"The streak is over." No four words spoken at a commentary table brought about a more surreal feeling among the WWE universe as that sentence did. Michael Cole uttered the ominous line following The Undertaker's match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30.
Before 2014, it seemed certain that The Undertaker would extend his WrestleMania undefeated streak. That notion became a talking point every year and an integral part not only to The Undertaker's WrestleMania bouts but to the show itself. He claimed victory on 21 straight occasions without suffering a loss. The streak became a legend in itself.
Like most good things, the revered streak was bound to come to an end. Enter Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar, who returned to the WWE a couple of years earlier fresh off his success in the UFC, brought legitimacy to the table. If anyone was going to end the streak, who would be a more believable victor than the former UFC champion?
But we'd been here before. There was always a case to be made for The Undertaker's WrestleMania opponent. Who was to say this would be any different?
Everything seemed to be in order as both combatants entered the ring. Lesnar entered first and anxiously observed the always awe-inspiring entrance of the phenom. The two stared each other down, and the match began.
It wasn't until after the match that we found out The Undertaker worked the majority of it with an injury, but something appeared to be a bit off timing-wise. Regardless, there was no reason for anyone to think about anything other than another Undertaker victory at WrestleMania.
As the match progressed, a flurry of close calls occurred, including Lesnar hitting his F-5 finisher a couple of times, unable to finish The Undertaker off. He then hit a third F-5, and the referee counted to three.
"The streak is over."
There had never been -- and probably will never be -- a live WWE crowd reaction like the one in New Orleans after that three count. The stunned expressions and exasperated faces of the fans told the story better than words ever could. It was disbelief to the nth degree.
The Undertaker has since won two straight WrestleMania matches, but no wrestling fan will forget where they were when The Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania streak came to an end.