Real Reason Steve Austin's KO Show Is Main-Eventing WWE WrestleMania 38?

Why the Steve Austin/Kevin Owens segment, not a match, will headline WrestleMania 38's first night.

Steve Austin WrestleMania 38
WWE

Although the situation has changed several times over the past few weeks, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported on Tuesday that 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's appearance on The KO Show is set to close WrestleMania 38's first night (Saturday 2 April).

Even if it looks like he won't be wrestling on the show, as was originally rumoured, Austin's confrontation with Kevin Owens is going to end the night rather than a match. It's an untraditional move motivated, perhaps, by the acknowledgement that 'Stone Cold' is comfortably the biggest name working either night of WrestleMania 38.

Speaking on the same episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that brought the above report, Meltzer speculated that WWE may be putting Austin on last as they don't want to risk the possibility of people leaving 'Mania after seeing him live and in the flesh.

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This will be Steve's first true WWE appearance since March 2020, when he featured on the company's first pandemic era Raw at the Performance Center. Austin has, however, appeared in several video packages leading up to WrestleMania 38.

SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey had previously been listed as Saturday's 'Mania main event.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.