The Undertaker
The Undertaker has appeared on WWE TV just once since he lost to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30. Getty

When The Undertaker and Sting didn’t face each other at WrestleMania 31, many fans assumed that the match would be penciled in for WrestleMania 32 in Dallas on April 3, 2016. But the latest reports indicate that the highly anticipated match is anything but a given to be on the card of WWE’s biggest event next year.

According to a report from the Wrestling Observer last week, via Cageside Seats, Vince McMahon is not in favor of making The Undertaker vs. Sting become a reality. While wrestling fans have hoped to see the 25-year WWE veteran take on the former face of WCW, WWE’s chairman is reportedly turned off by the idea.

The Undertaker will be 51 years old by the time WrestleMania 32 rolls around, and Sting will turn 57 years old before the match would take place. Both are nearing the end of their respective careers, and there’s no guarantee that either will be on the card for WrestleMania 32.

It's hard to believe that WWE wouldn’t want to get the wrestlers involved in WrestleMania 32 in some capacity. WWE will attempt to fill over 100,000 fans into AT&T Stadium, a feat that can only be accomplished by adding as much star power as possible to the match card.

Sting’s WrestleMania 31 match with Triple H was his only WWE match, though he’s said he’s open to performing in the ring, once again. While it’s unknown what might be in store for Sting at WrestleMania 32, anything but a match for The Undertaker at the PPV would be a surprise.

He’s no longer a full-time performer, but The Undertaker continues to return for a match at WrestleMania each year. Even after Brock Lesnar broke The Streak at WrestleMania 30, The Undertaker came back in March for a match with Bray Wyatt. Retirement might be on the horizon for the Deadman, but one more match in front of close to 100,000 fans only seems fitting.

But if The Undertaker doesn’t have a match against Sting at WrestleMania 32, who could be his opponent? He’s one of the biggest wrestlers in WWE history, so the options appear to be limited.

The event is likely to feature a few part-time stars, but a match with the likes of The Rock or Triple H wouldn’t make much sense. A rematch with Lesnar might make some semblance of sense, in that The Undertaker could avenge his only WrestleMania loss in his final match. But The Undertaker isn’t likely to face the former UFC Champion, who could be involved in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture. Lesnar is positioned as such a dominant force that anything less than a quick victory over the 51-year-old could hurt his character.

The most established star that would make sense to have a match with The Undertaker is John Cena. Even though Cena has been the face of WWE for a decade, the two superstars have never had a match at WrestleMania. Pitting WWE’s top star against The Undertaker would certainly help sell some tickets to one of the biggest events in the company’s history.

WWE could use The Undertaker’s match as an opportunity to elevate an up-and-coming talent, much like was done did with Wyatt at WrestleMania 31. Kevin Owens has burst onto the scene since joining the main roster in May, and he’s had classic matches with Cena. The former NXT champion has been positioned as WWE’s No.2 heel, taking a backseat only to Seth Rollins. A match between The Undertaker and Owens could be one of the most intriguing on the card.

Seth Rollins has been WWE’s best heel over the last year, so he’d also be an option to face The Undertaker. But he could soon be headed for a babyface turn, which would likely rule him out of a match with the Deadman.

The Undertaker hasn't appeared on WWE TV since WrestleMania 31, but he's scheduled to make an appearance on “Stone Cold Podcast Live” on the WWE Network.

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