There is no bigger question, and potential problem, for Steve Austin to confront as he contemplates stepping back into the squared circle than the possibility that he will not deliver on the biggest stage in professional wrestling. The 2009 Hall of Fame inductee has repeatedly mentioned that one of the selling points for retirement was the desire not to make fans regret paying money to see him wrestle. He did not want to stick around to the point that he sucked and no one wanted to watch him work any more. Having spent the last 12 years on the sidelines, watching from afar as the industry passed him by, Austin would have to face the possibility that his match with Lesnar would disappoint the fans. After all, the last impression they have of him is an epic encounter with The Rock. To watch him hit the ring one last time, and stink up the joint would not only earn him ridicule and criticism, it would also tarnish his legacy. For someone who was always so prideful of his in-ring performance, and never wanted to give the fans anything less-than the 100 percent he believed they deserved, the threat of a subpar or lackluster performance is sure to haunt him. Whether it keeps him from finally lacing up the boots one last time remains to be seen.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
