Will the Undertaker's Streak End at WrestleMania XXV?

The wrestling business has one marque event that has defined the industry as we know it. WrestleMania was a concept started by WWE's Vince K. McMahon in 1985 in a very expensive attempt to go mainstream throughout the entire country. The revolutionary idea brought the business much needed notoriety and a fanbase that helped launch pay-per-view television as we know it. Even though many stars have been forever remembered for performing on the grandest stage in the wrestling business, they all fail in comparison to that of The Undertaker.

Mark Calloway's journey to stardom in the WWE started in 1990 when he made his first television appearance at the Survivor Series. As a heel(or bad guy), The Undertaker moved up the ranks very quickly and had defeated Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka at WrestleMania VII in 1991. At that time, no one ever thought that he would still be undefeated at the biggest wrestling event them all even today. The undefeated streak currently stands at 16-0 after he beat Edge to win the World Heavyweight Championship this year.

Calloway's gimmick eventually grew very popular, even when he was put in a feud with Hulk Hogan where he won WWE Championship for the first time. He would turn face not long after, and the legend continued to cement his status as one of the greats ever.

This past Sunday at the One Night Stand pay-per-view, The Undertaker lost to Edge in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match in which he was banned from the WWE. But with all the success that has seen him beat the best the company has to offer at the biggest wrestling event of them all, it's unimaginable for "The Phenom" to not be a part of it. This upcoming WrestleMania event in 2009 won't be like the others he's been a part of.

For only the second time, the WWE will be hosting the big event on pay-per-view from Houston, Texas. The last time it was held there was 2001 in which The Undertaker beat Triple H. It's also the birthplace of Calloway. However, the record streak wasn't as notable in those days compared to now.

Even with The Undertaker not in the picture at this time for the WWE, the card will find his name on it somewhere. It's only fitting that Houston is the place where the event is held for his career that is beginning to wind down. It's only fitting that wrestling's most famous record is put on the line one more time at the home of the legendary performer.

At one time during his "biker" gimmick days, he was billed from Houston, Texas. Whether or not they do so leading up to the event is up in the air, but hardcore fans and the city of Houston knows about the hometown performer. If they do, the WWE will have set the stage for wrestling's record streak being put on the line once again in The Undertaker's real backyard.

The story-lines will be endless leading up WrestleMania XXV. Who will step up to take him on, and can they end the streak? Can he really be beaten at WrestleMania? Who will have it in them to challenge him in his backyard? Will this be his "Last Ride" or match of his career in his hometown? Home field advantage will have a new meaning in Houston when the event takes place on April 5, 2009.

No matter what celebrities show up for the event, all eyes will be watching The Undertaker's attempt to keep the most popular record streak in wrestling intact with the hometown crowd on his side. Will The Undertaker's fabled streak continue? Or will someone do the unthinkable and snap the streak in the most unlikely of places: his backyard?

Sources: obsessedwithwrestling.com, wwe.com