Ranking Wrestling's Most Shocking Surprise Every Year 1990-2020

18. 2003 - Stone Cold Steve Austin Retires

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WWE

Only if one spotted just how pointed Jim Ross' words felt as Steve Austin exited WrestleMania XIX might anybody have realised there and then that it was 'The Rattlesnake's last match proper.

Austin had worked the in-house rags with comeback interviews noting how he was in the best shape in years, and receipts were due for some of the bullsh*t about balls and going home in the time he'd been away. It didn't play out like that - after getting through two smoke and mirrors matches with Eric Bischoff upon his return, he was done and dusted after his loss to The Rock.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett