With the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble moving ever closer fans have begun to wonder which legends will be stepping back in the ring for one night only.
As the Royal Rumble grew in popularity, special appearances by stars of yesteryear became a regular occurrence. The likes of Mick Foley, Bob Backlund, Michelle McCool, Kevin Nash, Booker T and more have all laced up their boots one more time to appear in the Rumble.
Legend Confirms The Won’t Appear At WWE Royal Rumble
However, one person who won’t be appearing in the 2023 Royal Rumble is Ricky Steamboat, this is despite the veteran returning to the ring in November 2022. Speaking to Sportskeeda, Steamboat explained that the Royal Rumble is too big of a stage for him, adding that an appearance just isn’t in his heart anymore.
“I think it’s too big of a stage for me. I had a really good showing 9 or 10 years ago …12 years ago with [Chris Jericho at WWE Backlash in 2009] God bless him. He took care of me. That was really the last Steamboat that people saw …. I felt that was the last time that people saw 70% of the young guy. I could carry my weight, and that’s the way I want it. No, Triple H could say, ‘We’re going to take care of you.’ No, to be honest with you, it’s just not in the heart anymore.”
Ricky Steamboat last wrestled in WWE in 2009, with his last match coming at a live event against Drew McIntyre that August. The veteran wrestled twice more before quietly retiring in 2010. Despite this, Steamboat was back in action at a special event on November 27th, 2022 when he teamed with FTR to see of Nick Aldis, Brock Anderson and Jay Lethal.
The appearance came after Steamboat had turned down the chance to be part of Ric Flair’s last match on July 31st. In the same Sportskeeda interview, Steamboat explained the real reason why he backed out of a deal. After claiming that he was happily retired at the time, ‘The Dragon’ revealed that he pulled out after discovering Flair had a pacemaker, and became worried something tragic may happen during the bout.
H/t to Wrestling Inc