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Roman Reigns vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin WrestleMania Match Was Planned, Then Canceled – Reports |
📜 WWE Reportedly Pitched Roman Reigns vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 39
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, WWE reached out to Steve Austin with the idea of a blockbuster showdown against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. However, for reasons still undisclosed, the match never materialized.
Instead, Roman Reigns successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 39, continuing his historic reign. While that match lived up to expectations, a first-time-ever encounter with Austin could have been a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
🧢 Why the Match Didn’t Happen
While WWE never publicly addressed why plans were scrapped, several factors could have influenced the decision:
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Steve Austin’s physical condition, following a total knee replacement in 2022
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Austin’s preference to stay retired unless the "right story" came along
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Focus shift to off-road racing and personal pursuits
Still, the fact that WWE initiated contact shows how serious the company was about delivering a mega match to fans.
🔙 Stone Cold’s Recent WWE Appearances
Steve Austin came out of retirement in 2022 at WrestleMania 38, where he:
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Headlined Night One vs. Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred Match
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Shocked fans by performing at a high level despite 19 years away from the ring
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Won the match in front of a raucous Texas crowd
Since then, Austin has largely stayed off WWE programming, only making a brief and controversial appearance at WrestleMania 40.
⚔️ Could Stone Cold Face CM Punk Instead?
Interestingly, Austin has remained open to facing CM Punk — another dream match fans have clamored for. With Punk’s return and current WWE run heating up in 2025, this fantasy face-off might be more likely than ever, especially with Night of Champions and SummerSlam on the horizon.
🧠 What This Means for Roman Reigns’ Legacy
Roman Reigns has:
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Main-evented seven WrestleManias
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Faced iconic names like Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Cody Rhodes
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Defended his title in historic matches, cementing his status as the greatest champion of the modern era
But a match against Stone Cold Steve Austin would have been an unforgettable addition to that list.