The Undertaker made a surprise return to WWE programming in the main event of WrestleMania 40 – Night 2, where he chokeslammed The Rock and helped Cody Rhodes win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship by defeating Roman Reigns.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Stone Cold Steve Austin was originally slated to fill the spot occupied by The Undertaker, but negotiations fell through due to financial reasons:
“Austin was the person originally earmarked for that spot, but in the end they couldn’t reach a financial agreement and Undertaker was put in his place.”
On Busted Open Radio, Undertaker revealed that Triple H asked him about being a part of this match, but Taker said he didn’t want to be a distraction to something that’s been building for two years (Cody’s Finish The Story).
However, The Phenom noted that if he’s needed and that’s what they are going for, then he’ll be there, and he “didn’t need to hold anybody up over any money”. Many fans thought this was Undertaker taking a shot at Austin for turning down Triple H’s WrestleMania 40 pitch due to financial reasons.
You can read The Deadman’s complete comments below:
“I look at it like this. Some people will probably question my business acumen and my business sense. WWE has been so good to me. I’m there. It wasn’t about me. I felt like once I heard what they wanted to do, this makes sense. This is a complete Dusty finish. If you want me to do it, I’m there for ya. I didn’t need to hold anybody up over any money because my goodness.
That being said, if I had known how far I was gonna have to run to get into position, now that might have changed the whole equation. I don’t know if they could have paid me enough.
Holy crap, I got these new knees. I’ve worked out and I’ve hiked but I haven’t run on them and I had to run through the bowl of the field there and trying to be elusive and not be seen. I looked like a freakin’ giraffe running through there to get to the spot.”
Arrive, Chokeslam the Final Boss, Leave 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/wnbnoMWIeT
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) April 8, 2024
The Rock sent the following message to The Undertaker after WrestleMania 40:
“The guy sure knows how to ruin a party.
I’ll see you down the road, my friend.
Paybacks a b*tch for you – but fun for me.
– Final Boss”
The American Badass replied:
“The party doesn’t start until I walk in… I’m not hard to find!”
WATCH: Sara (Undertaker’s Ex-Wife) In A Bikini – Part 1:
