WWE News: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin on quitting WWE and his return
What’s the story?
On an edition of Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin opened up on quitting the WWE in 2002.
Additionally, Austin credited Jim Ross as the latter was instrumental in bringing him back to the WWE. Besides, Austin also spoke about his legacy and whether or not we’ll see another Stone Cold-like star in the future.
In case you didn’t know…
Steve Austin was widely regarded as the biggest star in professional wrestling from the late-1990s to the early-2000s.
However, Austin famously walked out on the WWE in 2002, after management asked him to put over a then-young prospect named Brock Lesnar. Regardless, the "Texas Rattlesnake" eventually returned to the WWE and briefly competed, but retired owing to injury issues.
The heart of the matter
Speaking of which, Steve Austin recalled the time he walked out from WWE; and his thinking at the time—
"When I look back, I was running so hard and the level of intensity was so hot and I was just white-hot in the business and I made a knee-jerk reaction to, they wanted me to do a job in Atlanta (Georgia) in a really non-publicized match with Brock and I thought that was real piss-poor business and it was."
“That being said, I shouldn't have got on an airplane and taken my ball and went home as they said, but hindsight being 20/20, yeah, I should've (gone) to the arena (and) I should've talked to Vince and said, 'I'm not doing it,' but just stayed with the company."
Furthermore, Austin revealed that it was Jim Ross who reached out to him and helped Vince and the former bury the hatchet. On that note, Austin concurred that he would’ve handled the entire situation much differently today; alluding that he’s now matured as a person.
In reference to the same, Austin emphasized that he didn’t realize how much of an impact he made in the business while he was amidst all of it, but learned its value after stepping away. He also stated that he’d love to see another star like him, break his records and take the pro-wrestling business to greater heights.
What’s next?
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin presently pursues a career as an actor/producer in Hollywood.
Author’s take
Austin parted ways with the WWE on really bad terms in 2002, but it’s great to see how he’s evolved as a person today.
One can understand why he refrained from putting over a novice like Lesnar that early-on in the latter’s career, that too in a non-PPV match nonetheless. Here’s hoping the fans get to witness the rise of a new Stone Cold in the near future.
Send us news tips at fightclub@sportskeeda.com