WWE Reportedly Pitches Steve Austin WrestleMania 39 Match Towards LA Knight
Steve Austin might wrestle a second straight WrestleMania match. (Credit score: Paul Abell/AP Photographs for … [+]
WWE has taken one other massive swing at touchdown “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin for a match at WrestleMania 39 after two blockbuster misses.
In accordance with Fightful Choose (h/t No DQ), WWE made a pitch to the legendary performer to have a match towards rising star LA Knight at WWE’s flagship pay-per-view: “Of late, we’ve heard {that a} very in-shape Steve Austin was made further pitches to get on the present, however not for essentially marquee matches. LA Knight was a reputation rumored on-line, and we will verify that’s no less than been pitched. Nevertheless, no one near Austin or in WWE have been in a position to confirm that it’s occurring as of but.”
Earlier this 12 months, Austin reportedly rejected big-money offers for 2 high-profile matches, with each Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns idealized as potential opponents for arguably the largest star in WWE historical past. So, why on earth would Austin—after rejecting these two dream matches—conform to face a midcard star like Knight?
Properly, the reply is straightforward, actually. Dealing with Knight is a a lot simpler job.
At WrestleMania 38 final 12 months, Austin—who’s reportedly “open-minded” about wrestling once more—did the unthinkable and ended an almost two-decade retirement by returning to the ring to face Kevin Owens in the principle occasion of the present’s first night time. Given Austin’s prolonged absence, expectations going into that a lot weren’t very excessive, and Austin blew them out of the water. His match towards Owens was wildly entertaining, and it ended WrestleMania’s first night time in memorable vogue with a victory for “The Texas Rattlesnake.”
Maybe simply as importantly, although, the masterfully crafted match demonstrated that Austin nonetheless has some fuel left within the tank and will doubtlessly be used as a part-time attraction for WWE if he chooses to lace up the boots once more. The corporate even supplied Austin one other match final 12 months, which clearly by no means got here to fruition, however Austin vs. Knight, in some methods, can be the right match for “Stone Chilly.”
In fact, Austin vs. Lesnar or Austin vs. Reigns, two never-before-seen dream matches, can be absolute spectacles, however expectations for each of these bouts can be sky-high, particularly coming off Austin’s extremely spectacular efficiency at WrestleMania 38. A match towards Knight, nevertheless, can be just about pressure-free.
Knight is large on the microphone and above common within the ring, however he’s under no circumstances recognized for placing on in-ring classics. Final 12 months, WWE constructed up the feud between Owens and Austin on the ridiculous premise of Owens instantly hating the state of Texas. A Knight vs. Austin feud wouldn’t want a lot of a backstory both, as Knight is already teasing the concept that WWE can’t have a WrestleMania in Los Angeles—a.ok.a. LA—with out him. And naturally, Knight might use a match with Austin to ignite the reported push that’s deliberate for the elite promo man.
The story writes itself, and Austin is the right man to reply the decision, very similar to he did towards Owens final 12 months when he gave followers an unforgettable WrestleMania second and a show-stealing brawl. Austin wouldn’t must step into the ring with Knight for various minutes to offer the followers what they might primarily be there to see: A Stone Chilly Stunner.
Think about that Knight’s lone high-profile match up to now got here towards Bray Wyatt in a gimmick-filled bout at Royal Rumble that lasted simply 5 minutes, and it turns into clear that Knight doesn’t must be within the ring even that lengthy to perform what Austin can be there to do, which is to ship the gang house blissful.
Austin vs. Lesnar or Reigns, alternatively, would have considerably loftier expectations. Lesnar vs. Austin, in any case, is likely one of the most talked about dream matches that by no means occurred, an enormous encounter that might have been constructed across the very real-life circumstances of a major Austin strolling out of WWE moderately than lose to the rookie Lesnar in a random Uncooked match with zero construct.
Austin vs. Lesnar can be a enjoyable storyline to observe, nevertheless it’s additionally one that will have begun already if it was going to occur. Lesnar, at this stage of his profession, additionally wouldn’t make the best opponent for Austin, who’s 58 years outdated and may wrestle to have a match with the sheer physicality of Lesnar’s typical matches.
Whereas Reigns vs. Austin sounds simply as interesting on paper, that’s additionally a match that doesn’t match the tales WWE is making an attempt to inform with The Bloodline, although the bout itself would probably be stable. So, WWE’s most suitable choice is to take a web page out of its personal playbook and do what it’s achieved with stars like John Cena and The Rock up to now.
Bear in mind when Cena didn’t wrestle at WrestleMania 35 however merely hit Elias with an Perspective Adjustment? How about when The Rock beat Erick Rowan in simply six seconds at WrestleMania 32? These moments are nonetheless remembered to this present day, they usually didn’t require a ten or 20-minute match with nearfalls and excessive spots.
WWE might and will use that very same method with Austin if the 2 sides can conform to monetary phrases for an look from the previous WrestleMania headliner. That state of affairs is one of the best of each worlds in that it wouldn’t clog up the cardboard with one other prolonged part-timer match, however it could add some much-needed star energy to the present whereas making a magical Mania second that followers received’t quickly neglect.
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