How much trust was now gone, not to mention the sheer amount of money that was left on the table by leaving the company. The longer he fought Owens, the more relaxed Austin seemed to get, appearing more and more like the classic "Stone Cold" with each move he performed. Had Austin not had to retire, it seems obvious they would have battled again, whatever the face-heel alignment. The fact that he hit a suplex on the stage was nuts, too. The current roster of WWE wrestlers is also populated by talents Austin never crossed paths with in the past, and potential dream matches with people like Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Edge and Goldberg are all now real possibilities if Austin wants to get back in the ring even a few more times. Fans were immediately drawn to the new Steve Austin, and the Texas Rattlesnake racked up a total of 6 world championship titles - a number that would've undoubtedlyrose higher were it not for a career-ending neck injury that forced Stone Cold to retire in 2003. There was one prize in WWE that was more valuable than any championship; it was ending The Undertakers undefeated streak at WrestleMania. 2:18. Austin had his last WWE match at WrestleMania XIX in 2003 against The Rock before retiring due to injury. Related: 5 Reasons A Raw/SmackDown Wrestler Should Win The Royal Rumble (& 5 Why It Should Be NXT). "Stone Cold" Steve Austin made a triumphant return to the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.) stage at WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, Texas on Saturday (April 2). Austin was so touched by the novelty that he picked up the phone and called his friend. 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. There are things in life that make you happy as an adult because they take you back to your youth. Stone Cold had been running fast and hard for himself for years even before he got to the WWE. 4:29 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Returns To Kick Off Raw October 19, 2015. Who would get the honor of wrestling Austin in his last match? The actual match was a disaster due to WWEs poor layout and the fans negative reaction to both Superstars leaving the company. While it's not confirmed that Austin will actually wrestle a match at this year's 'Mania, reports say he is in talks with WWE for a big appearance at the show which will be held in his home state of Texas. This is where our alternative post-2003 timeline merges with reality, as there is a chance that 'Stone Cold' may indeed make a comeback. When Stone Cold decides hed had enough, he grabbed his then-wife, Debra and scurried on home. Factoring in his many layoffs due to injury and Austins eight-month hiatus after walking out in June 2002, Stone Cold was only on top for about three years. 0:57. 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. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Goldust . If Austin and Goldberg had clashed, then the rowdy New York crowd would have responded just as WWE had hoped. WWE legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is reportedly set to make a return at WrestleMania 38. The two had a heated discussion in a promotional video for the WWE 2K13 game that had many hoping for a clash. Moments Material. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Kevin Owens would have made an appropriate opponent for Austins swansong, but so would John Cena in an Attitude Era vs Ruthless Aggression clash. For his part, one can be sure WWE boss Vince McMahon will be ready and willing to offer Austin tons of money to do so, and that temptation may just be too much to resist. pre-owned Joining WWE (then WWF) in 1995, Stone Cold didn't take long to switch from his campy Ringmaster gimmick to the hard-nosed, beer-guzzling, vest-wearing "Stone Cold" persona. 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). Sports Tube. 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. I have such fond memories of taking in the product with my dad and arguing with my brother about Stone Cold being better than The Rock. Should his health check out, everybody wins. But the Rattlesnake actually had the audacity to call the office and get his flights changed instead of doing it himself. "But I just love the damn business, and it hurt me so much to leave it. Austin was a guest star on the WWE.com show Byte This shortly before the walkout. 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 Stone Cold and The Undertaker had clashed many times, but never at WrestleMania. Yes The Rock and Stone Cold helped make WWE as popular as ever in the late '90s but both were gone by 2003. Lets imagine that Austins neck was magically cured after his third Mania match with The Rock. 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. However, Austin wouldn't have. Are you training for an event?' Condition: Stone Cold Calls Out Batista - Goldberg Returns 2003 [via torchbrowser.com] 9:25. Following his return, Austin's character would undergo drastic changes in 2001 to a decidedly mixed reaction from fans and Austin himself. In fact, Austin has made clear that it took him years to fully come to terms with his career being over. 9:25. 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. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Austin has seen that speculation and decided to respond. Michael Kennedy is an avid movie and TV fan that's been working for Screen Rant in various capacities since 2014. WillStone Cold Steve Austin open another can of WWE whoop-ass atWrestleMania 38? Related: 10 WWE Superstars That Will Carry The Company In The 2020s. Austin was assumed to be one of the few people in wrestling who would stick to his retirement, but the temptation to compete opposite Kevin Owens in a WrestleMania main event in his home state of Texas proved too good an opportunity to turn down. Before he left for Hollywood, he got in the ring with Hulk Hogan, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton; when he came back, he worked with John Cena and CM Punk. Reportedly, the idea pitched to Austin was to have him return and compete in a one-time sendoff match in front of the Texas crowd. However, they could have done more together. Austin took an unlikely path to become the face of the company as an antihero. Check out the latest episodes of the show where Jim Parsons and Norman Quarrinton cover the latest news and events happening in the worlds of WWE, AEW and more! 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. With that scenario in mind, this is how his career in WWE post WM19 may have looked. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. decluttr_store, Verified purchase: Stone Cold Steve Austin, on the other hand, is now 57-years-old. One of the tricky parts about Stone Cold Steve Austins legacy is that he was only a top star for a short period--to be generous, from 1996 to 2003 (and he was out of the ring for nearly half of that time). The Rock thrived in the Attitude Era, too, particularly for his provocative promo style. So when "Kingdom" began to play over the loudspeakers at WrestleMania, it was one of those moments where I said to myself, "I never thought Id see this happen.". Hulk Hogan achieved some success in movies but was always known first and foremost as a wrestler. WWE - Stone Cold returns to RAW December 2003. kevin billon. WM20 was WWEs biggest show to date. While we've seen the likes of Bryan Danielson (now AEW) and Edge make miraculouscomebacksfrom injury, both were able to return still in their prime wrestling years. | Notes - Delivery *Estimated delivery dates include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS. The Rock and Stone Cold helped make WWE as popular as ever in the late '90s but both were gone by 2003. He wrestled some big names like Sting and Randy Savage incidentally, as a mid-carder in WCW. Thankfully, Austin was able to recover well enough that he was able to spend several years as the biggest box office attraction in wrestling, and give WWE fans a lifetime of great memories. Stone Cold Steve Austin was one of the greatest superstars of our lifetimes, and this dvd is proof! We need to confirm your email address. More: WWE: Every Vince McMahon WrestleMania Match Ranked From Worst To Best. AttitudePOP 693K views 10 months ago FULL. From coming back to induct his father and grandfather into the Hall of Fame, to saving Roman Reignsat Royal Rumble, to other rumored advocacy behind the scenes for relatives like Nia Jax, The Rock has always stayed connected with WWE. Tell us what you think in the comments below! Still, the current storylines surrounding Roman Reigns and Jey Uso have only underscored how much more The Rock might have done in WWE with his family. Yes, Austin had the talent to succeed in other eras, but he reached the top using foul language and leaning into the antihero rolenot a villain, but also never truly donning a white hat. His mother, Beverly Jane (Harrison), remarried to Kenneth Williams, and he took his stepfather's surname. Related: 10 WCW Wrestlers Who Should Be In Jail (Based On Their On-Screen Actions). Then the unthinkable happened. According to multiple sources, WWE wants Stone Cold back in the ring at 2022's Showcase of the Immortals. *RETRO - Originally Aired 5/5/19* Wrestling Nostalgia: No Way Out 2003 - Stone Cold Returns to Face Eric Bischoff (Podcast Episode 2021) on IMDb: Plot summary, synopsis, and more. Once Stone Cold heard he was losing to Brock Lesnar in a King Of The Ring Qualifier Match, he blew a gasket and headed home. 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. Nearly six years later to the day on June 10, 2002, the Rattlesnake nearly took himself out of the game as quick by walking out on the company that made him a GIANT (Global Icon And National Treasure), and the company that he helped turn around and make its owner a billionaire. Goldberg would have gone through The Rock, Chris Jericho, and Triple H like he did in actuality, but the Austin vs Goldberg clash would have been saved for WrestleMania 20. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Yet, as mentioned above, Austin has always been upfront about how hard it was to move on after he retired the first time. - YouTube 0:00 / 4:47 Stone Cold Returns No Way Out 2003! 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? 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). Ryan Satin reacts to Stone Cold Steve Austin defeating Kevin Owens in his first match since 2003 . Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the greatest WWE icons of all time. One of the challenging parts of pushing wrestlers on top for a long time and celebrating their legacy long after their time in the ring is up is that so many top talents have stains on their resumes. Stone Cold concluded that a WWE return just wouldn't have been worth it when he thought about 'the big picture'. 10 Things Fans Need To Know About Stone Cold's Walkout In 2002, Explained, Austin Was Openly Criticizing The Company On Their TV, 5 Reasons A Raw/SmackDown Wrestler Should Win The Royal Rumble (& 5 Why It Should Be NXT), 10 WCW Wrestlers Who Should Be In Jail (Based On Their On-Screen Actions), 10 WWE Superstars That Will Carry The Company In The 2020s, 10 New Years Resolutions For Vince McMahon. Still, while Austin was happy to go out by putting over The Rock, it was clear his early retirement never quite sat well with the man whose entire character was based on doing things his way. As discussed in WWEs documentary, Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time, WWE hired Steve Austin as a highly-skilled worker who couldput on entertaining matches and make bigger stars look great when he put them over. By bringing back that match template for Austin vs. Owens, WWE gave Austin the best chance he had at still performing satisfactorily, even though he's not the athlete he once was. Should his health check out, everybody wins. Confront CM Punk - WWE RAW 01/14/2013 HD [1080p] Fun 9:02 There was no bigger match to have held then the dream match fans had been clamoring for since 1998. 'It aint great enough,' and even if I crushed it, what would it mean? It was a win for Cody Rhodes, since he is now as desirable as he always wanted to be in the eyes of WWE. Sign up for Peacock to watch. The Rated-R Superstar returned at the Royal Rumble on Sunday night,. 03:15. In 2018, WWE struck a highly lucrative deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority to produce two live events per year in Saudi Arabia. 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. In terms of WWE storylines, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin decided to return to the ring because Kevin Owens kept insulting him and his home state of Texas. By summer 2003, neither Austin nor The Rock was wrestling. Its damaging to see all of the huge matches Stone Cold narrowly missed getting to have. Combine all of that with his personal home/life problems and you have a recipe for a man ready to burst. Does Unforgotten work without Nicola Walker? "'Taker, when I talked to him, he trained all year or recovered from having surgery, and then trained for a three or four-month camp to get ready for one match. Condition: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin was born in Victoria, Texas, as Steven James Anderson, on December 18, 1964, the youngest of five children. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. One of the ways in which WWE has kept The Rock in its orbit is through his family. Although the match was clearly curated around what Austin would and wouldn't be able to do considering his age and how long he had been away from the ring, it was a huge success. 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. The Rock has underscored this difference for having delivered the dream matches Austin didnt. It is being. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining listicles, Stone Cold Steve Austin reveals why he refused Vince McMahon's offers for WWE return, Tommy Fury clarifies rules for Jake Paul fight (exclusive), Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Ukrainian's current physique ahead of fight, Tyson Fury interview: Tommy Fury has his work cut out with Jake Paul. Interviewed some of the biggest names in WWE including Triple H, Kurt Angle and Charlotte Flair. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. At this point, after such a positive response to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's big return match at WWE WrestleMania 38, it would be entirely understandable if he really did decide to never wrestle again. 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. That helped make the anticipation feel even greater. 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