5 dream matches in WWE we never got to see

As WWE fans, we all love to fantasy book and advocate for particular dream matches we want to see. Some manage to become a reality, but sadly some never get to happen for one reason or another.

This is because wrestlers have retired, come from different eras, work for different promotions, or it is simply just not possible for them to collide. It doesn't stop us thinking "what if?" and it is left to our imagination to assume what would happen.

Let's take a look at five dream matches in WWE that we never got to see.

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#5. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar in WWE

This was a match that we got so close to seeing. Unfortunately, circumstances didn't allow it to happen. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar would have been a match for the ages, and one that would grab the attention of even non-WWE fans.

Following WrestleMania 18 in 2002, WWE began their King of the Ring tournament. One of the matches announced for RAW was Stone Cold vs. Brock Lesnar. Were WWE really going to give away a blockbuster match like this on national television? They almost did.

Despite being advertised, the match never happened. During the day leading up to show time, Stone Cold Steve Austin walked out of WWE citing creative differences. Austin firmly believed that WWE should not be giving away Austin vs. Lesnar on national television without any build whatsoever. He felt it was more worthy of a big pay-per-view match, which all WWE fans would certainly agree with.

Stone Cold Steve Austin spoke with Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take podcast to give his explanation.

"It wasn't time for me to do the favours yet for Brock in an unadvertised match in a tournament-style TV match whereas hey, man, I love Brock Lesnar, I'd lose to him any day of the week, but build it up so we can all make money off of it and it's going to mean something. I was very protective of myself, maybe too much so, but it took me seven and a half years to get there, so no-one was going to yank the carpet out from underneath my feet, not even Vince [McMahon]." Stone Cold Steve Austin said. (h/t Sport Bible)

Fast-forward to 2021, Stone Cold has retired from the ring, and Brock Lesnar is performing a part-time schedule. The match will sadly never happen, but what a match it could have been, if WWE had really given it the blockbuster treatment it deserved.

#4. The Big Show vs. Andre The Giant in WWE

A battle between the two great giants in WWE history would have been something to behold. Goliath vs. Goliath. Visually, it would have been a sight that would have stood the test of time as the two stood face-to-face before locking horns.

The Big Show won the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal in 2015 at WrestleMania, but during his WCW days, he was billed as Andre's son.

The Big Show, known as The Giant, for Ted Turner's company, spoke on the Steve Austin Show about taking on such a role:

"It was awkward. It was very awkward because [Hulk] Hogan and [Eric] Bischoff came up with this idea and that's why Hogan latched onto me right away. That's why I got a career and opportunity. To go as the son of André, yeah, it gave me credibility with the fans. It was kind of a real crappy trick to play on the fans because everybody loved André so much and it cornered me into a position because I still have fans that come up to me to this day that tell me how much they loved my dad." The Big Show said. (h/t ewrestling)

They definitely would have needed to reinforce the WWE ring for this one. We can only wonder which super-athlete would have been able to lift the other to claim a monumental victory. The Big Show with his chokeslam, or Andre The Giant with his bodyslam. The WWE Universe would have loved it.

#3. AJ Styles vs. Shawn Michaels in WWE

Now we're talking. Imagine if AJ Styles and Shawn Michaels were able to go at it in a WWE ring. Two of the greatest athletes and entertainers the business has ever seen would need a whole chronology of matches to get our full fix of AJ vs. HBK.

There were rumors a few years ago that the match was being touted for a pay-per-view event, but it didn't happen as The Heartbreak Kid said no. Shawn Michaels was retired at the time, but he did return as a one-off for the Crown Jewel event in 2018.

AJ Styles revealed the conversation he had with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels about the possibility of the match.

"I asked Shawn [about a match] and he said ‘No.’ Well, That’s on Shawn, guys. I can’t do anything about that. I would love to opportunity to do that match, But I get where he’s coming from too. It’s one of those things where, if you say you’re gonna retire — Now, granted, he had a match after his retirement, one match — but I understand not really wanting to do it. When I retire, I want to [stay] retired too." AJ Styles said. (h/t TalkSport)

All credit to AJ Styles for at least asking. For the WWE Universe, it will forever remain a match that we'd have loved to have seen steal a pay-per-view card.

#2. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. CM Punk in WWE

Hold your hats for this one. This WWE rivalry would be explosive. The promos alone would probably make it one of the greatest feuds we've ever seen. Both are outspoken and anti-establishment, which would make for a fitting clash between the two greats.

The pair exchanged words on Twitter when a fan asked if the match would have been the greatest of all-time. CM Punk responded simply saying "Would have been short. GTS 1 2 3." Stone Cold Steve Austin jokingly responds in true Texas Rattlesnake fashion:

"I see. @CMPunk. You did say that. Damn. Complete delusion. I had us at a sixty minute time limit match at the Rosemont Horizon. Right there in Chicago. Chi Town. The Windy City. Helluva match. Caught you with a stunner at 59:56. You did not kick out. Bottom line." Stone Cold Steve Austin tweeted.

It truly would have been something special, and a match worthy of that coveted main-event spot that CM Punk always wanted.

#1. The Undertaker vs. Sting in WWE

A match the WWE Universe cried out for after Sting had signed for WWE never came to fruition. Realistically, it should have been done. Even under a cinematic style match, to protect both superstars, the dream match should have been a reality.

Sting revealed it was one of his dreams in WWE, but an agreement could not be reached, so he ended up leaving the company for AEW.

"It wasn’t a goal of mine to get back in the ring. The only thing I thought I might do is have a cinematic match against Undertaker when I was with WWE. We weren’t able to come to an agreement. Tony [Schiavone] reached out to me and asked if I wanted to come play and let him know. A year later and I thought WWE isn’t working out and I didn’t want to disappear with my tail between my legs. I hate that."

Now that The Undertaker has officially retired, the match will never happen. It is a shame, as it realistically is one of the last dream matches from the 90's that could have come to life.