11 Biggest Missteps On The Road To WrestleMania 38
7. So, Is Austin Wrestling?
This really is a simple question that deserves a simple answer: Is “Stone Cold” Steve Austin going to actually wrestle on Saturday, or are we just getting a brawl punctuated by a Stunner?
There is really nothing wrong with either option, but WWE has been building this up for weeks as if Austin is coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38. That, or they assume every fan has the memory of a goldfish.
The popular talking point is that it’s been 19 years since Austin stepped in the ring. And that’s mostly true: He retired from in-ring competition after WrestleMania 19 and hasn’t had a match since. However, Austin has gotten physical numerous times throughout the years, as a guest referee at WM 20 and 23, and in a talk show segment at WM 21. Hell, he hit a Stunner the last time WrestleMania was in Dallas in 2018 at WM 32!
If you’re billing this as some monumental moment, you have to deliver way more than some verbal sparring between Austin and Kevin Owens, and way more than KICK, WHAM, STUNNER! Right? If so, wouldn’t you announce it as such or bill it as such? And if it’s the former, then why overhype it? The only excuse here would be Austin himself refusing to actually have a match, because he retired, but he’ll do an extended brawl to show he’s still got it.
Regardless, Austin and KO should deliver a memorable moment for fans, but all of this, including the weird build with Owens carrying the entire “feud” himself – because the hook is supposed to be a verbal confrontation at Mania.