“Stone Cold” Steve Austin may be enjoying life away from the ring, but his name is once again making noise behind the scenes in WWE.
Austin famously wrapped up his full-time wrestling career in 2003 after dealing with serious neck injuries, but shocked the world nearly two decades later when he returned for a one-off match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38. The No Holds Barred bout exceeded expectations and proved that The Rattlesnake still had some fight left in him. Since then, Austin has largely stayed out of the WWE spotlight, focusing on ventures like Broken Skull Beer and his passion for off-road racing.
That said, a new report suggests WWE hasn’t completely closed the door on using the Hall of Famer again. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Austin’s name has recently come up in internal WWE discussions, with multiple departments floating the idea of a potential appearance in the near future. While nothing is locked in and sources reportedly aren’t overly confident, the fact that conversations are happening at all is notable.
Austin himself has added fuel to the speculation in recent interviews. Earlier this month, he confirmed that there were legitimate plans for him to be involved at WrestleMania 40, including a proposed role connected to the main event. However, Austin explained that prior commitments made it impossible for him to participate. He also backed up previous Fightful Select reporting that, at one point, WWE had explored the idea of a blockbuster match between Austin and Roman Reigns.
The WWE Universe last saw Austin at WrestleMania 41, where he made headlines for an unintended reason after accidentally crashing his ATV into the ringside barricade during his entrance. While he didn’t take part in any storyline or physical segment, Austin was there to announce the official attendance figures for the two-night event.
As for another match, Austin has remained cautious. Earlier this year, he indicated that stepping back into the ring again is unlikely. Still, in true wrestling fashion, he left the door cracked open, reminding fans that in this business, you can truly “never say never.”
For now, any return remains speculative, but whenever Steve Austin’s name starts circulating backstage, it’s enough to get fans talking — and that alone shows the lasting impact of The Texas Rattlesnake.
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