10 Wild WWE Matches You Forgot Almost Happened

9. Steve Austin vs. Coach (Taboo Tuesday 2005)

Roman Reigns Adam Pearce
WWE.com

This is pretty incredible.

'Stone Cold' was set to face Jonathan Coachman in a match at the 'B' level Taboo Tuesday pay-per-view in 2005, but Austin reportedly no-showed the event. Coach told AdFreeShows in 2021 that he was disappointed by this, and believes Steve never really wanted to step in the ring with him at all - "He felt like it was below him".

This would've been Austin's first official match since working The Rock at WrestleMania XIX in 2003, but fans would have to wait until 2022 to see him lace up a pair of boots again. Let's just say that 'Mania 38 scrap vs. Kevin Owens was better than 'Stone Cold' vs. Coachman would've been in '05.

Nonetheless, Coach was gutted he didn't get to share the ring with one of the biggest stars ever. WWE pivoted by putting Batista on the card as his opponent instead. Fans voted for the stipulation to be a 'Street Fight'. Oh, and both Goldust and Vader were brought back to cameo alongside Coachman for...some reason.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.