On Saturday night, WWE fans watched the Royal Rumble, eagerly anticipating an appearance from The Rock and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. However, they were left disappointed when neither of the two greats turned up to the event.
This is contrary to reports that the pair were scheduled to start major rivalries ahead of Wrestlemania 39. As per Fightful.com, the world’s premier wrestling organisation offered ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ the big bucks to fight Roman Reigns on the grandest stage of them all. However, disappointingly for the fans, he wasn’t interested.
In addition, the promotion flirted with the idea of a match-up between the 58-year-old and ‘The Beast Incarnate’.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, claimed: “As far as Austin goes, he might be at the show. I wouldn’t surprise me. He might do something on the show, but he did, in fact turn down wrestling at the show. Austin was offered Lesnar, he was offered Roman Reigns. He probably could have named his opponent if he wanted to do it with anybody else, but he did not choose to wrestle on the show.”
Read: Why Rey Mysterio didn’t compete in the 2023 Royal Rumble (sporf.com)
Like Steve Austin, The Rock turned down an opportunity to headline Wrestlemania 39
While many expected The Rock to main event the most significant event in the wrestling calendar against his cousin, Reigns, it now looks unlikely.
Meltzer added: “The same goes for Dwayne [The Rock]. It’s not a swerve. There’s always the idea that it’s a secret, but we’re past that point. Dwayne’s not wrestling anybody else unless it’s a three-second match. He did not feel that he had the time to get in the shape that he needed to be in to do a Wrestlemania-caliber main event.”
Consequently, the WWE Universe may have to reserve themselves to a Wrestlemania without two of the sport’s all-time greats.
Featured Image Credit: The Rock and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin