There has been a huge update regarding a potential Stone Cold Steve Austin Wrestlemania match at Wrestlemania 38.
It was previously reported that Austin was supposed to have his first match in 19 years, taking on Kevin Owens in one of the main events of Wrestlemania 38. It would have been one of the biggest matches of all time, despite Austin having 19 years outside the ring with no signs of wanting to return.
However, Dave Meltzer has reported that Steve Austin has NOT agreed to return to the ring for Wrestlemania, putting his match with Kevin Owens firmly in jeopardy.
Meltzer revealed that at Wrestlemania, Owens and Austin will have some form of confrontation, Steve Austin will not be returning for a full blown match against the former Universal Champion.
“Steve Austin and Kevin Owens, they will have a confrontation but it is not clear if that will be a match or not anymore because it’s essentially up to Austin at this point. They want the match. They thought they had the match and Steve – you know there’s a reason he hasn’t wrestled for 19 years and I just know that as of Friday he had not agreed to do the match even though it was on the books. Now it’s on the books as a confrontation.”
In recent weeks, WWE Hall Of Famers Shawn Michaels, Booker T, and JBL have been recorded videos to condemn what Owens has been saying about their home state of Texas. It is likely that, due to the show being in Texas this year, Kevin Owens will be confronted by the three legends and attacked, in a carbon copy of what happened at Wrestlemania 32 with Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin attacking the League of Nations (Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev and Sheamus) before celebrating with The New Day.
It is a possibility that Austin will face Owens in a match, similar to The Rock vs Erick Rowan at Wrestlemania 32. A short match where Austin hits Owens with a stunner and celebrates with the crowd seems more likely than a fully fledged match after 19 years out of the ring.