The Undertaker has opened up on two major topics, shedding light on both his emotional WrestleMania 36 farewell with AJ Styles and his strong stance on how WWE storytelling should be handled behind the scenes.

Speaking on Nightcap, The Deadman confirmed that the Boneyard Match at WrestleMania 36 was always intended to be his final chapter in the ring. By that stage of his career, he felt he had given everything possible to the business and knew there was nothing left to prove.

“Yeah, there was no coming back from the Boneyard, win, lose, or draw. That was definitely it for me. I got everything out of the sponge that I could possibly get, right? I wrung it out.”

With that mindset, Undertaker explained that he has long followed a personal tradition when it comes to his biggest WrestleMania opponents. He makes sure they walk away with something meaningful to remember the moment. That philosophy led to him giving Styles the gloves he wore in what would become his final WWE match.

“My WrestleMania opponents, I’ve always wanted to leave them with something they’re going to remember. So at the conclusion of the Boneyard, people say I’m crazy for it, but I gave the gloves that I wore in that match to AJ Styles.”

He confirmed that those gloves were the last pair he ever used in WWE, making the gesture even more significant. Styles returned the respect by gifting Undertaker his own gloves from the match, creating a symbolic exchange between the two following their cinematic clash.

“He has them, he has the last pair of gloves that I ever used. And it means the world to him. It was cool, he gave me his too. So I have his gloves that he fought in, and he’s got mine.”

Looking back, Undertaker said the moment still resonates with him today, not because of the items themselves, but because of what they represent.

“It’s kind of a cool deal. I can look up on the shelf and be like, ‘You know what? We tore it up that night.’”

Beyond reflecting on his in ring legacy, Undertaker also addressed the modern WWE creative process and made it clear that while fan reactions matter, they should not dictate everything.

He explained that even the strongest ideas can fail once presented to an audience, comparing wrestling storytelling to calling a play in sports. What works in theory does not always translate in reality.

“It’s up to them. You can have this brilliant idea in your mind, like, ‘Oh man, I want to see wrestler A fight wrestler B,’ and you think it’s going to be the greatest thing ever. And then you start looking at it like, ‘Man, I’d love to get this match all the way to WrestleMania.’”

“But then you put it out there, and sometimes it ain’t as good as you thought. It’s just like a play call, you think it’s going to work. At practice, it works, right? But if your audience doesn’t resonate with it or doesn’t get with it, then it’s, I call it pissing up a rope, you ain’t going to get nothing but your hands wet.”

While acknowledging the importance of audience feedback, Undertaker stressed that fans are not always aware of the bigger picture. He pointed out that long term storytelling requires patience, something that can be lost in today’s instant reaction culture.

“Well, there’s a lot that goes into that. Obviously, they’re not in the know of the big picture. And sometimes people get impatient, they don’t want to wait. That’s part of storytelling.”

He also reflected on how anticipation once played a major role in wrestling narratives, particularly during the Monday Night Wars, when fans had to wait week to week to see how stories unfolded.

“You’ve got to have those beats in the story that keep them captivated, like, ‘Okay, I want to see what happens next.’ Back in the day, during the Monday Night Wars, we’d go off with a cliffhanger and people had to wait. You couldn’t just go to YouTube, you had to wait until the next Monday night to see what was going to happen.”

In closing, Undertaker made his stance clear. Fan engagement is important, but creative direction needs structure and vision to succeed.

“So yeah, to answer your question, you have to have good creative, and it has to resonate with your audience to a certain extent. You have to listen, but you can’t let it dictate everything. If it solely dictates, then you lose focus of what you’re trying to do.”

WrestleMania 42 is set to open with a stacked Night One card, bringing together championship clashes, personal rivalries, and high stakes that could reshape the landscape of WWE in one night. With global attention locked in, Saturday’s show is positioned to deliver major moments from the opening bell through the main event.
Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, who secured this opportunity by winning the Elimination Chamber before shocking fans with a heel turn. Orton heads into the match with outspoken backing from Pat McAfee, who has put his own future on the line by vowing to leave WWE if Orton fails. The pressure is immense on both sides, as Rhodes looks to cement his reign while Orton aims to prove he still sits at the top of the industry.
Stephanie Vaquer puts her title on the line against Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, who made it clear from the moment she earned her shot that Vaquer was her target. Their rivalry has escalated week after week with increasingly physical encounters, leaving little doubt that this will be one of the most heated matches on the card. Morgan is chasing another defining championship victory, while Vaquer looks to continue her dominant run.
AJ Lee defends against Becky Lynch in the latest chapter of their ongoing feud. Lynch enters the match still searching for her first victory over AJ, having come up short in previous encounters including their last meeting at Elimination Chamber. With AJ maintaining a perfect record against her rival, Becky faces an uphill battle as she attempts to finally break through and capture the title.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend defend the titles against a loaded field that includes Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, and the Bella Twins. There is uncertainty surrounding Nikki Bella due to an ankle injury, but the match is set to go ahead regardless. With multiple teams capable of walking out as champions, the elimination format adds another layer of unpredictability to an already chaotic contest.

Other Matches

Seth Rollins returns to action against GUNTHER in a highly anticipated singles bout, marking his first match back following a lengthy injury layoff.

Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu collide in an unsanctioned match that is expected to push both men to their limits in what could be one of the most brutal fights of the weekend.

A six man tag team match will see Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed take on The Usos and LA Knight, blending mainstream attention with in ring rivalries in a bout that has quickly gained momentum.

Full WrestleMania 42 Night One Lineup

– Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton

– Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer vs Liv Morgan

– Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch

– WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match: Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs The Bella Twins

– Logan Paul Austin Theory and IShowSpeed vs The Usos and LA Knight

– Unsanctioned Match: Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu

– Seth Rollins vs GUNTHER