When Did WWE Tell The Undertaker About WrestleMania Plan
The Undertaker made his presence felt at WrestleMania 40 as he intervened in the main event to help bring an end to the WWE Universal Title reign of Roman Reigns.
Cody Rhodes finished his story at WrestleMania 40 when he defeated Roman Reigns in the main event for the WWE Universal Championship.
The match was fought under ‘Bloodline Rules’ after The Rock & Reigns had defeated Rhodes & Seth Rollins on the prior night and that stipulation proved to give fans a wild contest.
Jimmy Uso was the first man to interfere, taking out Rhodes with a superkick but he was soon dealt with by Jey Uso. Solo Sikoa looked to repeat the ending to WrestleMania 39 by nailing Rhodes with a Samoan Spike but he was neutralised by John Cena.
Cena’s interference brought out The Rock and after The Final Boss nailed his own WrestleMania rival with a Rock Bottom, The Undertaker appeared from the darkness to take out The Rock with a vicious chokeslam.
WWE Left It Late To Secure The Undertaker For WrestleMania
Speaking on his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker revealed how his WrestleMania appearance came to be and his name was in the mix early in the week:
It happened pretty spontaneously. We got to Philadelphia on Wednesday that week. I think I got a call Tuesday from Triple H that said, “Hey, a lot of things are going on. A lot of thoughts are being put into this. Would you want to be a part of it?’ I was like, ‘Look if it works and if I can be of help to it in any way. If I could be of help, fine, whatever you guys need. Just let me know.
I don’t hear anything else until…Thursday. I get a text from Michael Hayes [saying] we’re coming up with some ideas. I’m like cool, let me know. That was it. Then I’m at the One Deadman Show. I get a text from Paul Heyman. I’m like, hmmm interesting. This is picking up steam here.
Despite days of discussions, it wasn’t until WrestleMania was well underway again on Sunday that he got the nod to be a part of the main event:
It had gone back and forth and I get a text during Sunday [during the WrestleMania show].
The Undertaker also explained how his WrestleMania moment gave him closure. The WWE Hall of Famer had previously discussed how he was struggling with his retirement from the ring.