The Undertaker recently spoke about his WrestleMania 34 match against John Cena, revealing that his main motivation was to redeem himself after a disappointing performance against Roman Reigns the previous year. That bout, held in 2018, was a decisive victory for The Undertaker, who defeated Cena in less than three minutes in what many described as a squash match. Despite the brevity, The Undertaker trained rigorously, aiming to demonstrate he was still capable of delivering a strong in-ring performance.
Preparation Driven by Redemption, Not Storyline
Speaking on the podcast Six Feet Under, The Undertaker explained how his preparation was fueled more by his physical readiness and personal pride than the match’s narrative. After feeling that his condition had been subpar during his match with Roman Reigns, which included dealing with a hip injury, he committed himself to intense training for the Cena fight. He wanted to prove that he could still “steal the show” despite his advancing career.
Being Ready for a Longer Bout, But Told Otherwise
Although The Undertaker arrived ready for a full-length match, the format was communicated to him as a short three-minute encounter by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. This surprised him, as he felt physically capable of much more and believed the encounter deserved a longer spotlight, especially given it was the first time he faced Cena at WrestleMania. He recounted his readiness:
“I let the old man know, yep, I’m ready to do this. Let’s go full steam. So I’m training like a freaking maniac. I’m not thinking story as much of redemption, as far as my in-ring. And, yeah, I get there, and Vince goes, ‘Yeah. Three minutes.’ I’m ready. Honestly, I was in shape. I could have done holding my breath. I could have done 25 minutes. So I’m like, wait, like I can’t hear. My whole motivation in which it should have been, you know what, Undertaker and John Cena, first time ever at Mania, which should have been, I’m thinking. All I’m thinking is, like, the last time you were in the ring, you stunk it up.”
— The Undertaker, Six Feet Under (h/t WrestlingNews.co)
Acceptance of the Match Length and Final Reflection
Despite his disappointment, The Undertaker accepted the choice to keep the match short and entered the ring focused on delivering the best possible performance within that limited time. He later described his mindset as being aligned with the plan and fitting for the context.
“I’m in a whole different frame of mind. I get there and, yeah, yep, it was perfect.”
— The Undertaker, Six Feet Under (h/t WrestlingNews.co)
Significance of The Undertaker’s Comments on WrestleMania 34
The Undertaker’s openness about his intentions and preparedness reveals the depth of his commitment to the sport, even near the latter stages of his career. His admission that he could have gone 25 minutes with John Cena at WrestleMania 34 offers insight into WWE’s creative decisions, emphasizing how storyline and match timing sometimes take precedence over the performers’ desires. This reflection may encourage fans to reconsider the dynamics behind such high-profile matches and what could have been given different choices. Moving forward, it also highlights The Undertaker’s continued passion for wrestling, even when navigating physical challenges and career milestones.
