On April 6, 2014, inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, professional wrestling experienced a moment of collective suspension of disbelief that may never be replicated. For 21 consecutive matches spanning nearly a quarter of a century, The Undertaker had remained undefeated at WrestleMania. “The Streak” had become more than a statistic; it was a cornerstone of the industry, an attraction often viewed as more prestigious than the WWE Championship itself. Fans traveled from around the globe not just to see who would win the main event, but to witness the ritualistic victory of The Deadman.
However, the drama visible on television was only a fraction of the story. Behind the curtain, a legitimate medical crisis was unfolding. The Undertaker, Mark Calaway, had suffered a severe concussion minutes into the match. He was performing on “autopilot,” unaware of where he was or what he was doing. The night ended not with a celebration, but with the Chairman of the company, Vince McMahon, abandoning the broadcast of his biggest show of the year to ride in an ambulance with his most loyal soldier.
The Legacy of 21-0
To comprehend the weight of the loss, one must contextualize the magnitude of the 21-0 record. The Streak began quietly in 1991 at WrestleMania VII with a victory over Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. Over the next two decades, it evolved from a trivia note into the backbone of the event.
The Undertaker defeated a rogue’s gallery of legends: Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Diesel, Sycho Sid, Kane (twice), Ric Flair, Triple H (three times), Shawn Michaels (twice), Edge, and CM Punk. By 2014, the annual Undertaker match was considered a “guaranteed” classic. The narrative structure was set in stone: the challenger would push Taker to the limit, hit their finishing maneuver, and Taker would kick out, sit up, and deliver the Tombstone Piledriver for the win.
When Brock Lesnar was announced as the opponent for WrestleMania 30, the betting odds and fan sentiment remained heavily in The Undertaker’s favor. While Lesnar was a legitimate former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a monster in the ring, the logic of pro wrestling dictated that The Streak was too valuable to break. It was a marketing tool that sold tickets for perpetuity.
The Concussion
The match began as a standard heavyweight slugfest. However, less than five minutes into the contest, the complexion changed drastically. The exact moment of the injury is often debated, but it is widely believed to have occurred during a single-leg takedown by Lesnar. The Undertaker’s head snapped back, striking the canvas with significant force.
From that moment forward, Mark Calaway was gone. The lights were on, but nobody was home. In later interviews, including his documentary series The Last Ride, The Undertaker revealed that his memory of the day was completely wiped. He recalls being in the dressing room in the afternoon, and then waking up in a hospital bed hours later. He has zero recollection of the match itself.
This state of semi-consciousness explains the sluggish pace and awkward chemistry of the bout. Fans in the arena and watching at home noted that The Undertaker looked old, slow, and uncoordinated. At the time, this was attributed to his age (49) and the wear and tear of his career. In reality, he was functioning purely on muscle memory, relying on Lesnar to physically guide him through the choreographed spots. Lesnar, realizing something was wrong, had to carry the dead weight of a 300-pound man through a 25-minute main event performance.
The Finish
The climax of the match was designed to mimic the false finishes of previous years. The Undertaker hit a Tombstone Piledriver, but Lesnar kicked out. The Undertaker sat up, signaled for a second Tombstone, but Lesnar reversed it.
Lesnar lifted The Undertaker onto his shoulders for his signature move, the F-5. He spun him around and slammed him to the mat. Lesnar hooked the leg.
Referee Chad Patton, who had reportedly been told that The Undertaker was winning the match, counted. One. Two. Three.
Patton hesitated slightly before the three count, likely expecting a kick-out. When the shoulder didn’t come up, he had to follow the golden rule of officiating: count what you see. The bell rang.
The Silence
For several seconds, the production team did not play Brock Lesnar’s music. The timekeeper did not announce the winner immediately. This delay was likely due to shock in the production truck or a deliberate choice to let the moment breathe.
The silence inside the Superdome was absolute. It wasn’t the silence of boredom; it was the silence of confusion. Fans looked at each other, waiting for the match to restart, waiting for the “Dusty Finish” where the decision is reversed.
Then, the graphic appeared on the massive 360-degree LED screen: 21-1.
The realization hit the audience like a physical blow. A camera operator found a fan in the front row, Ellis Mbeh, whose eyes were bulging in disbelief. That image, known as “Shocked Undertaker Guy,” became the enduring meme of the event, perfectly encapsulating the global reaction.
Paul Heyman, Lesnar’s manager, slid into the ring and collapsed in a fit of manic laughter. Lesnar stood up, sweat pouring off him, looking almost as stunned as the crowd. They left the ring quickly, leaving The Undertaker lying in the center of the squared circle.
Backstage Chaos
As The Undertaker eventually sat up and made his long, slow walk up the ramp, the fans gave him a standing ovation. However, once he passed through the curtain into the backstage area, the situation turned into a medical emergency.
The Undertaker collapsed. He was unable to stand or communicate coherently. WWE medical personnel, led by Dr. Chris Amann, swarmed him. It became immediately apparent that this was not just exhaustion; he had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
Vince McMahon, who was producing the show from the “Gorilla Position” (the command center just behind the curtain), made a decision that underscored the severity of the situation. He removed his headset.
McMahon left WrestleMania.
With the show still live and the main event (Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Batista) yet to take place, the Chairman of the Board walked out of the building. He accompanied The Undertaker in the ambulance to the hospital. It was an unprecedented move for McMahon, a man who famously refused to stop a show for anything, including the death of Owen Hart in 1999. His departure signaled to everyone backstage that Mark Calaway’s condition was critical.
The Decision: Why Lesnar?
In the years following the event, the question of “Why?” has been dissected endlessly. Who made the call to end The Streak, and when was it made?
According to Vince McMahon and The Undertaker, the decision was made by McMahon on the day of the show. Originally, the plan was for The Undertaker to win. However, McMahon began to reconsider the long-term value of The Streak. He believed that The Undertaker’s career was nearing its end (a valid fear given the concussion that night).
McMahon’s logic was that if The Undertaker retired with The Streak intact, the equity of that accomplishment would retire with him. It would be a wasted asset. By having someone break The Streak, that person would receive a massive, career-defining push that could be monetized for years.
McMahon chose Brock Lesnar because he was the only believable candidate. Lesnar was a legitimate fighter who could credibly destroy the myth. McMahon reportedly went to The Undertaker’s dressing room hours before the show to deliver the news. The Undertaker, a traditionalist who always prioritized the business over his own ego, accepted the decision.
“If that’s what you want, boss, that’s what we’ll do.”
The Aftermath for The Undertaker
The Undertaker spent the night in a New Orleans hospital under observation for a severe concussion and neck trauma. The injury shattered his confidence. In The Last Ride, he confessed that the memory loss and the physical vulnerability he felt that night made him question whether he could ever step in the ring again.
It took a full year for him to return. He faced Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 31 in an effort to redeem himself and prove that he wasn’t “broken.” While he won that match, the shadow of WrestleMania 30 loomed large over the remainder of his career. He spent the next six years chasing the “perfect retirement match” because he did not want his legacy to end on the low note of the concussion in New Orleans.
The Aftermath for Brock Lesnar
For Brock Lesnar, breaking The Streak was the catalyst for the most dominant run of his career. Paul Heyman utilized the victory as a cudgel, reminding the audience every single week that his client was “the one in 21-1.”
Four months later, at SummerSlam 2014, Lesnar squashed John Cena to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in one of the most one-sided main events in history. That dominance was built directly on the credibility he gained by ending The Streak. He became the “Final Boss” of WWE, a status he held for the next decade.
Historical Significance
The end of The Streak marked the end of an era in professional wrestling. It deconstructed the idea of the invincible hero. It served as a harsh reminder of the physical toll the industry takes on its performers.
The silence inside the Superdome on April 6, 2014, remains the loudest sound in WWE history. It was the sound of 75,000 childhoods ending simultaneously. While the decision remains debated by critics who felt The Streak should have remained unbroken, the moment itself achieved the ultimate goal of professional wrestling: it created an emotion that no one who witnessed it will ever forget.
