By Pat McNeill, PWTorch columnist

If Undertaker decides he's ready to go, the course is set for WrestleMania. The Dead Man can put his 20-0 WrestleMania record against C.M. Punk's, um, 3-2 WrestleMania record, and the two men renew their brief rivalry from 2009. But, just for the heck of it, let's say that this is the year. This is the year that Undertaker either can't or won't be a part of WrestleMania. What should WWE do about it? They have C.M. Punk, the top heel in the promotion, swinging in the breeze without an obvious opponent for the show.

Fortunately, it's still early in WrestleMania season. The only thing we know for sure is that John Cena will challenge the WWE champion at WrestleMania. The odds are that The Rock will still be WWE champion when April 7 rolls around. That leaves Mr. McMahon and his family with a lot of options. Observe:

(1) Sheamus moves up a slot and takes on C.M. Punk. Hey, it's still a big match. Sheamus was the focus of Smackdown for most of 2012. Punk held the WWE Title for all of 2012. Whatever WWE has planned for Sheamus, it can be changed.

(2) C.M. Punk "injures" Undertaker. Kane steps up and takes his brother's place. Perhaps Undertaker is ringside for his baby brother. It's a perfectly logical storyline which gives Kane and Punk a personal issue. There's a downside to it, which is that the match will probably suck. Kane's good at protecting the guy he's working with, and he knows his character, but he doesn't have the track record Undertaker does.

(3) The Rock vs. John Cena vs. C.M. Punk in a three-way match. Yes, you could do it. Yes, it would solve the immediate problem of giving C.M. Punk an important spot on the WrestleMania line-up. But that's all it does. Quick, tell me the last memorable three-way match at a WrestleMania? That's right, it was at WrestleMania XX, nine years ago. And it was a fantastic match. But, it's the only one of its kind.

(4) C.M. Punk breaks up with Brock Lesnar and takes Triple H's spot. We still have several weeks to go. You could create a circumstance where Lesnar's interference backfires and costs C.M. Punk his re-match with The Rock at Elimination Chamber. Heyman takes Brock Lesnar's side because, hey, he's Brock Lesnar. Meanwhile, Lesnar injures Shane McMahon and Triple H, leaving the First Family without an avenger. So the McMahons have to get behind a wrestler they hate to get at a common foe. And no, I don't see this happening either. But it could. And now, we get to the interesting ideas...

(5) Vince McMahon flashes his roll at Steve Austin. WWE gets a "suitable substitution" for the legendary Undertaker. C.M. Punk gets the opponent he's waited a lifetime for, and Stone Cold goes out a winner in his final WrestleMania moment. It sounds too good to be true. The only question is whether Austin will have a problem being in the third match from the top, because the title match and Hunter-Lesnar will still be treated as a bigger deal than Austin's final night. And if you think THAT scenario was unlikely...

(6) WWE combines two matches into one. Punk and Lesnar run riot over the babyfaces, while the McMahons (both in reality and in storyline) beg Shawn Michaels to come back one final time. Shawn plays the reluctant warrior, but ends up signing on. And yes, it would be D-Generation X vs. C.M. Punk & Brock Lesnar, featuring four men who would be determined to tear the house down. It's still more likely than...

(7) WWE finally signs Sting and makes him C.M. Punk's opponent for WrestleMania. Book it, Vince.

Pat McNeill of Richmond, Virginia has been a PWTorch Columnist since February 2001. No, really.

We suggest these recent related articles...

McNEILL's Late Night Deadblog - WWE Night of Champions: Bucklebombs, Light-up Jackets, Poachers, IcoPro, Eddie, more!

Night of Gold: McNEILL Previews Night Of Champions 2015 (w/Wrestling History Lesson)

Double Duty: McNEILL previews ROH's All-Star Extravaganza VII pay-per-view!