WWE: 8 WrestleMania Main Events That Almost Happened
2. WrestleMania XXIX: Steve Austin vs CM Punk
Almost from the moment CM Punk debuted for WWE, fans speculated about a dream match between him and Stone Cold Steve Austin whether its because Punks straight-edge lifestyle makes an interesting foil for Austins beer-drinking hell-raiser attitude, because Punk cites Austin as a major influence, or just because the match would be great, its something fans have wanted to see. Frenzy for the match only heightened when Austin repeatedly stated his admiration for Punk, and mentioned in an interview that he felt he could compete again if it were financially necessary. In 2012, while promoting the WWE 13 video game, Austin and Punk had a face-to-face sit-down interview that made wrestling fans the world over salivate. The famously hard-working, hard-training Austin looked like he stepped out of 1998 despite pushing 50, and CM Punk antagonized him at every turn. Just a few minutes together proved what wed all suspected these two fantastic pro wrestlers had unbelievable chemistry. So what happened? The answer is as simple as Stone Cold not wanting to go through with it. While WWE would have (and still would) jump at the chance to get Austin for WrestleMania, and Stone Cold is probably one opponent who could lure CM Punk back to the company in time for the big show, Austin is a notorious perfectionist who refuses to compete at a level below his best. While a Steve Austin at 90, 80, or 70 percent is still a world-class athlete, the man himself doesnt want to tarnish his legacy. For that reason, its unlikely that well ever seen Austin wrestle Punk or anyone else.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
