Is the Undertaker's 19-0 Wrestlemania Record really a Big Deal?

Every year when Wrestlemania gets close you can count on one thing happening; it's time to talk about the Undertaker's undefeated streak. The announcers on Raw and Smackdown will tell you how amazing the streak is and what a legacy the Undertaker has because of it. But I have to ask one question, is the Undertaker's record at Wrestlemania really a big deal?

Let's start Wrestlemania at the beginning. At Wrestlemania VII the Undertaker defeated “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Jimmy Snuka is one of pro wrestling's all-time greats but let's face facts, Jimmy Snuka was 47 and the Undertaker was 26. Not exactly an even match-up. In 1993 at Wrestlemania IX the Undertaker would face the Giant Gonzalez, a wrestler who was 8 feet tall and could barely move, and the Undertaker was only able win because of his opponent getting himself disqualified. Fortunately in 1995 the WWE would finally start to put the Undertaker up against some real opponents. At Wrestlemania XII he would face Diesel(Kevin Nash). This was a hard fought victory that finally gave the streak some merit. At Wrestlemania XIII the Undertaker would face WWE Champion Sycho Sid, this should've been the end of the streak. But Bret Hart, who was in a feud with Sycho Sid, came out to the ring and attacked Sycho Sid enabling the Undertaker to win the match. It would be the next 5 years that would destroy all of credibility of the Undertaker's 19-0 record at Wrestlemania. There would be two big victories over tough opponents: Kane at Wrestlemania XIV(1998) and Triple H at Wrestlemania XVII(2001). However at Wrestlemania XV(1999) the Undertaker would defeat the Big Boss Man, who was out of his prime and not exactly a “main eventer” anymore. Then there was what was missing from this time period(1998-2003), no matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin or the Rock at Wrestlemania. And what about the incident of padding the Undertaker's Wrestlemania record when he faced 54 year old Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XVIII(2002).

In 2004 the WWE would finally start to give the Undertaker some real opponents. From 2004 to 2011 he faced Kane, Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Batista, Edge, Shawn Michaels(twice), and Triple H. But is it too little, too late? Think about all of the greats matches that could've happened, but didn't. No matches against Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man Randy Savage, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Shawn Michaels(when he was in his prime), Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock, Bill Goldberg, or Brock Lesnar. And what about John Cena? Cena has been in the main event at Wrestlemania ever since he won his first WWE Championship at Wrestlemania XXI. So that's six Wrestlemanias without the Undertaker and John Cena facing each other in the main event. And I have to ask, what would be bigger than the "Phenom vs. the "Franchise"? So with all of these great wrestlers that the Undertaker could've faced at Wrestlemania, and didn't, you have to ask yourself a question. Is the Undertakers 19-0 Wrestlemania record really a big deal?

Update: The Undertaker's Legendary Wrestlemania streak came to an end at Wrestlemania 30 in 2014.