In a revealing discussion, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker disclosed that he wanted to face another legend, Kurt Angle, at WrestleMania, but WWE Chairman Vince McMahon rejected the idea. This unbooked dream match has long intrigued fans, and recent interviews shed new light on why it never happened on wrestling’s grandest stage.
The Match That Almost Was — Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 22
The Undertaker and Kurt Angle, both WWE Hall of Famers celebrated for their technical prowess and larger-than-life personas, had one of the most memorable rivalries of the mid-2000s. Their World Heavyweight Championship bout at No Way Out 2006 is still regarded as a classic. Yet, originally, both athletes had hoped this high-stakes clash would take place at WrestleMania 22.
Kurt Angle revealed on The Kurt Angle Show podcast that he and The Undertaker pitched the idea to Vince McMahon. “We both wanted it to be at WrestleMania,” Angle said, “but Vince McMahon wouldn’t allow that because he didn’t want ‘Taker to end his undefeated streak, at least not at that particular time.” He added that McMahon preferred that Angle continue as champion on the big stage rather than putting the title on The Undertaker there[1].
The Undertaker himself corroborated this narrative, clarifying that he never wanted anyone to break his renowned WrestleMania streak so soon. “No, I don’t want anybody to break that,” he stated in a recent interview. “We wanted to wrestle at ‘Mania, but I didn’t want anybody to break the streak.”[2]
Vince McMahon’s Booking Decisions and Protecting The Streak
Vince McMahon’s creative decisions have shaped some of WWE’s most iconic moments. Back in 2006, the streak was heavily protected as a sacred aspect of The Undertaker’s legacy. According to sources close to WWE backstage, McMahon saw the streak as a long-term storytelling asset and was cautious about booking decisions that might put it at risk prematurely.
When Angle and The Undertaker proposed their WrestleMania match, McMahon’s response was decisive: “No, you’re going to wrestle the month before,” Angle recalled. This led to their match being scheduled for No Way Out instead of WrestleMania[2][3].
As a result, WrestleMania 22 featured The Undertaker in a Casket Match against Mark Henry and Kurt Angle losing the World Heavyweight Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton[1][3]. Fans missed out on the dream of seeing two legends collide on WWE’s biggest night, but McMahon’s vision preserved the mystique of The Streak.
Fan Theories Debunked: It Was Never About Breaking The Streak
For years, wrestling fans speculated that the postponed match was because WWE originally planned for Angle to end The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak at 13-0. However, both wrestlers have firmly shut down this theory.
In interviews, The Undertaker and Kurt Angle emphasized that their desire was simply to wrestle each other on the WrestleMania card, not to break The Streak. Angle said, “I don’t think the streak should have been broken. We wanted to wrestle each other… We presented it to Vince, and Vince said, ‘No, you’re going to wrestle the month before.’”[2][3]
Undertaker echoed that view: “No, I don’t want anybody to break that [the streak].” This clarity from the superstars themselves settles long-standing fan debates around their 2006 feud.
Behind the Scenes: What Led to the Switch?
An insider familiar with WWE creative during that time shared:
“Vince was very protective of the streak. The Undertaker was the main attraction of WrestleMania’s mystique and legacy. Even though Kurt Angle was a huge star and worthy opponent, the timing wasn’t right from Vince’s view to lose the streak to anyone – let alone at a time when he was still building it. The No Way Out match was a good compromise, keeping both men strong heading into WrestleMania with different stories.”
This backstage perspective highlights how business considerations and legacy protection influenced WWE’s booking decisions.
What If Undertaker vs. Angle Happened at WrestleMania?
Had the dream match happened at WrestleMania 22, it would have been a monumental moment combining two of the era’s very best. With Angle as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion and The Undertaker defending his streak, the stakes would have been tremendous.
However, keeping the streak intact for several additional years was vital to WWE’s long-term storytelling. The company eventually allowed Brock Lesnar to end The Undertaker’s legendary streak seven years later at WrestleMania 30, after it had reached an unprecedented 21-0 run.
Continuing Legacy and Respect Between Legends
Though they never met at WrestleMania, both The Undertaker and Kurt Angle have spoken highly of each other and regard their matches as some of their best work. Their respect remains evident in recent interviews where they joint-legendarily debunked rumors and reminisced on their careers[2][4].
One WWE insider noted, “There’s a lot of mutual admiration there. Both men knew the significance of The Streak and respected what it meant to the WWE Universe — they just wanted to put on the best match possible, and sometimes timing and booking got in the way.”
The revelation that The Undertaker and Kurt Angle wanted to face off at WrestleMania but were stopped by Vince McMahon to protect The Streak enriches the history and mythology around WWE’s most celebrated events. It also reminds fans how much thought and strategy goes into crafting wrestling’s unforgettable moments behind the scenes.