Stone Cold Steve Austin had confirmed that his career is one hundred percent over and he will not be returning to the squared circle.
Since his official retirement at WrestleMania XIX against The Rock – in which the star finally did the job for old foe on ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ – ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ has been rumoured to return to the ring on a yearly basis.
In interviews following his final bout, Austin sparked speculation when he stated that should he return then it would be for a match against someone the caliber of CM Punk. That fire was ignited in 2020 when the star announced that he was fully fit and would be cleared for an in-ring return should he ever wish for one last round.
Now, Stone Cold has sat down with Ryan Satin of FOX Sports to discuss the rumours and whether or not he considers himself officially retired while talking about if his Broken Skull Sessions keeps him connected with the wrestling world:
“Man, 100 percent. Cause, you know, I’m still the biggest fan of the business that I was when I was seven years old changing the channels and stumbled across it; and then got the chance to learn it and have a pretty good run. So, I don’t want to do nothing else in the ring. I’m done. I’ve retired. Everybody knows that.
I don’t need to go out there and drop anybody on a stack of dimes and give them stunners. Once in a year, once every two years, whatever. So, yes. This connection makes sense. I paved the way that I did and I had the career that I had, but I still watch all these people that have come on the show. So, the fact that I can still have kind of a hand in the wrestling business and my finger on the pulse, yes, that’s the relationship that I want and that I cherish.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin had two perfect send-offs from both in-ring competition and as an active on-screen talent in 2003.
Away from his bout with Dwayne Johnson, Austin was written off of WWE television as a regular presence – he served as co-General Manager of Raw – at that year’s Survivor Series when his team lost to Eric Bischoff’s squad. During that bout, Shawn Michaels put on what many described as a career defining performance.
Credit for the interview: FOX Sports
h/t for the transcription: Wrestling Inc.