Steve Austin Explains Why Kevin Owens Was Chosen As His Last Opponent At WrestleMania 38

Few WWE fans actually thought that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin would make a return to the ring, but it happened. The Texas Rattlesnake’s final match in the squared circle took place against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, and it was a historic moment indeed.

During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Steve Austin went into why his in-ring return at WrestleMania 38 felt right, how the match with Kevin Owens came together, and what he wishes he had done differently that night. The appearance marked Austin’s first match since WrestleMania XIX in 2003 and what was billed as his final match.

Austin was asked why WrestleMania 38 was the moment to come back and why Kevin Owens was chosen as his opponent. Austin explained that the idea started with a personal visit from Vince McMahon and that the setting played a major role in his decision.

“It was in Dallas, Texas. Vince flew down here and we had a conversation. And I thought about it for a minute. And I love Kevin Owens. And he’s just… I think from a safety standpoint, they picked Kevin. And when they — when they threw out just a couple of names, Kevin was the guy.”

It was noted that Kevin Owens had used the Stunner in the past, but Steve Austin said that had nothing to do with the decision. He made it clear that Owens was selected because of his overall ability and reliability in the ring.

“No, it wasn’t anything to the stunner. They just hand-picked Kevin because they know how good he is. And he cuts a good promo… Kevin Owens will end up in the Hall of Fame. So, I mean, why not pick Kevin Owens for Stone Cold Steve Austin’s opponent?”

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin then reflected on returning to the ring after nearly two decades away and admitted that the lack of physical preparation was noticeable. He referenced advice from other legends, who warned him about timing and conditioning after time away.

“It was interesting because there were different people that were making comments about that. Triple H says, ‘You never know what you got until you get in there.’ And he was right. Hulk Hogan — God rest his soul — says, ‘You’re not calloused up because you haven’t been on the road.’ He was right. Undertaker says, ‘There’s no way that you can have timing because you haven’t been in the ring… every single night.’ He was right.”

Steve Austin also described the surreal feeling of walking to the ring at AT&T Stadium and trying to read the crowd in a massive building. After all, this was his first match in nearly 20 years at that point.

“On that night walking to the ring, I remember I couldn’t hear the crowd like I wanted to just because of the acoustics of that building. And, man, I’m just real in tune with how the crowd responds to anything — particularly as anybody would, your entrance. We blew the roof off the place.”

When discussing the match itself, Steve Austin was candid about his conditioning and pacing, saying he wishes he had taken more time to soak in the moment. He certainly didn’t want to blow up during his last contest in a WWE ring.

“Anyway, we go into the match, and it was fine. You know, I blew up because I hadn’t had any reps in the ring. But you know, when I look back at that, I rushed through so many things. I wish I would have slowed down more and savored it a little bit more and just entertained the crowd a little bit more.”

“It was what it was. We got away with it because it was anticipated. It was billed as my last match. Because Dallas is where I started, and Dallas is where I would finish. So, for all the right reasons, it was there to have that match and we pulled it off. But god dang, I could have been better prepared and I would have loved to have been better, you know, that night for Kevin Owens.”

Later in the interview, Van Vliet asked the 61-year-old Austin if he was still capable of wrestling at a high level. Austin didn’t hesitate, “I could go. God dang it.” Obviously, he is still very cofident in his abilities.

When pressed on whether fans would ever see him wrestle again, Austin left the door just barely open. “Would I? Probably not. I’ll say that. But you say — never say never.”

Austin defeated Owens in a No Holds Barred match on April 2, 2022, marking his first match in 19 years. While he stands by the moment and the choice of opponent, his comments made it clear that the return was driven by trust, timing, and location. After all, even legends don’t walk away without a few second thoughts.

What’s your take on Steve Austin’s last match in WWE so far? Do you believe that he will wrestle again someday? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.