Contrary to popular belief, we aren't really in the "Reality Era" so much as we're in the "Part-time Era." If your star shines bright enough, WWE will allow you to work a light schedule and eat up card space at the biggest show of the year, WrestleMania.
That includes stars like The Rock and Brock Lesnar, who are doing big things in preparation for the show. And we're here to go along with them, with stories popping up on how many dates they're scheduled to work over the next two months. But there is an even bigger star who only ever works WrestleMania anymore who requires even more attention.
Undertaker.
Because of "The Streak," each year we get to speculate on who his opponent will be for the big show. This year, the widely accepted belief has been that CM Punk will earn the honors but according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), it now looks possible Undertaker won't work WrestleMania 29 on April 7 in New Jersey.
Even though it was announced months ago that Undertaker is returning for Mania, the word this week is it may not happen. According to those in the loop, he's uncertain about the show, which is a big deal because he was scheduled to be Punk's opponent in what would have been the No. 2 match on the show. Not sure of a back-up plan given it's right now not definite either way. The hold up is physical. He's been hurting badly for years, but doesn't complain and tries to keep his injuries as quiet as possible.
This would interesting because Triple H already actually mentioned his name on WWE television back at the Slammy Awards in December of last year, telling fans "you haven't seen the last of Undertaker."
That's ambiguous enough to allow for all the room necessary to keep him out of action until WrestleMania 30 but the reality is "The Deadman" doesn't really need to come back at all. Not having the annual Streak threatening match at the show would hurt it, no doubt, but he's so banged up, it may no longer be possible to have the four-star matches he's been putting on for so many years in a row now.
Realistically, can he and Punk top what he did last year with Triple H and Shawn Michaels? Can that performance ever be topped? If the answer is no, and it may very well be, retirement might be the best way to go.