10 Impossible Wrestling Teases That Almost Happened
1. Steve Austin VS CM Punk
Despite Stone Cold’s beer-drinking, blue collar stereotype clashing with CM Punk’s straight edge alternative persona, there’s no denying the similarities. Both embodied, in their best moments, the spirit of rebellion.
Over his tenure in WWE, Punk teased a showdown with the Rattlesnake numerous times with fake-out entrance music spots and an on-screen war of words that, whilst merely being a simple backstage segment, was one of the most riveting moments in the company in 2011.
The promotion of the WWE ’13 video game was another opportunity for the two to trade barbs as, despite the Voice of the Voiceless being the cover-star, Stone Cold’s career was the storyline focus of the game. Whilst the question posed was “how would Punk fare in the Attitude Era”, it quickly became “could Stone Cold hang with the CM Punk of today”.
Sadly, the match never amounted to anything due to Stone Cold’s resistance to un-retiring (then, anyway) and Punk departing the WWE in a blaze of controversy.
What’s remarkable about this particular dream match is that many fans theorise that it could be back on the table. Austin’s 19 year retirement is officially up and it's clear there's more juice to squeeze from him as a part-timer. And, with CM Punk seemingly burning his bridges with AEW, he may well be inclined to return to the previously scorched earth of WWE if he could have his dream match.
If there was ever a perfect retirement match for one of, or both, of them then this would be it.