The legendary Undertaker stepped into the ring at Wrestlemania for the thirtieth time to defend his famed 21-0 steak against 'The Beast' Brock Lesnar. While many expected Undertaker to continue on to win his match, the unthinkable happened when the phenom was defeated.
While the Undertake (Mark Calloway) walked out of the arena after his match, Reports from all over the Internet suggest, the Undertaker collapsed backstage following his first ever defeat at WrestleMania on April 6. He was then rushed to the hospital and was accompanied there by Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar.
He was diagnosed with a severe concussion, as reported by PWInsider.com, but was backstage during the April 7 edition of “Monday Night Raw.” Calaway was released by the hospital in New Orleans early in the afternoon. He then went back to the hotel, changed clothes, and boarded a WWE talent bus that carried himself, talent, and wife Michelle McCool to the Smoothie King Arena where “RAW” emanated.
Our sources tell us that backstage Taker seemed to still be out of it, as he kept his conversations short, constantly grabbed at his neck, and walked around with a steady limp. During “RAW,” Paul Heyman addressed the situation on camera, presenting the story of Taker’s injury and hospital stay to the fans as part of a worked-shoot promo. Heyman even mentioned that McMahon left WrestleMania and missed his first ‘Mania main event in 30 years to travel with Calaway.
McMahon leaving WrestleMania to travel to the hospital with the Undertaker shows how much respect and mutual love for the company they share. Lesnar’s participation in the medical trip was of course left out of Heyman’s speech, but the fact Lesnar joined Taker and McMahon shows how much respect he has for Calaway as well.
Lesnar was reportedly handpicked by Calaway to end his “undefeated streak” at WrestleMania. Many backstage believe Calaway may seriously be done with professional wrestling, and April 6 saw the Undertaker’s last match. While some people claim the match wasn’t that great because the Undertaker wasn’t performing at his usual level of greatness, it was the severe concussion that hindered the quality of the bout.
Calaway reportedly suffered the concussion early on during the match, and was extremely out of it during the duration of the contest. He struggled to perform moves he’s mastered over his 25 year WWE career such as the Tombstone Piledriver and “Old School,” but this was revealed to be largely due to the Undertaker not even being fully aware of where he was due to the injury.
Calaway’s WWE future is up-in-the-air at the moment, as talent and officials alike believe that his first loss at the Showcase of the Immortals may have seriously been his last. The reaction to the streak coming to an end from those that have worked with Taker along the years was endearing, yet shock-ridden.
Following word that this may have seriously been Taker’s swan song, WWE superstars such as John Cena, and fans all over the world took to Twitter on April 7 to express their gratitude to the Deadman for his years of dedication to WWE and the craft of professional wrestling using the hashtag “#ThankYouTaker.” The hashtag would begin trending, and in fact be the number one trend on Twitter for the entirety of April 7.
The words “ThankYouTaker” are revered and earnest among WWE superstars, so much so that for many of them, it’s all they even shared on social media sites one day following what many believe to be Calaway’s final match. Cena, who has been the face of the WWE for the last 11 years was one who felt the hashtag was enough and nothing else needed to be said.
While Taker could have bowed out of the business at WrestleMania XXX, his retirement has yet to be confirmed. Prior to the shock of his first loss at WrestleMania and the concussion he suffered in the match, Calaway was rumored to be heading into a year-long build towards a WWE Universe “Dream Match” between the Undertaker and former WCW and TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting.
What’s left for Calaway is uncertain, but F4Wonline.com and PWInsider.com confirm that many backstage in the WWE locker room believe that the Undertaker may “rest in peace” following his inaugural defeat at WrestleMania. We may have seen the last match ever to be performed by WWE’s resident Phenom.
source - WrestlingRumors
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