Backstage News on The Undertaker's Streak Ending

[LG]

Referee Chad Patton did not know that The Undertaker would be losing to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX. He was told Taker was winning but the rule every referee is told is that if the guys don't kick out, you continue the count. Right after the match ended, Lesnar whispered in Taker's ear, "Thank you."

Apparently the decision to end The Streak was finalized on March 31st. Only a few people knew the outcome before WrestleMania Sunday. The group of people that knew were most likely Vince McMahon, Taker, Lesnar, Paul Heyman, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. None of the agents were aware. The actual script for the show did not have a finish listed but this didn't raise any red flags because that's not unusual for WrestleMania and it wasn't the only match that didn't have a finish listed.

Whether or not The Undertaker is done, Vince was going on the assumption that this was his last match and he could either win or lose. McMahon chose the idea that it's better to lose on your way out. One person close to the situation said Vince talked Taker into losing. Another person, who would also be in the know, described it as Vince making the call and Taker agreeing, and that he wasn’t talked into doing something he didn’t want to do. Losing was not Taker's original decision but he was in on it and never protested the decision. Perhaps, like he thought in 2010, if he was going to lose, maybe he thought Lesnar was the guy to lose to.

There were many people within WWE very unhappy about The Streak ending but couldn't say so publicly.

[muzi]

Vince talking Taker into losing? Creating sth that became THE biggest thing in WM history and give it away for someone Vince cannot rely his company on?
Very unlikely or very dumb..

[Punisher]

I agree that it is always better to lose on your way out, but I still think that they should have given the honor to ending the steak to a full-timer.

[Big Evil]

It's a bit of wrestling tradition to put other wrestlers over, especially if you are a guy nearing the end of his career. I still stand by saying that they could have chosen a better person to go over, but choosing Lesnar makes sense in that he has the MMA background and perhaps makes it seem more likely that way.

The referee not knowing the outcome does make more sense now to me than when the 3-count happened at 'Mania. When I saw it, I swore that Undertaker didn't get the shoulder up but the referees' reaction made me think it wasn't supposed to happen. He reacted more how they do with a close 2-count than a 3. Getting up, showing the count number and waving it off, I though he was trying to cover for Undertaker not kicking out, as in the match wasn't supposed to end. Looking back, I suppose it makes sense if he didn't realize Taker was to lose. Sucks, though.