What's Next for The Undertaker?

The Undertaker may have wrestled his final match. What's next for the WWE's Phenom?

The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33
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The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33

Post-Wrestlemania 33, the WWE asked a simple question: "Was this The Undertaker's last (thrill) ride?" It's a simple question, considering that he legit left his gear in the middle of the ring after losing to Roman Reigns in the main event of their biggest show of the year. It feels like 'Taker has retired, but has he?

While the man known as The Undertaker actually got his professional wrestling career started in 1984, it wasn't until November of 1990 that he signed onto the WWE, which is the company he's been wrestling for ever since. He's the man who holds an unprecedented 21-win streak at Wrestlemania, and while most felt he should've retired after Brock Lesnar defeated him at Wrestlemania XXX to end The Streak, 'Taker kept on for another three years before (seemingly) calling it quits.

We're still hours before what should be a monumental post-Mania edition of Raw tonight, but the question is, if The Undertaker has indeed called it quits, what does he do next? Here are some of the Deadman's options.

Nothing

True story: it was Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25 that got me back into watching WWE pay-per-views. Being a lifelong fan, there was something intriguing about the story they built, with both of them being the best in the company at what they do, and have been doing for years, that it was amazing to see these two superstars go. The thing is, the Undertaker of today isn't as spry as the Undertaker of old, and you could truly see it in last night's main event. There appeared to be at least one major instance of missed spots, and whether it was played up to great effect or a true sign of this being his "last ride," the 'Taker of Wrestlemania 33 needs to just hang it up. His fans would understand, and have already showered him with praise regarding the time he's put in.

Start a podcast

The world of pro wrestling podcasts has blown up. While "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Chris Jericho have already been successfully podcasting for the last few years, everyone from Ric Flair to Jerry Lawler have since stepped up in the sea of podcasts. None of these superstars, save from Austin, has the clout of an Undertaker, and 'Taker's also been in the WWF for a number of eras, which includes the Attitude Era. He's been known as a real elder statesman and mentor in the locker room, so he HAS to have some stories to tell, or at least he could pull stories out from his guests.

Become a WWE producer

Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, and other pro wrestlers don't just retire and ride into the sunset; a number of them continue to work behind-the-scenes to help guide the company into the future. Hell, Triple H has the occasional match (usually around Wrestlemania), but his day-job is the "Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative" for the WWE. With 'Taker's ~27 years working within the WWE system, he has a wealth of knowledge that many of the younger guys just can't compete with. Especially when it comes to what works on a grander stage like Wrestlemania. While he might not want to travel, it'd be wild to see that knowledge about the business go to waste.

Continue to wrestle

This is the last thing I want to see, honestly; I thought it would've been great to let 'Taker retire on the 25th anniversary of his WWE debut, but that ship sailed two years ago. The fact is that these superstars don't like leaving the limelight. Can The Undertaker chill at home around Wrestlemania time knowing that he doesn't have a marquee match on the horizon? Would working behind-the-scenes or just watching from home be enough for him? That itch needs to be scratched, and barring him failing a physical, I doubt Vince McMahon would say no to an Undertaker return down the line.

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