Stone Cold Steve Austin can consider this unique match as his final bout.
A few years ago, Hall of Famer Steve Austin wrestled his final match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38. Wrestling after 19 years, Austin defeated Owens in a No Holds Barred match and came out the victor.
However, after his recent appearance at WrestleMania 41, speculations have begun about The Texas Rattlesnake possibly wrestling another match as his final one. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show, Austin claimed that he was fine with Owens as his final opponent, but can also consider this unique match as his last bout.
“Totally. There is always that part in te back of your mind — there was a match, I think they billed it as an exhibition match between Nick Bockwinkel and Billy Robinson in Japan. Those two guys put on a really nice clinic. It was about 11 to 15 minutes and the Japanese people really appreciated that match. Those guys were badass and could really work. To do something like that would be fun. It’s an exhibition, you’re not trying to go out there and steal the show, just go out there to do it one more time in front of the fans because you love the business as much as you do and it would be very interesting.
You always think in the back of your mind about something like that. Exhibition-style, so you don’t have all that pressure of trying to be who you were in your athletic prime. When you’re out of prime, there is a night and day difference of how you can perform. That’s the way it is for any athlete in any sport. If that was my last endeavor in the ring, I’m totally at peace with it. I ran hard, I had fun. We achieved a lot. It was what it was and I have no regrets. I gave it everything I had,
H/t Fightful
Before WrestleMania 38, Steve Austin’s last match was The Rock at WrestleMania 19, in a losing effort.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Discusses His WrestleMania 41 Limitations
While fans erupted as the glass broke during WrestleMania 41, and Stone Cold Steve Austin entered on his ATV, the wrestling veteran had been suffering through certain limitations. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Steve Austin discussed his limitations and if he could have done something more at the PLE.
“I was just happy to be there. I had a knee replacement about four months ago. For a total knee replacement to heal up 100%, you’re looking at about a year. That was on December 4th. I don’t squat anymore, I’m doing some Hindu squats along with my workouts, but I haven’t even tried to run yet. I don’t even know if I can run, not that I run a lot to the ring. I would imagine about I’m 30-35% of capacity. I did what I could.
Just to be involved in the show, go out there and announce the attendance, that’s what I did. That’s about all I could do. Earlier in the year, not really discussions, just brief, ‘Hey, if you want to be there, maybe we can figure you in.’ I said, ‘I’m getting my knee replaced. We’ll see what happens when that time comes.’ Time came and I can’t do much.”
In other news: TNA World Champion Joe Hendry has set a new iTunes record.