeat Taker at WrestleMania 33, but by then, the mystique of the undefeated streak had already been broken.
Bray Wyatt, who faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania 31, was also floated as a potential choice. “If it wasn’t Roman, I always thought Bray could’ve used that momentum,” Undertaker said. “It would’ve done wonders for his career.”
Legacy Cemented, Questions Still Linger
The streak may be over, but its impact is forever woven into the fabric of WrestleMania history. Whether Brock Lesnar was the right choice or not, that night in 2014 changed everything—not just for The Undertaker, but for fans around the world.
Even years later, as Undertaker continues to peel back the curtain on what really happened, one thing remains clear: the legacy of that 21-0 run—and the night it ended—will forever stand as one of WWE’s most unforgettable moments.
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