Stone Cold Steve Austin is a well-known name in professional wrestling. He has a huge fanbase that often talks about his feuds and matches. However, one of the biggest talking points about his career is also Steve Austin’s decision to walk out of WWE back in 2002.
At the time, WWE was preparing Stone Cold Steve Austin for a feud with Brock Lesnar. With that, the Stamford-based promotion asked Austin to lose a King of the Ring qualifying match against Lesnar on an episode of RAW. However, he refused to lose against Lesnar and eventually walked out of the largest wrestling promotion in the world.
Later, Stone Cold stated that losing to Lesnar, who was back then a rookie, would make him look weak. Austin also argued that a win for Lesnar against him on a random episode of Monday Night RAW would have been underwhelming. However, it now seems the WWE legend carries regrets from his feud with The Beast Incarnate.
Stone Cold Steve Austin shared his biggest regret
Stone Cold Steve Austin previously left WWE after refusing to lose against Brock Lesnar. But in a recent interview with WWE, Stone Cold opened up about his decision.
Austin added, “I never like to blow smoke up my ass, but guys like myself, like Hogan, and a few others, they don’t grow on trees. So you want to sacrifice what you’ve built up in me? And with no buildup? But that walkout was still total stupidity and hard-headedness on my part.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin talks about the time WWE wanted him to lose to Brock Lesnar and him leaving the company.
"I took my ball and went home" pic.twitter.com/VcogFUqJy6
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) August 27, 2023
Finally, talking about his biggest regret, Stone Cold said, “I should have shown up, and that is my biggest regret in the business of pro wrestling.” Thus, while the WWE legend previously decided not to face Lesnar inside the squared circle, he later regretted his decision to not show up.
However, it is to be noted that Austin later made his return to WWE in early 2003. During this, he got involved in a feud with The Rock, which ultimately led to a match at WrestleMania XIX, which was Stone Cold’s last match as an active pro-wrestler.
Steve Austin attacked Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XX
Sadly, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Brock Lesnar never faced each other inside the squared circle. However, the WWE legend previously attacked The Beast Incarnate at WrestleMania XX.
After wrestling his last match back then, Steve Austin took on the role of an onscreen authority figure and began making sporadic appearances in WWE. During this time, he was all set to appear as the special guest referee during Brock Lesnar’s match against Goldberg at WrestleMania XX.
At the Grandest Stage of Them All, Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar. Nevertheless, what happened after the match caught the attention of the fans. Following the match, Austin launched an attack on both Lesnar and Goldberg. He then nailed both of them with Stone Cold Stunners.
That marked the notable interaction between Lesnar and Steve Austin inside the squared circle. It now remains to be seen when Steve Austin will make another appearance in WWE, barring the single match at WrestleMania 38.
