Every year around WrestleMania season, the, “Stone Cold Steve Austin’s coming back for one final match” rumors start up. You could set your watch to them. Even when he comes right out and says he doesn’t need wrestling anymore, odds-makers are giving him a 25/1 shot at winning the Royal Rumble. That’s better than half the roster, and he hasn’t wrestled in 13 years.
In a recent interview from Opie Radio, Austin explained why a return hasn’t happened yet, and — if we’re being honest, and not just being hopeful — it won’t.
“I’ve got no business in a wrestling ring. I had a good time doing that job. You know, the last match I had was in 2003, and it took me about three years to get it out of my system because I loved that business. That was what I wanted to do with my life, and boy, after about three years of hunting, fishing, drinking and making bad decisions, I decided that it was time to move to L.A. and start doing some work out there. I’m done. I’ve got nothing to prove.”
So … 33/1 odds next year?
WWE’s seemingly contacting every huge star from the past to gauge their interest in competing at Mania, from The Rock and Batista to Shawn Michaels and even Hulk Hogan, so you can probably count on Austin showing up … just don’t ever expect him to be more than a celebrity guest again.
