Kevin Owens got to live his dream at WrestleMania 38 when he faced his childhood hero Stone Cold Steve Austin in the main event. It was a sight to behold to see Steve Austin come out of retirement for a one-off match.
And even though Austin was 57 years old, worn down, and hadn’t done anything besides hit Stunners since 2003, he still put on an impressive performance with Kevin Owens.
And while the match was widely praised by wrestling fans when it happened, Kevin Owens has revealed that no one else was considered for the Steve Austin angle for WrestleMania 38.
“It couldn’t have been anybody other than you — meaning me” – Kevin Owens
The Kevin Owens/Steve Austin feud was built on Owens insulting the state of Texas and the people in it, which eventually got so bad that Steve Austin decided to intervene personally, despite being long retired.
At first WWE promoted their confrontation as an episode of The Kevin Owens Show, a sit-down interview and nothing more. But most people saw through that and so weren’t surprised at all when the chairs were thrown aside and a referee came down to call the impromptu match between them.
The match saw Kevin Owens and Steve Austin brawl around the ring, outside it, and into the stands. Steve Austin even kicked out of a Stunner from Owens before hitting his own to win what was considered his “proper” retirement match.
And while many people loved the match, Kevin Owens noted that everyone involved in putting it together only considered him for it. No other WWE superstar was brought up as a potential opponent for Steve Austin.
Speaking to The New York Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel, Owens explained how honored he was that a legend like Steve Austin didn’t want to face anyone except him.
“All I know is I was told by several people, from Steve to Vince McMahon to Bruce Prichard, it couldn’t have been anybody other than you — meaning me — with Steve. I’m not sure who suggested it, who asked for it or how it came about. One day I’ll find out.
But the point is that it’s extremely flattering to me that those three all thought I was the best choice. There’s really no higher compliment than that for me. It doesn’t get any better than that. I said it the day after the match: It’s all downhill from here.”
h/t Fightful for the transcription