Backstage News on The Undertaker's WWE Status and Future

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Regarding The Undertaker's status, there is still nothing definite. If there has been a final decision made, it is being kept very quiet.

As noted, Taker was not backstage at Monday's RAW from Nashville, even though he was photographed at a Nashville Predators hockey game the night before. However, Taker reportedly did have a meeting with Vince McMahon while in town.

It's said that Taker does not want to come back and have to fake his way through a mediocre match, which is why his status is up in the air. He had major shoulder and hip surgery over the past year which made it impossible for him to do any serious training for a long time. Taker couldn't lift upper body because of shoulder rehab and couldn't do lower body because of the hip rehab.

As of a few days ago, the internal word was that Taker is still "planned" to face CM Punk this year. People close to Taker believe that if he doesn't do WrestleMania 29, then his career is not over and it would simply mean he didn't have enough time to fully recover from everything. The expectation is that he would like to do WrestleMania 30 in 2014 and that the show could be built around his farewell since he will be 49 years old at that point.

So just still more messing around for Punk at this stage.

Punk will get added to the title match I reckon easiest change and causes the least disruption for other matches most likely.

Its the only logical way to do it hodge. Seems like vince doesnt want to piss of taker even though he's injured. He should just tell him to miss this mania and come back fully fit next year.

I don't think it's that, Macks. The Streak is one of the biggest selling points for Mania, and if there's a chance he can be there and fit enough to perform to his standards, then Vince should let him decide at the last possible moment.

I think if it happens he'll be at the EC or Raw the night after, to give it some momentum. It still feels like the rock rivalry can last longer with punk though. Especially with the stipualation with their match, which suggests something is going to happen other than a simple finish. Leading to Raw promo's about whatever happens, which taker could interrupt, but it would leave the rock rivalry with an incomplete feel.

Brock is still lacking an opponent too..

Grecian wrote:

I don't think it's that, Macks. The Streak is one of the biggest selling points for Mania, and if there's a chance he can be there and fit enough to perform to his standards, then Vince should let him decide at the last possible moment.

I understand that but this year we have The Rock again as well as Brock Lesnar. Two huge selling points to take the pressure of Takers return.