At WrestleMania 30 in 2014, WWE shocked the world when Brock Lesnar ended The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at the Show of Shows. From that moment on, the scoreboard read 21-1, and it’s a creative decision many fans still haven’t forgiven the company for.
Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon decided to have The Beast end the Deadman’s Streak, though many still feel it was a misstep that’s tarnished the WWE Hall of Famer’s legacy.
In a rare interview, Lesnar broke his silence on being the one in 21 and 1, revealing that they were only informed of the decision two hours before the match. The former WWE Champion also confirms he accompanied The Undertaker to the hospital after the Legend suffered a concussion during their clash on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
“For me, guys, it’s really simple. Like, this is a business,” Lesnar started. “And I think a lot of guys live and breathe the lifestyle of it. If there was a person who could take the streak away with a legitimate background and people could believe it, I guess it was me. There’s a lot of people that are pissed that it’s me, but it’s not my call.”
“My hats off to Undertaker, Mark, he’s a great guy. And at the end, it’s a business. It’s a give and take. And it was time for Taker to give, and it was a time for Brock Lesnar to take it.”
“He was a mentor of mine. I worked with Taker for many years. And so now we’re out in this match, and Taker got hit left field day of,” he continued. “He’s coming to his 22nd WrestleMania thinking that he’s going to win, and then two hours before we go on, the rug gets pulled on him. And so a lot of different emotions there, I’m sure. I was excited, but I also felt bad. Like, I’m the guy, and I get to be the guy.”
Many fans wondered whether the finish to the match was a botch, especially as it quickly became clear that The Undertaker wasn’t at 100%. There were concerns about the Phenom’s health after the bell rang, which is why, for the first time, McMahon left the event to head to the hospital.
“We’re out in the match and next thing I know Taker is not being Taker,” Lesnar recalled. “It’s a dance out there, and you just got to do your best to get through it. And we did. Out of respect, because I spent a lot of time with Taker, and I wanted to make sure that he was all right. I did go to the hospital to make sure he was okay. That’s just part of the respect thing.”
Ultimately, The Undertaker ended his career with a record of 25-2, after Roman Reigns also beat him a few years later (by that point, The Streak had lost much of its meaning in the eyes of fans).
At this year’s WrestleMania, Lesnar is set to face rising star Oba Femi when the Show of Shows heads to Las Vegas on April 18 and 19.