In recent days reports have linked Steve Austin with matches against Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39.
The news comes after Austin came out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 to face Kevin Owens. Off the back of this performance it was claimed that WWE had offered Austin the chance to get back in the ring should he so wish.
There has also been significant speculation going back over a year that Dwayne Johnson could also get back in the ring to face Roman Reigns. Although it appears that this match is currently unlikely to take place.
While seeing the likes of Austin and The Rock back in action would be a huge deal for WWE and it’s fanbase, it has been suggested that it could send the wrong message to their current stars.
Steve Austin In The Main Event Sends The Wrong Message
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that using Austin in the main event would show a “complete lack of confidence” in WWE’s current Superstars.
“This year I think people have an idea [of the main event challenger to Roman Reigns], it’s gonna be Cody, it’s gonna be Sami, or they’re gonna bring in an outsider. I think that everything that’s happened in the last week or so, I don’t think it’s Dwayne – I was told it wasn’t and all indications are it’s not.”
“As far as whoever else, Steve Austin or whoever, I just don’t think that’s the right move for the main event. It really would show a complete lack of confidence in modern stars if they have to go back to that.”
Meltzer went on to explain that he feels that the situation with Johnson is different as there is an in-built story that has been bubbling away for years with Reigns.
“With Dwayne, it’s completely different, Dwayne’s a giant movie star and coming back and it’s [Roman’s] cousin and they’ve been building to it for years. But it looks like it’s not gonna happen.”
“But with Austin, obviously an inquiry was made to Austin so when I say they have no confidence that’s a vote of no confidence right there. Given how business is doing, they should not have no confidence in these guys because their business is doing great. So why do you have to not have confidence in your modern guys to headline WrestleMania.”
Rumours around a potential WrestleMania appearance from Steve Austin continue to swirl despite the man himself insisting he isn’t training for a comeback. In recent months Austin has posted a series of workout videos on social media where he appears to be in incredible shape. In typical Austin fashion, he stated that he’s not training for anything in particular, he just got tired of “looking like sh*t.”
H/t to TJR Wrestling