Is The Undertaker Actually Retired? WWE Star Could Return For Match After 'The Last Ride'

The Undertaker’s WrestleMania 36 match with AJ Styles might have been the final match of his career. The wrestling legend said as much in episode 5 of “The Last Ride,” a docuseries detailing The Undertaker’s last three years in WWE.

“At this point in my life and in my career I have no desire to get back in the ring,” The Undertaker said. “I’m at a point, this time the Cowboys really rides away.”

That prompted several news outlets to report that The Undertaker had announced his retirement from WWE. “The Last Ride” certainly felt like it marked the end of The Undertaker’s in-ring career, following a 30-year run with the company.

If the docuseries taught us anything, it’s that the WWE star has had an incredibly difficult time walking away from the business. Even as The Undertaker said he was satisfied with never performing again, the 55-year-old acknowledged that he could be persuaded to make a return.

“If Vince (McMahon) was in a pinch, would I come back? I guess time will only tell there,” The Undertaker said. “In case of emergency break glass, pull out The Undertaker. I mean, I would have to consider that. Never say never.”

There have been multiple occasions over the three years in which The Undertaker indicated he was ready to call it quits. WWE treated his WrestleMania 33 match as an unofficial retirement match. After being pinned by Roman Reigns in the main event, The Undertaker left his gear in the ring and seemingly left the squared circle for the final time.

The match itself was not up to The Undertaker’s standards, so much so that he apologized to Reigns for his performance. Feeling better after another surgery and looking for redemption, The Undertaker was back in the ring a year later for a WrestleMania 34 match with John Cena.

The Undertaker had six more matches over the next 15 months, including a tag team match with Reigns at Extreme Rules 2019. Immediately after beating the team of Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon on July 14, 2019, The Undertaker said he was finished with in-ring competition.

“I’m done. I’m not there anymore,” The Undertaker told Vince McMahon, who noted how well the wrestler had performed.

“Well, it’s my body and my long term. I’m gonna go, get out and think, but I just didn’t want to spring that on you. I mean, I’m springing it on you now, but I need to evaluate.”

Six months later, The Undertaker agreed to wrestle Styles at WWE’s biggest event of 2020.

Maybe this truly is it for The Undertaker. Because of how positively the WrestleMania 36 match was received and the way The Undertaker integrated the different incarnations of his character into the storyline, it would be a fitting end to his career.

But it would be a mistake to rule out the possibility of another match—or even several more—for one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time.