The actual match was a disaster due to WWEs poor layout and the fans negative reaction to both Superstars leaving the company. Both exits devastated the company. The night after WrestleMania 19, Austin would have turned his attention to a man he was very familiar with and to a title steeped in history: Triple H and the World Heavyweight Championship. Stone Cold Steve Austin shocked the wrestling world when he announced an upcoming appearance at WrestleMania 38, which initially seemed like it'd be a match with Kevin Owens. Austins troublesome neck finally gave out on him. Austin was only 38 when he had to call it quits; there was still a lot he couldve done inside the squared circle. Both exits devastated the company. How much trust was now gone, not to mention the sheer amount of money that was left on the table by leaving the company. A long-term member of the Screen Rant family, Michael looks forward to continuing on creating new content for the site for many more years to come. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is about to fight in a WWE ring again and maybe this was the best way for it to happen. Instead, he donned a Stone Cold t-shirt. His mother, Beverly Jane (Harrison), remarried to Kenneth Williams, and he took his stepfather's surname. Steve Austin meant so much to me that for most of my life, when someone would ask whats on my bucket list, Id say I didnt have a bucket list because there was only one thing on it, and that was drink a beer with Steve Austin. The Rock was positioned as Mr. McMahons proxyat first, then emerged as an iconic face in his own right, and arguably even eclipsing Stone Cold's popularity. 6:55. Ric Flair has had his money woes. The opponent fans might immediately anticipate Stone Coldcould face atWrestleMania 38is Kevin Owens. If Austin were still able to wrestle, Goldberg and Austin wouldnt have clashed as soon as people would have hoped. | A staple of the Attitude Era, The Texas Rattlesnake retired from professional wrestling in 2003, when he was beaten by The. Theres a long history of wrestlers trying to make it outside of the business. Steve Austin had issues related to domestic violence and alcohol consumption. Then he worked the grueling schedule demanded of the tippy top guy in the company. Kevin Owens is perfect as a safe-pair-of-hands opponent, and Stone Cold's return would be huge for both WWE and its fans (not to mention Steve himself, most likely). Austin was never known to be generous with wins and losses, but Stone Cold may have softened in his old age and allowed Owens to be the one to have his hand raised. Austin has said that he prefers to work these low-profile projects, as he is granted a lot of creative control and doesnt have to do anything out of his wheelhouse. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wrestled his first match in 19 years at WWE WrestleMania 38, but there's a chance it might not be last time in the ring. And to me, going back for one match, being like man, why? Next:10 New Years Resolutions For Vince McMahon. 0:57. According to most parties involved, after Stone Cold hung up on Jim Ross on the plane, that was it. If Austin were able, the two would have had a match, and it would have been at WrestleMania 29, as Punk was white hot then. You could feel Biancas struggle, as well as Beckys desperation to keep the belt, and they played into our emotions to perfection. The Rock thrived in the Attitude Era, too, particularly for his provocative promo style. Austin took an unlikely path to become the face of the company as an antihero. I just simply looked in the mirror and realized I look like shit. Austin reiterates at the end of the clip that he is back in the gym, and sharing his progress on social media, because he didn't like what he saw in the mirror. The right woman won here. Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 2018. . Ryan Satin reacts to Bianca Belair reclaiming the RAW women's title after defeating Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin thanks the WWE Universe for supporting him during his time off in 2002. . The biggest black marks on his record were likely misdeeds and unkind words he put into play in character. It was a win for WWE, as they now gain a top star in wrestling who has such a huge fanbase behind him that he was able to help launch an entirely new promotion. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. The narrative of this story for a lot of fans is that Steve didnt want to job to Lesnar so he went home. But the guy was beaten to hammered heck, physically and emotionally. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Rumors still come up that, with time and medical advancements, he could wrestle again. Before the match with Owens began, Austin pointed out that he had wrestled his first-ever match in Dallas, so it made sense to wrestle his final match there as well. Since The Rock stopped wrestling full time, Umaga, Rosey, Reigns, The Usos, and Manu to name a few have come of ageand might have gotten a boost via interactions with The Brahma Bull. Following the rumours that Austin was set for a match, PW Insider reported that WWE reached out to Austin in late December/early January to "gauge his interest in doing something at the show". Sporadic appearances gave way to a nearly seven-year absence from Raw, SmackDown, or PPV. Its incredible that Austin was able to have the career he had in such limited time, but what if his career didnt end after losing to The Rock at WM19? More:Why WWE Fired Shane McMahon (Will He Return?). brokenskullranch .com. There wouldnt have been a better opponent for Punk then Stone Cold. The promos between the two would have been some of the best in wrestling history. Austins own star power certainly exceeded expectations, but he kept up the high quality of work right up through his final matches. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. Ryan Satin reacts toStone Cold Steve Austin defeating Kevin Owens in his first match since 2003. On June 23, 1996, the wrestling world began to change forever when Stone Cold Steve Austin ascended to his throne as the King Of The Ring. Michael Kennedy is an avid movie and TV fan that's been working for Screen Rant in various capacities since 2014. WWE - Stone Cold Steve Austin - Returns To RAW To Help WWF Beaumet 9:55 Test w- Stacey Keibler Confronts Stone Cold Steve Austin 20th October 2003 WWE RAW me smart videos 10:41 Goldberg & Stone Cold Steve Austin Share A Beer On WWE Raw 5/5/2003 Richie Colombo II 2:38 Steve Austin Return! | Stone Cold Steve Austin, on the other hand, is now 57-years-old. By contrast to Austin, The Rock entered wrestling via his family, and though his kids arent old enough tohave WWE careers yet, The Great One has no shortage of youngerrelatives whove gotten into wrestling. March 30, 2003. Yet, as mentioned above, Austin has always been upfront about how hard it was to move on after he retired the first time. WWE: Steve Austin's WrestleMania 38 Return Hints He Might Wrestle Again, WWE: Why Triple H Has Retired From Wrestling, Steve Austin the man though, his return from retirement, WWE: Which Show Was The Biggest Of All Time, WWE: Every Vince McMahon WrestleMania Match Ranked From Worst To Best. Jim Carrey is Craigs top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. However, Austin wouldnt have gotten his hands on the World Heavyweight Championship, as that title was reserved for another bald ass-kicker. By contrast, The Rock became a titan of wrestling and then became an even bigger deal in Hollywood. That coupled with the reveal he has been asked to wrestle again by WWE's new regime has fueled speculation The Texas Rattlesnake will compete in another match at WrestleMania 39. Steve Austin (born Steven James Anderson; December 18, 1964), better known by his ring name " Stone Cold " Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, and retired professional wrestler. Such a success that whether it happens or not, there is clearly a desire for Austin to do more. Stone Cold's WrestleMania Return . In that time, Michael has written over 2000 articles for the site, first working solely as a news writer, then later as a senior writer and associate news editor. With Austin having now crossed that bridge, lots of WWE viewers now find themselves thinking just how good he looked in the ring for someone who hadn't wrestled in nearly two decades. For years, he maintained that the main reason he'd never have another match was because of how hard he thought leaving again would be on him mentally. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. While Austin was on the losing end at Mania, The Rattlesnake had a big enough name to warrant a shot at Triple Hs big gold belt. Tell us what you think in the comments below! You've got to admire Austin for staying retired, despite McMahon's offer to return. Related:The Rock & 8 Others Who Quit Wrestling Too Soon. When not writing, Michael enjoys going to concerts, taking in live professional wrestling, and debating pop culture. Austin took great pride in his work, and he knew not to outstay his welcome. - YouTube 0:00 / 4:47 Stone Cold Returns No Way Out 2003! When Steve Austin left WWE, there was no promise of his legacy outliving him in the company. pre-owned Austin then popped up again during WrestleMania night two, stunning his old nemesis Vince McMahon, wrestler Austin Theory, and former NFL star Pat McAfee. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals, WWE: Undertaker - The Last Ride [Blu-ray], WWE: Finn Blor - For Everyone (Hand Signed Alternative Sleeve) [DVD], WWE - Undertaker hooded Pop! In fact, Austin has made clear that it took him years to fully come to terms with his career being over. He hasn't wrestled for almost two decades since he faced The Rock at WrestleMania XIX. There was no bigger match to have held then the dream match fans had been clamoring for since 1998. 18:27. Immediately I thought theres no way this thing will even play, but it did so Im happy with that. People have been speculating, 'Hey Steve, what are you doing? Indeed, The Rock may well have been a key star in retaining the Attitude fan base into the Ruthless Aggression Era, had he hung around. But the Rattlesnake actually had the audacity to call the office and get his flights changed instead of doing it himself. Though WWE's core fanbase may bemoan the company's nostalgia addiction as they watch yet another aging star hobble around the ring narrowly avoiding injury, the strategy is shrewd marketing. Retired. 4:05. These family members carry on the tradition, not to mention suggesting that The Rock always could come back to play a role in their careers as he already has to an extent for Roman Reigns in 2015. Free shipping for many products! Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer. Stone Cold Returns To Raw 4/4/05 Part 2. Much like Bad Bunny last year, Logan did a great job of silencing his haters by showing hes got natural abilities in a wrestling ring. When I opened the package I noticed the case had been beat to hell and when I looked at the disc it had cracks in the middle of it and smudges all over it. While Batista has done well in movies, its still difficult not to think of him as a wrestler first. Stone Cold Steve Austin was a defining star of the Attitude Era , and so was The Rock. While "Stone Cold" Steve Austin looked to be in great shape for a 57-year-old man who doesn't regularly wrestle, his long history of neck, back, and knee injuries led to many being shocked by both the length and brutality of the match he had with Kevin Owens. US viewers can access the WWE Network via Peacock. 03:15. He's in his mid-fifties now, though, and the ship has likely sailed on him having a serious wrestling run again. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. First, heres a recap of the match results: - The Usos defeated Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs via pinfall to retain the SmackDown tag team titles, - Drew McIntyre defeated Happy Corbin via pinfall after being the first person ever to kick out of the End of Days, - The Miz and Logan Paul defeated Rey and Dominik Mysterio via pinfall, - Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch via pinfall to become the new Raw Womens champion, - Cody Rhodes defeated Seth Rollins via pinfall after hitting the Cross Rhodes multiple times (as well as a Bionic Elbow), - Charlotte Flair defeated Ronda Rousey via pinfall to retain the SmackDown Womens Championship, - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeated Kevin Owens via pinfall in a No Holds Barred match after hitting the Stunner. Stone Cold concluded that a WWE return just wouldn't have been worth it when he thought about 'the big picture'. After facing The Deadman at Mania, Austin would disappear from WWE television, but an outspoken star displaying the same rebellious spirit would have gotten Austins attention. A feud with Stone Cold would have helped carry Owens' momentum forward and would have solidified Owens' place in the main event scene. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin was born in Victoria, Texas, as Steven James Anderson, on December 18, 1964, the youngest of five children. The No-Holds Barred stipulation allowed for Steve Austin to get some of his trademark brawling in, but dont get it twisted: The amount of actual bumps he took was shocking. Sold by: For Steve Austin the man though, his return from retirement was likely spurred on by the desire to, if he does indeed re-retire, go out on his own terms this time. Still, when The Peoples Champion came back he demonstrated that he could connect with fans still, despite being restricted to a more family-friendly persona. The Rattlesnake had been ornery since before WrestleMania X8 and supposedly upset that he was not in a main event spot; even though his match with Scott Hall was one of the featured undercard matches. To this day, you'll rarely see a Piledriver on WWE television. Stone Cold Calls Out Batista - Goldberg Returns 2003 [via torchbrowser.com] 9:25. Writes about sweaty, oily wrestlers for a living. Michael Chin is a writer based in Las Vegas, He writes about pro wrestling for The Sportster and has followed WWE and other promotions for over 30 years. Even if Austin werent forced to retire, he would have left the squared circle for a short while to pursue acting. Its damaging to see all of the huge matches Stone Cold narrowly missed getting to have. The WWE Attitude-era legend has remained a sporadic onscreenpresenceever since - even delivering a select few Stone Cold Stunners - but has never competed in a proper match. That included part-time stints with the company from 2002 to 2004 and 2011 to 2013. The Rock has underscored this difference for having delivered the dream matches Austin didnt. While Stone Cold wouldwork in authority roles, health issues forced him from the ring. Related: 10 WWE Superstars That Will Carry The Company In The 2020s. 'Stone Cold' would have challenged for RAW 's top title in the Spring of 2003, whether in one-on-one bouts with Triple H or as a part of multiple person matches. Do check the Promotions tab if you cannot find it in the Primary Inbox. Apparently, the Saudi Prince has an affinity for the stars of the 90s. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these, Carlos Beltran admits 'stain' on Astros' 2017 World Series title. This surprise performance was quite the spectacle, and delighted the nearly 80,000 people (allegedly) in attendance in Dallas, Texas and the millions watching live on Peacock or the WWE Network. 6:17. Refresh your browser window to try again. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wrestled his first matchin 19 years at WWE WrestleMania 38, but that may not be the last time he laces up the boots. It's quite possible Austin's passion for wrestling was reignited by that experience, which saw an entire stadium chanting his name and saying "you still got it." if they wanted to see him wrestle. 9:25. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. Many were also surprised just how much fun it was. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Satin previously appeared on FS1's "WWE Backstage" and founded Pro Wrestling Sheet, where he broke countless news stories as editor-in-chief. Stone Cold Steve Austin Returns Unforgiven 2000 w/ Backstage Segments Redneck 3-16 Follow WWF PPV Unforgiven 2000 ->Stone Cold Arrives & Conducts Investigations w/ Rock,Stephanie & more - 0:00 -> Stone Cold Returns To The Ring - 6:16 Browse more videos Playing next 31:21 WWF Championship: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle - Unforgiven 2001 The WWE Hall of Famer has made it clear several times that he doesn't want. After Punk walked out in early 2014, another unconventional superstar who was greatly influenced by Austin would have emerged. The Undertaker Match, Ranked, retaining the Attitude fan base into the Ruthless Aggression Era, Triple H was one of Stone Cold Steve Austins biggest rivals, 5 Things The Rock Is Better Than Stone Cold At (& 5 Things Stone Cold Is Better At), 10 WWE PPV Endings That Changed Everything, Every WWE Tag Team Championship, Ranked By Belt Design, 10 Most Hideously Muscular Physiques In Wrestling History. Ryan Satin is a WWE analyst for FOX Sports. 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