The Undertaker is regarded as one of the greatest WWE legends of all time. The Phenom was defined by his mystic aura, captivating presence, and exceptional in-ring acumen that made him a marquee attraction for the company for over three decades.
Another thing that highly resonated with the character of The Undertaker was his iconic WrestleMania streak. It stood for over two decades before its demise at the hands of Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX. The Streak became a highlight for many years at The Show of Shows, with top performers like Shawn Michaels, Batista, Ric Flair, and Edge attempting to end it.
Amidst those years, WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” was also among those names who challenged The Streak. However, it was the ending of one particular match between Triple H and The Undertaker that absolutely infuriated then-WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon.
Why did Vince McMahon hate the ending of the match between Triple H & The Undertaker at WrestleMania?
The Undertaker and Triple H returned to WWE after a long hiatus in 2011, and this set the stage for a huge showdown at WrestleMania 27 with the stipulation being No Holds Barred. The match was one of the most exciting and physically battering bouts in WrestleMania history.
It took a huge toll on both men, which was evident from the ending of the match. Triple H had the upper hand on The Undertaker and was about to hit him with the sledgehammer. However, The Deadman trapped him in the Gogoplata submission hold, which is a triangle choke, and held it on for long until The Game passed out and Taker won the match.
However, it was only Triple H who walked out on his own power. As The Undertaker tried to walk back, he collapsed on the floor and had to be carried on a vehicle from ringside. In an interview with ESPN SportsNation, Undertaker revealed that Vince McMahon absolutely hated the ending. He wanted his mythical character to not have that lasting impression of being physically battered.
Yeah, [Vince McMahon] did not like it. He did not like it at all. To quote, ‘My Undertaker walks out of the ring. I don’t care if he wins or loses, my Undertaker walks out.’ We already knew what we were into. We were in the third year of the story. That alone is so special, to be able to continue a story for four years, it’s unheard of in our business.
Moreover, this even gave The Undertaker the thought that it cannot be his final lasting image. This led to his return a year later to challenge Triple H to a rematch at WrestleMania 28 inside Hell in a Cell with Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee.
He left the Undertaker laying and unable to walk out. It in turn led to me… that getting in my head, ‘Nobody leaves me laying.’ So now, we have to come back and we came back in Hell in a Cell, with Shawn [Michaels] as the guest referee. It was so good. Those four matches are probably my proudest body of work.
The Undertaker got his redemption in that match by scoring a dominant win over Triple H. The ending of the match was also iconic as the three legends embraced on stage, while Triple H needed the support of HBK and Taker to walk out in a slight role reversal from the year prior.
Vince McMahon inducted The Undertaker into the WWE Hall of Fame
The Undertaker continued with his career for almost a decade after his last match with Triple H at WrestleMania. The Phenom had his last match against the man he has labelled as the modern-day Shawn Michaels, AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36 in a Boneyard match where he emerged victorious.
The Demon from Death Valley officially retired at the 2020 WWE Survivor Series. Two years later, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2022 by none other than Vince McMahon himself.
The former WWE Chairman held Taker in high regard for his contributions to the business. The Undertaker himself stated in McMahon’s Netflix documentary that he has been a father figure to him and owed his success and career to Vince McMahon in the wrestling business.
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