WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is being discussed as a possible participant in WrestleMania 43, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has requested a star-filled event, with Austin’s name among those under consideration.
According to the report, Saudi sources indicated that while negotiations with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are advancing, another major figure being discussed is Austin, who would be 62 years old at the time of the show. At this stage, Austin has not been confirmed for WrestleMania 43. People familiar with the talks noted that Austin wants to ensure he is physically able to perform if he agrees to return.
Austin wrestled his last official match at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, defeating Kevin Owens in an impromptu No Holds Barred match in Arlington, Texas. That bout was promoted as his return to the ring after a 19-year retirement and was widely regarded as a fitting sendoff. Austin was reportedly satisfied with the idea of ending his in-ring career on that note.
The Observer noted that Austin previously turned down an appearance at the end of the main event of WrestleMania 40, where his role would have been help take out The Rock before Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns in the main event. That spot was later given to The Undertaker. For WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, Austin’s only planned involvement was a non-wrestling appearance driving a jeep to the ring. During that segment, Austin read the attendance figure for Night Two of the event.
The financial scale of WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia is said to be unprecedented. The Observer reported the total value of the event is well over $100 million, with WWE asking for more than that amount due to the involvement of The Rock and other major stars requested by the GEA. If finalized, the show would be the first WrestleMania held outside the United States and one of the most expensive professional wrestling events ever staged.
As of now, WWE has not confirmed whether Austin will take part in WrestleMania 43. His involvement, along with Johnson’s, would make the event one of the most star-heavy shows in WWE history.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit F4WOnline.com and consider a subscription to their website. A subscription gives you access to the weekly Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the F4WOnline message board, exclusive news updates in text and audio form, and thousands of hours of audio.
