Michael Cole Explains How His Iconic ‘The Streak Is Over’ Call Happened in Real Time at WrestleMania

Michael Cole has called thousands of WWE matches over the years, but one moment continues to stand above the rest — the night Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania and ended the most famous undefeated streak in wrestling history.

During a recent interview on The Sal Licata Show, Cole opened up about what really happened at ringside when the finish shocked the wrestling world. Despite being one of WWE’s most trusted voices, Cole admitted that even he did not expect the outcome, and his reaction came purely from instinct in the moment.

Cole explained that while he typically knows much of what will happen in a match so he can guide the audience through the story, WrestleMania is one event where surprises are more likely. He made it clear that the finish to The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar was not something widely expected, even backstage.

“No, there's uh I know about 80% of what's going to happen. At WrestleMania, I don't like to know a lot of — I have to know a lot of things in order to help the audience with the story. WrestleMania, I don't like to know anything if I don't have to.”

Cole went on to describe the atmosphere inside the stadium and how nearly everyone believed The Undertaker would remain undefeated. The idea that Lesnar would be the one to end the streak wasn’t even on most people’s radar.

“But the Undertaker thing — there was not one person in that building that thought Undertaker was going to lose. Every single person believed that he was either going to retire undefeated or if he was going to lose, he was going to lose to an up-and-coming person that he could help give the quote rub to.”

He also addressed long-standing rumors that the match’s ending may have changed late in the bout, something that has been discussed among fans and insiders for years.

“None of us knew Brock was going to win. In fact, I think the legend goes that the actual ending of the match was changed mid-match.”

Cole then detailed the exact moment that led to one of the most recognizable calls in WWE history. When Lesnar hit the decisive F5, Cole was already preparing to call what he thought would be another routine kickout — until everything suddenly stopped.

“Anyhow, when Brock hit Taker with the F5, I believed that Taker was going to kick out. So, it was almost a nonchalant one, two, and I was about to say kick out when I froze. And that's when I just simply — the first thing that came to mind was the streak is over.”

Looking back, Cole believes the shock in his voice made the moment even more powerful. Instead of shouting or overreacting, the stunned delivery reflected exactly what fans were feeling in real time.

“Like that's the first thing that came to mind. And in retrospect, I don't think I could have done that any better. I don't think there was a call that could have been done better than that because if I was screaming over the top or whatnot, it just does not have the effect because you could tell in the moment that I was legitimately shocked at what happened.”

The Undertaker’s streak ending remains one of the most talked-about moments in WWE history, and Cole’s call has become permanently tied to that night. Years later, the honesty behind his reaction continues to add weight to the moment, reminding fans that sometimes the most unforgettable calls come from genuine surprise.

That WrestleMania moment still sparks debate among fans about whether the streak should have ended and who should have been the one to do it. Hearing Cole describe what happened from his perspective only adds to one of WWE’s most historic nights.

What did you think when The Undertaker’s streak ended at WrestleMania, and do you believe Brock Lesnar was the right person to break it? Let us know your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below.