From the WWE Rumor Mill: Did WWE consider a match between CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin?

What’s the story?

During the latest installment of The Wrestling Observer Radio, respected professional wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer revealed if the WWE ever had plans for a possible dream match-up between two of the most charismatic former WWE World Champions, CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

In case you didn’t know…

Before CM Punk’s initial departure from the WWE in 2014, several reports apparently flooded the internet and suggested that the “Second City Saint” was seemingly in contention to square off in a one-on-one dream match against WWE Hall of Famer, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Punk, who is somewhat considered as the modern day version of Stone Cold, has had one of the most historic WWE Title reigns of all time, holding the championship belt for a total 434 days, whereas, Stone Cold Steve Austin is a former 6-time WWF Champion and a record three-time Royal Rumble winner.

The heart of the matter

In the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a reader asked pro wrestling expert Dave Meltzer, if the WWE was ever close to booking a match between CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin or if the story was just a completely false rumor with no proper worthiness to it.

Meltzer responded to the question by stating that the WWE actually never had any plans for a potential match-up between Stone Cold Steve Austin and CM Punk and the company’s management team never considered this showdown, despite a lot of back-and-forth teasing between both men on an episode of Monday Night Raw back in June of 2011.

“No. It was not close at all. It was never going to happen.”- Dave Meltzer.

What’s next?

Currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, former WWE Champion CM Punk is evidently looking forward to making a return to the Octagon later this year, when the UFC heads to Chicago in June for UFC 225.

Author’s take

A showdown between CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin would have been a dream match come true for wrestling fans who represent two different generations and it is definitely a disappointing fact that the two men never had the chance to face-off in a squared circle.