Steve Austin was engaged on a undertaking lately that required him to look again at his enormous return match with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 two years in the past.
“Stone Chilly” stated he could not focus on what undertaking that was, however going over the tape of that bout — his first in 19 years — was illuminating.
“I dissected what I did, and I do know that I can enhance on what I did,” Austin informed ESPN in a latest interview.
Does that imply we may see yet one more match from one of the vital iconic performers within the historical past {of professional} wrestling? Austin wouldn’t rule it out.
“I stated I would by no means get in a hoop once more until all the celebs aligned,” Austin stated. “And for some cause, by some means, all of them did. And on the age of 57, I headlined the primary night time of WrestleMania. I by no means thought I would do this. In the event you’d have informed me that after I retired in [2003], I would have stated, ‘You are loopy.’ So I am not gonna sit right here and say no to something, since you by no means say by no means on this loopy enterprise of sports activities leisure.”
It doesn’t seem Austin, now 59 years previous, will carry out at WrestleMania 40 this 12 months. Nonetheless, his biggest rival, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, will probably be in motion. And for these followers craving for “Stone Chilly” on the largest occasion of the 12 months, there are alternatives.
Austin will probably be featured prominently in WWE 2K24’s new recreation mode, “Showcase of the Immortals.” The mode permits gamers to dwell by means of 21 historic WrestleMania matches, as the most important occasion in WWE historical past — the one which revolutionized professional wrestling — celebrates its fortieth anniversary. These matches embody Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Large from WrestleMania 3, the well-known ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon from WrestleMania 10 and extra up to date clashes like the primary ladies’s WrestleMania foremost occasion, the triple-threat match between Becky Lynch, Charlotte Aptitude and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35.
Austin’s basic match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 in 1997, the one which took the “Stone Chilly” character to a different degree, will probably be playable within the recreation. As will Austin’s WrestleMania 17 encounter with The Rock in 2001 and the aforementioned comeback match with Owens. The Hart match stands out particularly for Austin, who closed that match with blood dripping down his face.
“Bret form of put me on the map,” Austin stated. “He noticed me coming, he knew we may generate income collectively. And with out Bret my profession wouldn’t have been what it was. So, the truth that followers can play it and do it on this recreation, it is gonna be fairly badass.”
When requested whether or not he had an concept of what opponent he would need in what would seemingly be his closing profession match, Austin stated he did. However he didn’t wish to point out the title, as a result of he was not selling the match, nor did he wish to add strain on WWE or the foe to make it occur.
Austin did say a possible matchup with CM Punk “can be a very good one.”
“I like Punk, and I believe Punk likes me — so, so long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner,” Austin stated with amusing. “I contemplate him an important pal, an important man and an important wrestler who’s had an important profession. We’ll see.”
That does not imply Austin, a WWE Corridor of Famer and six-time WWE champion, will come again and have one other match. Nevertheless it doesn’t suggest he will not, both.
“I like the sports activities leisure enterprise greater than something I’ve ever finished in my life,” Austin stated. “And also you get a dose of it, and also you need extra. And so right here I’m speaking to you a pair years later about doing it once more. And that is how addicting it’s to me, simply to speak about it. And I get excited, and I will begin speaking too quick.
“Nevertheless it’s not gonna occur. Nevertheless it may.”