10 Wrestlers Most Likely To Be Steve Austin's WWE WrestleMania 39 Opponent

3. Roman Reigns

Steve Austin John Cena
WWE.com

It is astonishing to think of Stone Cold Steve Austin, one of the biggest wrestling draws of all-time, as a back-up plan - but then, it's astonishing that he and the Rock operated in their primes at the exact same time.

The working plan is for Roman Reigns to topple the Rock at a WrestleMania show, thus establishing himself - in canon - as the greatest WWE star of all time. Roman is the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief, and he must defeat his cousin - the real biggest star of the dynasty - to credibly assume that role.

It has taken two years and countless redundant finishes to arrive at this point. The Usos would have been barred from ringside by a promotion concerned with fairness a long time ago, since the implication is that they are never reprimanded for interference and thus could conceivably do it forever. It's something of a gaping plot hole, and it all exists to make the biggest match in wrestling happen.

But what if it doesn't?

What if the Rock is too busy, as he often is? He missed his own anniversary at Survivor Series, after all.

Steve Austin is the best substitute imaginable: he's a massive draw, and while he has no ties to the dynasty, he could be credibly billed as the greatest WWE star ever. The match could exist with the same stakes and heft, even if the opponent is different.

Probability: 20%

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!