“Stone Cold” Steve Austin was originally planned to take part in the WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) main event. However, financial negotiations fell through, and Austin was a conspicuous absence.
This information was confirmed by none other than WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross who pointed out that Austin’s non-appearance at WrestleMania 40 was due to a combination of “cash and creative.”
The last time Austin was seen in the WrestleMania ring was during the 38th edition where he prevailed over Kevin Owens in a one-on-one match.
Austin voiced his regret over his performance at WrestleMania 38 in a candid conversation with The Athletic. According to Austin, he felt that Owens didn’t exactly feel the full force of his “Stone Cold” persona, in spite of his best efforts to embody it during their match.
Describing his feelings, Steve Austin remarked, “(Owens) shared the ring with the character known as Stone Cold Steve Austin, but he didn’t experience the authentic Stone Cold, who is a relentless machine. I was uncharitable in the fight, and that man wasn’t the one who fought Owens. I was frustrated over this. I wanted him to understand what it feels like to wrestle with a peaking opponent. You aim to emanate your old persona, to remain in a dominant state. But while mentally you’re there, physically you fall short”.
On a more optimistic note, Austin hinted at possibly joining next year’s WrestleMania 41.
With a sense of intrigue, he stated, “It’s tough to lure me out of Nevada. But … next year’s WrestleMania is in Vegas. And that’s my home state.”
The Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, will host the WrestleMania 41 as a two-day event on April 19 and 20, 2025.