Following his in-ring return at WrestleMania 38 last year, where he was talked into coming out of retirement for another match as he beat Kevin Owens in an impromptu match, WWE tried to get Steve Austin to wrestle again at WrestleMania 39.
The company reportedly pitched names like Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and LA Knight to Austin to work with. However, the Hall of Famer turned down the offers.
Austin has been making the media rounds in the last week. While speaking with NBC Los Angeles, Austin stated that his days in the ring are done as he’s been away from wrestling and does not miss it. What he does miss is being on the road with his fellow wrestlers.
“You have to understand that I retired in 2003, so it’s been a long time, so I’m over it. But when I walked away from the business of sports entertainment, I endeavored into other things; I work with Kawasaki motor sports on the side by side division, I’m in the beer business, and I do other things. Coming back to do something from time to time is fine, because I love my relationship with WWE, but my days in the ring are done… although, I did do the main event at WrestleMania last year in Dallas, but that was kind of a fluke and we pulled it off. It’s good to be back and see some of the faces… But I’ve been gone for a long time, and I do not miss it.
Well yeah (there are things I miss about being on the road), I miss the boys. That’s what I miss. You miss going up and down the road telling stories, laughing, and doing things to entertain each other when you’re doing the grind on the road… just living life. It’s a different breed of animals, or guys, or human beings, that get into this business, and birds of a feather flock together and the sports entertainment industry draws some very unique characters.”
WWE has not announced whether Austin will appear at WrestleMania 39, although it’s likely he will at least be in town to visit with friends.
