Felix Upton on January 6, 2026
Steve Austin revealed why he didn’t show up at WrestleMania 40, and according to the Texas Rattlesnake himself, it wasn’t for lack of trying.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the January 6, 2026 episode of his podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed rumors that he was supposed to be involved in the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match— especially after John Cena and The Undertaker both had surprise confrontations with The Rock during that epic match.
When asked how close he actually got to joining the card, Austin made it clear the idea was on the table — but the timing just didn’t click.
“Things just didn’t line up. I had other things going on. I remember when they pitched that to me — I said, ‘Dude, I’ve got some things going on. I don’t see myself being there.’ That was way in advance.”
The Bionic Redneck confirmed that WWE absolutely wanted him to be part of the Showcase of the Immortals.
“Was it pitched to me, or did they want me there? Yeah. But I wasn’t in a position to go.”
So what held him back? Austin explained that life at home — and in his now-famous metal shop — simply took priority.
“WWE is this multi-billion-dollar corporation, and I’ve got a metal shop that we’re sitting in. Sometimes the multi-billion-dollar company has an idea that the dude with the metal shop should make an appearance — and it just doesn’t work. So it didn’t work.”
He also made it clear there was no drama behind the scenes — just scheduling conflicts and different priorities.
“I like to do as much as I can with WWE when it works — when it works for them, when it works for me, and when it’s going to be fun. But not everything lines up on a timeline basis, and I had other sht going on.”
Austin ultimately did appear at WrestleMania 41, where he rolled into Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on a four-wheeler to announce the two-night combined attendance of 124,693 — a moment that still got the “Hell Yeah” reaction from fans, even if he wasn’t throwing Stunners that night.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Would Steve Austin have made Wrestle Mania 40 even bigger, or was it fine without him? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
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