The Rock and Stone Cold helped make WWE as popular as ever in the late '90s but both were gone by 2003. Stone Cold Steve Austin was one of the greatest superstars of our lifetimes, and this dvd is proof! RAW (2000): Stone Cold Steve Austin Returns! The Undertaker would have been the one to get his hand raised that night, as it wouldnt be time for The Streak to end. 'It aint great enough,' and even if I crushed it, what would it mean? Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the greatest WWE icons of all time. There are some people who go a whole career without getting that kind of a reaction from a crowd of 75,000 people. Combine all of that with his personal home/life problems and you have a recipe for a man ready to burst. That can be a scent, a theme park like Disneyland, or even some type of food that triggers all your senses. One of the tricky parts about Stone Cold Steve Austins legacy is that he was only a top star for a short period--to be generous, from 1996 to 2003 (and he was out of the ring for nearly half of that time). Nonetheless, from WWEs perspective, its a noteworthy loss that The Peoples Champion probably had another decade of his prime that the company couldnt cash in on. WWE legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is reportedly set to make a return at WrestleMania 38. Website. A part of what was harder about Steve Austins retirement was that, even if his legend did grow in the years to follow, he had legitimate neck issues thatprevented him fromwrestling again. March 30, 2003. 2:18. Stone Cold returned to the ring at this year's WrestleMania, competing in his first match for 19 years. He wasnt wearing one of his branded tees. Most recently, Michael helped launch Screen Rant's new horror section, and is now the lead staff writer when it comes to all things frightening. Be the first one to comment on this story. Austin never held the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. He wrestled some big names like Sting and Randy Savage incidentally, as a mid-carder in WCW. Owens also uses Austin's famous finisher The Stunner as his own. Should his health check out, everybody wins. Michael Chin is a writer based in Las Vegas, He writes about pro wrestling for The Sportster and has followed WWE and other promotions for over 30 years. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The Rock was positioned as Mr. McMahons proxyat first, then emerged as an iconic face in his own right, and arguably even eclipsing Stone Cold's popularity. After nearly 20 years away from the ring, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin made his triumphant WWE return this weekend at WrestleMania and it was a moment that will be remembered for a long time to come. One of the ways in which WWE has kept The Rock in its orbit is through his family. RELATED: Why Steve Austin Had To Retire Early From WWE In 2003, Explained. You've got to admire Austin for staying retired, despite McMahon's offer to return. Stone Cold Steve Austin was a defining star of the Attitude Era , and so was The Rock. In 2018, WWE struck a highly lucrative deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority to produce two live events per year in Saudi Arabia. One of the challenging parts of pushing wrestlers on top for a long time and celebrating their legacy long after their time in the ring is up is that so many top talents have stains on their resumes. 4:05. Three Men and a Little Lady (DVD, 1990) (#165959292796), NEW DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR Blue Streak STANDARD FD-106X (#165798088333), Thank you love the package. For me, one of those things is watching "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wrestle. Stone Cold Steve Austin Returns. To this day, you'll rarely see a Piledriver on WWE television. Stone Cold Returns As Co - General Manager 4/28/2003 AttitudePOP 1.9M views 2 years ago Stone Cold Confronts The Purple Bastard Simon Dean! Just like all the classic WWE dvds, this one is filled with the kind of fuel Austin fans need and deserve!Watch as Stone Cold kicks the butt of some classic superstars and drink a crapload of beer!!!!! This is where our alternative post-2003 timeline merges with reality, as there is a chance that 'Stone Cold' may indeed make a comeback. Its incredible that Austin was able to have the career he had in such limited time, but what if his career didnt end after losing to The Rock at WM19? Ryan Satin reacts toStone Cold Steve Austin defeating Kevin Owens in his first match since 2003. The big question mark, of course, is Stone Cold's physical health. Owens flamed out soon after that, but Austin would have stepped in and offered to face K.O. Why WWE's 2022 Royal Rumble Was Such A Disappointing Show, Why WWE Fired Shane McMahon (Will He Return? Related:5 Reasons Stone Cold Was The Face Of The Attitude Era (& 5 Why It's The Rock). However, midway through he takes a break to address the speculation surrounding another potential return. Follow him on Twitter @miketchin. A staple of the Attitude Era, The Texas Rattlesnake retired from professional wrestling in 2003, when he was beaten by The Rock in his final match at WrestleMania 19. Jim Carrey is Craigs top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy. Please logout and login again. Austin was assumed to be one of the few people in wrestling who would stick to his retirement, but the temptation to compete opposite Kevin Owens in a WrestleMania main event in his home state of Texas proved too good an opportunity to turn down. One was a beer swilling redneck, while the other preached sobriety. Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or BT Sport. Stone Cold Steve Austin retired from the company 19 years ago. As discussed in WWEs documentary, Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time, WWE hired Steve Austin as a highly-skilled worker who couldput on entertaining matches and make bigger stars look great when he put them over. As Austin was gearing up to head to Raw, JR gave him a ring and told him what the Creative would be for the evening. After Punk walked out in early 2014, another unconventional superstar who was greatly influenced by Austin would have emerged. Austin was essentially allowed to quit his job and get rehired. By bringing back that match template for Austin vs. Owens, WWE gave Austin the best chance he had at still performing satisfactorily, even though he's not the athlete he once was. As WWE rebuilt after The Rock left, it was particularly bittersweet for the knowledge that a talent theyd launched, in some ways,bcame bigger than wrestling itself. Steve Austin would fall into a similar category. Great packaging, Rare Vintage BIKIN The Witch The Queen The Wedding Of Snow White 11.5Set Disney (#165954998716). The build-up would have started after Goldberg dropped the World Heavyweight Title to Triple H. Goldberg would have been portrayed as the subtle heel before being turned into a full-blown villain, especially after WWE realized that Da Man had no intention of staying for more than his one year contract. Kevin Owens is perfect as a safe-pair-of-hands opponent, and Stone Cold's return would be huge for both WWE and its fans (not to mention Steve himself, most likely). "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wrestled his first match in 19 years at WWE WrestleMania 38, but there's a chance it might not be last time in the ring. So it was that WWE lost two huge stars. Many were also surprised just how much fun it was. A perfect place for Austins retirement would have been at WrestleMania 32, which took place in his home state, in front of the largest crowd in history, at the AT&T Stadium Dallas, Texas. Stone Cold had been running fast and hard for himself for years even before he got to the WWE. Yet, as mentioned above, Austin has always been upfront about how hard it was to move on after he retired the first time. A staple of the Attitude Era, The Texas Rattlesnake retired from professional wrestling in 2003, when he was beaten by The. They went on to add that "in the weeks that followed there had been zero confirmation within WWE from any source that Austin agreed to physically wrestle at Wrestlemania 38". It's quite possible Austin's passion for wrestling was reignited by that experience, which saw an entire stadium chanting his name and saying "you still got it." Then he worked the grueling schedule demanded of the tippy top guy in the company. Hulk Hogan had his public fall from grace with recordings using racist epithets. Nowadays you can find him standing between WWE and AEW fans wondering why everyone just can't get along. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. These events suddenly became WWEs top priority, even above WrestleMania due to the amount of money they generated for the company. Related:Every Major Steve Austin vs. However, there are quite a few dream matches Austin never worked. I have such fond memories of taking in the product with my dad and arguing with my brother about Stone Cold being better than The Rock. Nearly six years later to the day on June 10, 2002, the Rattlesnake nearly took himself out of the game as quick by walking out on the company that made him a GIANT (Global Icon And National Treasure), and the company that he helped turn around and make its owner a billionaire. Ryan Satin reacts to Stone Cold Steve Austin defeating Kevin Owens in his first match since 2003 . "It aint about the money. The Streak slowly grew from a trivia fact to hallowed record. Related:The Rock & 8 Others Who Quit Wrestling Too Soon. The two Monday Night War legends just missed each other by a day. Hed seldom admit it at the time, but Owen dropping him on his neck forever changed him, even after he had the surgery. Instead of risking being moved down the card, Austin would have done what he did in reality: transition into acting. Still, the current storylines surrounding Roman Reigns and Jey Uso have only underscored how much more The Rock might have done in WWE with his family. By summer 2003, neither Austin nor The Rock was wrestling. AttitudePOP 693K views 10 months ago FULL. Maybe it would have happened with both men as legends. In 2001, Austin would have excellent matches with Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit that proved he could still have a technical bout, but for most of his run atop WWE, Austin would engage in wild brawls that made fans at the time think of rival company ECW. The guy had gas left in the tank to say the least as he was still extremely popular and physically able. Breakdown23. AWESOME DVD. , Austin says to the camera and his followers. The Texas Rattlesnake brought joy into my home on a weekly basis, and theres no other performer I was more invested in as my fandom began. There was one prize in WWE that was more valuable than any championship; it was ending The Undertakers undefeated streak at WrestleMania. The opponent fans might immediately anticipate Stone Coldcould face atWrestleMania 38is Kevin Owens. Stone Cold would have no longer wrestled a full-time schedule, but there would have been a few intriguing scenarios that may have convinced The Rattlesnake to don the black jacket from time to time. Hulk Hogan achieved some success in movies but was always known first and foremost as a wrestler. There are things in life that make you happy as an adult because they take you back to your youth. Next:5 Things The Rock Is Better Than Stone Cold At (& 5 Things Stone Cold Is Better At). Yes, Austin had the talent to succeed in other eras, but he reached the top using foul language and leaning into the antihero rolenot a villain, but also never truly donning a white hat. People have been speculating, 'Hey Steve, what are you doing? Writes about sweaty, oily wrestlers for a living. That included part-time stints with the company from 2002 to 2004 and 2011 to 2013. Austin recently said on his podcast that he physically could have one more match. This surprise performance was quite the spectacle, and delighted the nearly 80,000 people (allegedly) in attendance in Dallas, Texas and the millions watching live on Peacock or the WWE Network. The younger days when you didnt have any problems, and all you had to focus on was being a kid. A long-term member of the Screen Rant family, Michael looks forward to continuing on creating new content for the site for many more years to come. Even if Austin werent forced to retire, he would have left the squared circle for a short while to pursue acting. I just simply looked in the mirror and realized I look like shit. Austin reiterates at the end of the clip that he is back in the gym, and sharing his progress on social media, because he didn't like what he saw in the mirror. decluttr_store, Verified purchase: Stone Cold Steve Austin has been posting a lot of workout videos on social media lately. Austin has seen that speculation and decided to respond. Maybe it would have happened amidst Triple Hs 2003-2005 run as the top heel on Raw. It was not billed as Austins retirement match, and only a select few knew that this was Stone Colds farewell. | When not writing, Michael enjoys going to concerts, taking in live professional wrestling, and debating pop culture. A feud with Stone Cold would have helped carry Owens' momentum forward and would have solidified Owens' place in the main event scene. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Jim Ross had zero interest in participating, but he did it anyway - which was kind of the point to this whole ordeal. After hashing it out with Good Ol JR, Ross asked Austin if he could get him and The Big Irishman (re: Vince) in a room together to air out their grievances and get Austin back to work. The Rock has underscored this difference for having delivered the dream matches Austin didnt. Stone Cold Surprise Return 2003! Stone Cold concluded that a WWE return just wouldn't have been worth it when he thought about 'the big picture'. Still, while Austin was happy to go out by putting over The Rock, it was clear his early retirement never quite sat well with the man whose entire character was based on doing things his way. In Austins mind, this match was big-time money and should have been built up for a few weeks and not just given away for free in a nothing match. Austin took great pride in his work, and he knew not to outstay his welcome. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. WWE is also building a "will-he-or-won't-he" storyline around Owens getting a match atWrestleMania 38. After several months of being incommunicado and not doing anything except wallowing and wasting away in San Antonio, the Rattlesnake one day received a postcard from his friend and Head Of Talent at that time, Jim Ross. WWE legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is reportedly set to make a return at WrestleMania 38. . Thankfully, Austin was able to recover well enough that he was able to spend several years as the biggest box office attraction in wrestling, and give WWE fans a lifetime of great memories. Long before the days of Tweeting out instant criticisms, the WWE seemingly didnt mind its top star ripping into the Creative on their own TV. He hasn't wrestled for almost two decades since he faced The Rock at WrestleMania XIX. Then the unthinkable happened. The injuries that forced Steve Austin to retire in 2003 were serious, . The night after WrestleMania 19, Austin would have turned his attention to a man he was very familiar with and to a title steeped in history: Triple H and the World Heavyweight Championship. Austins acting career hasnt been as noteworthy as his former adversary, Dwayne The Rock Johnsons, but Stone Cold has been able to find plenty of work albeit, mostly low-budget flicks and reality shows. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin made a triumphant return to the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.) stage at WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, Texas on Saturday (April 2). Stone Cold Returns To RAW / The Rock Confronts Steve Austin 3/3/2003 AttitudePOP 1.66M subscribers Subscribe 12K Share 1.1M views 9 months ago RAW March 3, 2003 For Full Unedited Segment. WM20 was WWEs biggest show to date. Stone Cold Returns To Raw 4/4/05 Part 2. He went on to wrestle his fellow biggest names of the Attitude Era like The Rock, Triple H, and The Undertaker. Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Goldberg debuted on the RAW after WrestleMania 19. While we've seen the likes of Bryan Danielson (now AEW) and Edge make miraculouscomebacksfrom injury, both were able to return still in their prime wrestling years. "Stone Cold had a comeback, and the match was a three and a half on Meltzers five-star rating. In 2022, Stone Cold Steve Austin will return for one last time against Kevin Owens. The Rock and Stone Cold helped make WWE as popular as ever in the late '90s but both were gone by 2003. The "Texas Rattle Snake" cut an inspired, angry promo on Tuesday to accept. The Bionic Redneck outright said now the Creative has been piss poor, and he disagreed with the Brand Extension. "Go out there and do it, and then whatever the finish was. Stone Cold Steve Austin RETURN To RAW Entrance (MONSTER POP) full segment - RAW 25 | Jan 22. Stone Cold Returns No Way Out 2003! Austin and Punk could have had a long-running feud, but Punks insistence on taking time off after that years WrestleMania would have scrapped that plan. | A FL native, Michael is passionate about pop culture, and earned an AS degree in film production in 2012. More:Why WWE Fired Shane McMahon (Will He Return?). Verified purchase: Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. When The Rock transitioned away from WWE in the early 2000s, he was in his early thirtiesyounger than Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, or Braun Strowman are today. Theres a long history of wrestlers trying to make it outside of the business. Both exits devastated the company. Refresh your browser window to try again. Austins troublesome neck finally gave out on him. 1:00. Stone Cold is set to make his spectacular in-ring return There have been rumours circulating which suggest that Stone Cold will soon be returning to in-ring action in WWE. Though WWE's core fanbase may bemoan the company's nostalgia addiction as they watch yet another aging star hobble around the ring narrowly avoiding injury, the strategy is shrewd marketing. When I opened the package I noticed the case had been beat to hell and when I looked at the disc it had cracks in the middle of it and smudges all over it. If Austin's lingering injury problems risk being exaggerated by working a full match, however, most WWE fans would be content with the Texas Rattlesnake giving his home state a glass-shattering entrance and a single Stunner for old time's sake. Even as he brawled more, his aggression and bumping helped him continue to deliver excellent matches. For whatever the reason, since the guy walked out on them, the brass decided they might as well monetize it, get ratings for their Confidential series and get in front of whatever Austin or the Dirtsheets might say about the incident. 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