3 reasons Stone Cold Steve Austin should return for one more match & 2 why he shouldn't

Could Stone Cold Steve Austin really make a sensational return to the ring at WrestleMania in his home state of Texas? It was reported on February 15 by Fightful that WWE is attempting to get Stone Cold Steve Austin to wrestle in this year's extravaganza.

The Texas Rattlesnake last competed inside the squared circle at WrestleMania 19 in 2003. That night at Safeco Field in Seattle, The Rock defeated Steve Austin in what was their third WrestleMania match. In the two prior matches, Austin had defeated The Rock, so on this occasion, The Great One finally got his big victory.

After his final match, Steve Austin remained as an on-screen character, becoming the co-general manager of RAW alongside Eric Bischoff. He did return to the ring at the following year's WrestleMania, where he refereed the match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg.

In an interview with Ryan Satin of FOX Sports in 2021, Steve Austin reiterated that he was done competing in the ring and whether or not he considered himself retired:

"Man, 100 percent. Cause, you know, I’m still the biggest fan of the business that I was when I was seven years old changing the channels and stumbled across it; and then got the chance to learn it and have a pretty good run. So, I don’t want to do nothing else in the ring. I’m done. I’ve retired. Everybody knows that." (H/T Fox Sports)

Austin was essentially forced to retire from the ring due to a long-standing neck injury that first occurred when he broke his neck in the ring.

At SummerSlam in 1997, Owen Hart delivered a Piledriver to The Texas Rattlesnake, which drove Austin's head into the mat during their match. After the move was executed, he also suffered from partial paralysis.

With his neck issues, and it being 19 years since he last laced up his wrestling boots, is Austin really in the right condition to be competing at all?

Reports have suggested that Kevin Owens would be his likely opponent at WrestleMania 38 if he was to step in between the ropes again to compete.

That being said, let's take a look at three reasons Stone Cold Steve Austin should return for one more match and two reasons why he shouldn't.

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#5 Should - WWE fans love nostalgia, and a Stone Cold Steve Austin match would fit that bill

If there's one thing the WWE Universe loves, then it's superstars from years gone by making a return to the ring. Of course, Stone Cold Steve Austin would certainly fit the bill if he was brought back for WrestleMania 38.

However, with regards to nostalgia, this would be a huge step and 19 years in the making. Austin has made appearances in the past, generally dishing out some Stunners, but this time it would be completely different if he was to have a match.

There would no doubt be a sense of euphoria inside the AT&T Stadium and for everyone watching on around the world. It would really turn the dial up on WrestleMania being a spectacle by throwing the WWE Hall of Famer into action if he is healthy enough to do so.

Of course, there would be a massive ovation anyway if Austin was to appear. But in a match, a different kind of electricity would be felt and one that would get every wrestling fan all over the globe invested.

#2 Shouldn't - Stone Cold Steve Austin's last match was 19 years ago

As stated earlier, Stone Cold Steve Austin's last match took place 19 years ago. By all accounts, that is a very long time when it comes to competing inside the squared circle.

One thing that should be noted about Austin's final match was that looking back, it was probably the greatest in-ring send-off he could have possibly had. Competing against his long-time rival and friend, The Rock, on the biggest stage. It doesn't get more fitting than that.

If another match were to occur, it would tear away the memories of that final match and be replaced with something not quite as stellar. After all, he won't be at the same level as he was then. It would be a shame to ruin that final bow at WrestleMania 19 for the sake of a one-time comeback.

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#2 Should - Modern-day fans can see Stone Cold Steve Austin in action

It's quite amazing that a large percentage of WWE fans have never seen Stone Cold Steve Austin compete inside the ring. Of course, fans can go back and watch his classic matches, but there's nothing like seeing a performer during their peak in real-time.

Fans who regularly attend WrestleMania from around the world may not have seen The Texas Rattlesnake in action before. Another match would give fans something to remember for the rest of their lives if he was to come out of retirement. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime-type moment.

It would certainly tick off a lot of bucket lists, as millions of fans can say they have witnessed Stone Cold Steve Austin wrestle in real-time.

#1 Shouldn't - Stone Cold Steve Austin doesn't need the match

Does Stone Cold Steve Austin truly need to come out of retirement for one more match? Not at all.

His long-lasting legacy in the business will be remembered for generations to come. He's one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time. There's simply no reason to risk it all for a one-time bout.

A lot more damage can be done than more good, especially when it comes to people analyzing his performance. Austin's not the young athlete that he used to be. His in-ring abilities will be limited, and that may end up being the talking point post-match.

All in all, there's no reason for him to lace up his boots again. He's done everything he's needed to accomplish. This is one of those things that just may need to be left alone for good.

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#1 Should - A Stone Cold Steve Austin match could boost the WWE product

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar and Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey are just a couple of the matches currently announced for WrestleMania 38. Add in a Stone Cold Steve Austin match, and you're essentially printing money.

The amount of fanfare, media attention, and excitement it would generate would be off the charts. It would be like something we've never seen before if a match was to come to fruition. WWE and the WrestleMania event would certainly benefit.

From a business standpoint, the move makes perfect sense. It will draw in fans from the past and casual fans in to see the hype around Steve Austin's return. It would be a smart move to really make WrestleMania 38 the most stupendous of all time.

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What do you think about the reports of Stone Cold Steve Austin potentially returning to the ring at WrestleMania?

Let us know in the comments section below!