As if SummerSlam wasn’t going to be juicy enough, it now looks like The Undertaker will be attending tonight’s show. A photo was leaked of the Deadman and his wife boarding a plane in Texas that was headed for New York City.
Even further, sources continue to confirm his appearance and Jim Ross went as far as to declare The Undertaker active.
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But that’s where the information stops. There have been no reports, just guesses on what The Undertaker will be doing at SummerSlam, if anything.
Realistically speaking there are about 5 options WWE can go with tonight. Let’s crack open the probability of each!
To Cost Roman Reigns
The Undertaker has plenty of incentive to ruin Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship opportunity. Since defeating Taker at WrestleMania 33, Reigns has told every city and every camera that this is his yard now. For so many reasons, this likely doesn’t sit well with The Deadman.
How hard is to imagine the storied GONG hitting right when Reigns takes control of the Fatal 4-Way? Taker hits a Tombstone, taking Reigns out of the match and giving WWE an excuse as to why their Big Dog left Brooklyn without a belt.
Taker and Roman could have another installment at Survivor Series or even Hell in a Cell.
Probablity: 3.5/5
Sweet Revenge
Speaking of incentive…
While Roman was the last guy to beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, Brock Lesnar. Undertaker has yet to truly exact his revenge for having his illustrious Streak ended by Lesnar (a screwy finish at SummerSlam 2015 and another Loss at HIC 2015).
However, it seems WWE would be late to this bell. Not to mention, Undertaker looked frail in his ‘Mania match with Reigns. Are we sure we want to see him go to Suplex City?
Probability: 0.5/5
A New Oppenent
Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, AJ Styles, and Shinsuke Nakamura round out the interesting names that Undertaker could get involved with.
Balor and Styles make the most sense of this group, mostly because their in-ring ability mixes well with Taker’s (imagine The Phenom trying to Tombstone Strowman). Not to mention, they’re small. A chokeslam to Finn Balor would trick the Undertaker into thinking he was 32-years old.
These names are unlikely but they hold more water than the Lesnar Theory
Probability: 1.5/5
To Offcially Retire
As Jim Ross pointed out yesterday, there has never been an official word from WWE nor the Undertaker that cemented his retirement. Sure, his undressing at WrestleMania was a metaphor, that the dullest of minds could have understood.
Since that moment we have heard literally nothing from The Undertaker. Could he give us a Daniel Bryan goodbye speech? It’s certainly possible and would be warmly received by all, however that just seems like an awfully human moment by a character that was built on immortality.
Probability: 2/5
To Be Backstage
And for the least sexy option…
Could all of this hysteria be in vain? The photo, the rumors, the speculation all for nothing, the Undertaker will only become to Brooklyn to talk about motorcycles with Baron Corbin.
Eh, this sure isn’t fun to think about, but neither is Taker stepping back in the ring, to be honest. Sorry, but his affair with Reigns at ‘Mania was a poor display. Maybe Taker has really reached his physical end.
If Taker just wants to hang backstage, how could we blame him?
Probability 3.5/5