Steve Austin Reveals Reason For Coming Out Of Retirement At WrestleMania 38

WWE

Following a 19-year absence from in-ring competition, Steve Austin made his return at last year’s WrestleMania 38 from Dallas, Texas against Kevin Owens.

While the match was advertised as Austin simply appearing on the KO Show, his appearance would of course see Owens challenge Austin to an impromptu match, which ended up being the closer on night one of the event.

Austin’s performance was well-received leading to opponents such as Brock Lesnar and LA Knight reportedly being pitched to the ‘Texas Rattlesnake’ for this year’s WrestleMania 39.

But the question is, why, after 19-years did Austin decide to dust off his boots and tights and step back into the squared-circle?

Speaking to Justin of The Wrestling Classic, Austin was asked just this, and revealed the sentimental value of wrestling in Dallas played a role in his decision to come out of retirement.

“I got a call from WWE. They said, ‘Hey man, would you like to take part in WrestleMania 38.’ It was in Dallas, Texas, and it was kind of a sentimental thing of I played football right outside of Dallas. I started in the Sportatorium with the world-famous Von Erich family, and what a fitting way…I always said I would never get back into the ring. I was done, but I always said I would if the stars aligned properly and they did.”

Austin would then discuss how his pairing with Kevin Owens would also influence his decision, heaping praise on the ‘Prizefighter’.

“They presented a storyline or a short angle with Kevin Owens, who I absolutely love, who is golden on the mic and awesome in the ring. Once they said, his name, the creative process continued into what it was. And not for it to not be a full-blown match, but a talk segment that turned into what a match would be. I love Kevin Owens and I was happy to share the ring with him,” 

Elsewhere in the interview, Austin would also address his status for WrestleMania Hollywood, which you can read about here.

Transcript courtesy of WrestlingNews.co

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