WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin was recently interviewed by ESPN about a potential in-ring return and more. Check out the highlights below:
Ā āIād be happy to give you a two-letter answer: N.O. Itās like people say, itās show business, and in the wrestling business, itās never say never. If you ask me, āSteve do you have a couple of Stunners, a couple of right hands or do you have some hell raising left in you?ā Absolutely, I do. But just to go in there, lace them up and go in there for a 15-, 20-minute match? No, man. I donāt. Nor do I want to. I did what I did, and in WrestleMania 19, that was my last match with The Rock and he beat me 1-2-3 right in the middle of the ring. Took three Rock Bottoms, but that was the last match that āStone Coldā Steve Austin will ever have. The expectations would be off the charts. We talk about what it takes for The Undertaker to get ready for a match. Youāll hear that discussed on the Broken Skull Session after Survivor Series. The wrestling business for me, itās very addictive. I was hooked on that business, and I loved it. As many years as Iāve been away from the business, I have fond memories. Whereas, when I was forced to take myself out of the equation, I had a hard time dealing with it. So why go back and get so immersed in that world, knowing that it would be a short road? And the build up and then the match. I just think when it was all said and done, it would be anticlimactic for me. I donāt have anything to prove. People can judge me on the career that I had. So, Iād rather leave well enough alone is the simple answer.ā
HAVE YOUR SAY: Best opponents for Steve Austin 1 Last WWE dream match?
āPure speculation, but heās certainly young enough and in good enough shape to do it. I know that heās still doing his MMA training, so I know that means heās in shape. I donāt know, thatās completely up to CM Punk. But Iām just excited that heās back with the WWE. Some things have been mended. I know there was hard feelings on either side, so the fact that heās back in the fold, I know he loves the business of professional wrestling or sports entertainment. Heās very opinionated, has a very knowledgeable opinion of the business, because of the roads that heās traveled and the level of success that heās had. And heās a really smart guy and heās a great promo and a great analytical mind. So, Iām glad that heās back. I hope that he enjoys his ride. Itās good to see him and WWE have mended whatever happened back in the day. Iām excited for him, because Iām a CM Punk fan and I always have been. Iām happy for the guy.ā
Ā āI always think the work could improve ā the in-ring product, not being able to see the gaps, the tells. To make the in-ring product even better than it is now. With respect to athleticism, itās about as high as it can get. But just everything tightened up and everything looks like a complete shoot. And wins and losses do matter. Itās always about the in-ring product. And the bottom line is when youāre watching it, it needs to appear as real as possible. Thatās not a critique or an indictment. Thatās just you asked me what could be better ā that could be better.ā
āI DVR everything, and I watch specific matches that people tell me to go check out. AEW is doing AEW and WWE continues to do WWE. Iām seeing so much wrestling on television, along with the Backstage show, which I think is great. I love SmackDown on Fridays and I love NWA Power on YouTube. Iām just glad thereās been a resurgence in the business and itās coming back on television with the volume that it is. Iām hoping with all the wrestling there is that people are digging it and it grows the audience. I donāt know if itāll grow it back to what it was during the Monday Night Wars, but I hope it grows the business and it continues to provide a great living for the guys and gals that get in this business and need a place to work.ā
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