Steve Austin has revealed the one big match that got away during his legendary career.
As arguably the greatest star ever seen in WWE, Austin wrestled many of the biggest stars to grace a ring. These included the likes of The Rock, Bret Hart, The Undertaker, and many more.
However, The Texas Rattlesnake that there is one bout he wishes he had been able to have.
Steve Austin says Brock Lesnar is “the match that got away”
Austin was infamously scheduled for a match against Brock Lesnar on the June 10th, 2002 edition of Raw. The bout was to be a King of the Ring qualifying match which would see The Beast Incarnate defeating The Bionic Redneck.
However, Austin was unhappy with the idea of having such a monumental match happen on TV with little build-up rather than at a big event. The issue led to him no-showing the taping and walking out of WWE for the remainder of the year.
Speaking to WESH 2 news, Austin touched on the incident, saying the proposed bout “wasn’t great as far as creative goes”. However, he has nothing but praise for Lesnar himself, and admits it was “the match that got away”.
“That guy is Brock Lesnar. Way back in the day, I was scheduled to wrestle him in Atlanta at a television taping. The match wasn’t great as far as creative goes, so it never happened. That’s the match that got away.
“I have so much respect for Brock and watching him go through the evolution of becoming one of the best pros out there. To go into the MMA world and become a world champion.
“He’s had a heck of a journey and no one has had a career like his and his longevity has been supreme. Brock Lesnar would be my answer.”
Austin returned in 2003 for one last run, culminating in a match against The Rock at WrestleMania 19. However, a meeting with Lesnar never came to be.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.