Well, today’s the big day. After weeks of counting down, Christmas Day is finally upon us.

This day will see countless people around the world open presents, and as we all know, WWE is no stranger to embracing the Holiday spirit

Here are five of the best Holiday moments to curl up in a warm blanket and watch this festive season.

5: A Christmas Carol starring ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper

We all have our favorite renditions of Charles Dickens’ classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ which tells the story of a wicked man who turns good when he learns about the meaning of Christmas.

Some people see the Muppets Christmas Carol as the best, while others like my father herald Alastair Sim’s 1951 portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge as the best telling of the story.

Well on December 20^th, 1985, the WWF gave their own rendition of A Christmas Carol, this one starring none other than ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper.

Unquestionably the biggest heel of the year, that week’s episode of Tuesday Night Titans saw Piper visited by three spirits, eager to teach the Hot Rod to change his wicked ways.

Unlike Scrooge though, Piper learned no lessons, and would instead vow to be more wicked after his ghostly visitations.

It would be another two years before Piper turned face and become one of the most beloved good guys of all time, and by 1989, he’d be the one defending Christmas from Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.

4: A Very Merry D-X-Mas

Forming in 1997, D-Generation X would establish themselves as a counterculture, anti-authority group, much to the chagrin of WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter.

After making an ass out of the company, Triple H and Shawn Michaels would go one step further, exposing their buttocks to spell out a festive message, all while Chyna was in the ring with them.

To counteract, Slaughter booked a gift of a main event: Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H for HBK’s European title.

After teasing dissension for the rest of the show, the pair ‘fought’ in the ring, but to call this a match is a stretch.

Triple H “powered” Michaels to the mat out of collar and elbow tie-up, then comically ran the ropes before delivering a big splash that didn’t make contact.

One pinfall later and the Game was the new European Champion, while the two friends celebrated their very fake match.

Sure, it may have devalued the European title somewhat, but DX got one over on Commissioner Slaughter in an iconic festive moment.

3: The Arrival of Xanta Claus

We all know the story of Santa Claus: the rosy-cheeked, bearded legend who lives at the North Pole, and judges whether people have been naughty or nice.

Well after a career of humiliating others, Ted DiBiase was definitely on the naughty list, and proved just how bad he could be in 1995.

Interrupting a segment with Savio Vega and ‘Santa,’ DiBiase proved everybody has a price for him, as Mr. Claus attacked Vega.

With that, DiBiase introduced the wrestling world to Xanta Claus, the polar opposite (quite literally) of Jolly ol’ Saint Nick.

Xanta Claus (played by future ECW staple Balls Mahoney) would not last long, and while the angle is incredibly goofy, it goes to show that anything can happen in the WWE.

2: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Stuns Santa Claus

WWE has hosted plenty of festive shows over the years, but the December 22, 1997, episode of Raw remains arguably the best holiday edition of the red brand ever produced.

Airing from Worcester, Massachusetts, the show was dripping in festive cheer, but the most iconic moment came from good ol’ ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

After a fake Santa Claus mocked a young boy, Austin made the save, stomping to the ring in that way only the Bionic Redneck can.

Berating the evil Santa, Austin dropped the not-so-jolly Saint Nick in what has become an iconic Christmas moment.

For all of Austin’s badassery, the segment showed that Austin still had a heart, cementing why it was okay to cheer this foul-mouthed, beer-swilling S.O.B.

Stunning the fake Santa proved that you could never quite predict what the Rattlesnake was going to do, and this unpredictability would be just part of what would launch Austin into mega-stardom the following year.

1: Tribute to the Troops

For most of us, the holidays are a time to be with family and loved ones, surrounded by presents, food, and warmth.

For those serving in the armed forces though, they don’t get to enjoy such luxuries, but WWE attempted to bring some festive cheer to those on duty.

In 2003, WWE introduced Tribute to Troops, an event that has become an annual display of support and appreciation for those who are risking their lives for their country.

The brainchild of John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, the show still carries on to this day, though takes place back in the U.S. instead of being in the Middle East as it was originally.

Nevertheless, this small token of appreciation goes a long way, and with the show taking place every December, there are plenty of seasonal festivities to enjoy each year at Tribute to the Troops.

Mike Tyson may be considered one of the greatest boxers to ever grace the ring, but his time as a WWE-sanctioned official leaves a lot to be desired.

After being suspended from boxing for biting the ear of Evander Holyfield, Tyson joined the World Wrestling Federation in January 1998.

Tyson aligned himself with D-Generation X, but turned on the group at WrestleMania 14, knocking out Shawn Michaels in the ring.

The Count

Despite WWF implying for weeks that Tyson would be competing at WrestleMania, the boxing legend was the ‘special enforcer’ for the main event between Michaels and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

Speaking on the latest Mailbag Monday, former WWE referee Mike Chioda revealed that he was tasked with teaching Tyson how to count the pinfall, which was a difficult process.

“Believe me, I tried to teach him how to count. … He counted so fast, I was like ‘Oh sh*t.’ I must have spent like an hour with him, ‘Here, just 1-2-3.’”

Mike Chioda.

After this lengthy lesson, Tyson would count the pinfall for Austin, but despite all of Chioda’s training, the count is noticeably faster than it should be.

Tyson’s count would see Austin win his first WWF Championship and cement the ‘Attitude Era’ in professional wrestling.

Tyson in Pro Wrestling

In January 2010, Tyson would serve as the guest host of Monday Night Raw, before being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2012.

Tyson was also a playable character as part of downloadable content for WWE ’13.

In April 2021, Tyson once again served as a special enforcer, this time for AEW, and returned to the promotion for an episode of AEW Rampage earlier this month.

h/t – eWrestlingNews

AEW commentator and wrestling legend Jim Ross took to Twitter tonight and said that AEW World Champion Jon Moxley reminded him of a WWE legend.

Jon Moxley defended the AEW World Championship against Pentagon Jr. in the main event of this week’s episode of Dynamite.

It was a back-and-forth matchup, but in the end, Jon retained the AEW World Championship via pinfall after connecting with the Paradigm Shift. Jim Ross compared Jon Moxley to Stone Cold on social media toward the end of the title match.

The Firm Attacks MJF & Jon Moxley

After the match, Stokely Hathaway’s stable The Firm attacked Jon Moxley. MJF hired The Firm as his stable on retainer, and the group helped him win the Casino Ladder match at All Out, ensuring him a future title show.

However, Maxwell had warned Stokely earlier on the show to not lay a hand on Jon Moxley before Full Gear. MJF wants to prove that he can earn the title on his own to William Regal and has vowed to not use the Dynamite Diamond Ring as a weapon at the PPV on November 19th.

The Firm ignored MJF’s request and attacked the champion at the end of the show. W. Morrissey, The Gunn Club, Lee Moriarty, and Ethan Page beat down Moxley as MJF paced around on the entrance ramp.

MJF made it seem like he was going to go backstage but wound up sprinting to the ring. The numbers game was too much and The Firm beat both men down. Ethan Page planted MJF with the Ego’s Edge and W. Morrissey sent Maxwell through a table with a Chokeslam as the show went off the air. Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against MJF on November 19th at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

Stone Cold Steve Austin has chosen who he thinks was the best on the microphone during the Attitude Era, and believe it or not, it isn’t himself.

The WWE Hall of Famer named his longtime rival turned Hollywood juggernaut Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the top talker during the height of pro-wrestling in popular culture. Austin, who is well-known for his skills on the mic, throws praise to the Great One during his recent appearance on the “First We Feast” program on Youtube, but does acknowledge that Rocky didn’t start out as a fan-favorite.

“You cannot overlook The Rock. When he first arrived on the scene, he was this good-looking, third-generation babyface and people just didn’t take to him. They’d say, ‘Die Rocky Die! Die Rocky Die!”

The Rattlesnake later discusses the work The Rock did to improve his character, which started with his decision to join the Nation of Domination. From there, he took his persona to the next level.

“He started wearing the silk shirts and he started referring to himself in third person and working that eyebrow. And he electrified and captivated crowds with his catchphrases, his cadence and his delivery, and his message and calling everybody ‘jabroni. He commanded the audience’s respect, attention and elicited the response that he was looking for from them.”

Who Else Does Austin Revere As A Great Talker?

The Rock wasn’t the only WWE legend Austin decided to call attention to. He also highlighted current AEW star and fellow WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts as a talent who captivated audiences by sometimes saying nothing at all.

“Once Jake got in the ring, he commanded your respect. He had this presence about him, and he’s one of the most economic, efficient workers out there, where he didn’t do a whole lot, but everything he did meant something, and he was always working for that DDT.”

Austin may hold these talents in high regards, but few would argue that he doesn’t belong at the top of the list as it is well documented that his run in the late 90s was considered one of the greatest of all time, and catapulted the Rattlesnake to monumental levels.

(Quotes via Wrestling Inc.)

WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin has praised Brock Lesnar as a “charismatic force of nature.”

Austin was recently interviewed by Sportskeeda, where he praised Lesnar’s legendary career in, not only professional wrestling, but sports. Lesnar has competed at the top levels in college wrestling, professional wrestling, mixed martial arts, and even a stint in the NFL.

“The Rattlesnake” praised Lesnar as a “charismatic force of nature,” touching on “The Beast’s” most recent run as a babyface in WWE.

“Love Brock Lesnar. That guy’s been in the game forever. He tried to make pro football. He never really played a whole lot of football. A couple times All-American in wrestling.

“Almost makes the football team, the Minnesota Vikings. Then he says hey, I’m gonna go fight in the UFC and becomes the UFC Heavyweight Champion and then gets back into the business.

“He’s still, after over 20 years, the biggest draw, him in Roman [Reigns], in the business today.

“So Brock Lesnar has had one of the most amazing, different runs, in the history of the business and no one will ever do it like Brock Lesnar has done it, whether it’s Suplex City or in the Octagon, or whatever it is Brock is doing.

“That baby face run he had right before Wrestlemania 38, when you have this big mass of an alpha male and he shows that vulnerability and people just clamor to him. So just a charismatic force of nature.”

Lesnar was last seen at SummerSlam when he was unsuccessful in capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship from Roman Reigns. Prior, Lesnar was defeated by Reigns at WrestleMania 38.

Reigns topped Lesnar to take home the WWE Championship, unifying the title with his own WWE Universal Title – establishing himself as the Undisputed Champion of WWE. It remains unclear if or when Lesnar will make his return to WWE.

The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin were two of the top WWE talents during the Attitude Era. However, while Austin had to retire from the business not long after the Monday Night Wars ended, Taker continued his career for much longer. According to the Texas Rattlesnake, this is a feat that no one else will achieve.

The former face of WWE recently had an interview with SportsKeeda. Speaking about The Undertaker, Steve Austin claimed that he knew Mark Calaway would be a star before he became the Dead Man:

“30 years in the WWE, that’s something no one else will do. If they’d gave that gimmick to anybody else and I told Mark this to his face, it might have lasted two years, maybe three. Then it just fell off and no one would have been able to do it like he did. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing where they caught lightning in the bottle.

I knew Mark was going to be a star when we stunk out the Sportatorium. He was working as The Punisher and I was Stunning Steve. Mark is an amazing talent. For him to be able to make that run and make those micro adjustments to that character. Stay in touch with that fan base, and always [be] at the top or very near to the top to keep himself in that position for Vince to use as he did. A frickin master.”

You can watch Steve Austin’s interview below:

If you use the quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin names two current WWE stars he thinks will be joining him in the Hall Of Fame one day.

Austin was recently interviewed by Sportskeeda, where he discussed a recent WWE Live Event he went to in Reno, Nevada. There, Austin witnessed a main event between SmackDown Live stars Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.

The match was a No Disqualification match and Austin was thoroughly impressed by the pair.

“Drew and Sheamus headlined the card and they had a tremendous main event,” Austin said. “They went probably, at least 20 minutes, in almost like an ‘Anything Goes’ type match, and they tore the house down.

“They were a great main event and everybody loved them. So Drew McIntyre still doing great things. Hell, Sheamus, I loved where they got him figured right now.”

Steve Austin Declares Sheamus & Drew McIntyre Will Join WWE HOF

Austin revealed that, after the match, both Sheamus and McIntyre wanted feedback on their work. “The Texas Rattlesnake” had nothing but praise for the veterans, stating that he believes he’ll see them both in the Hall Of Fame one day.

“Two super great human beings, and two Hall of Famers, and all these Hall of Fames that I’ve been in, they’ll go in as well,” Austin said.

Both Sheamus and McIntyre are currently feuding with one another on SmackDown Live. In fact, they’re expected to face off in an “Old-Fashioned Donnybrook” match this week. It will be the go-home episode for the blue brand before SummerSlam the following night.

The winner of the match will go on to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash At The Castle from Wales on September 3.

Last night, WWE hosted their Sunday Stunner event at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada, with eight matches (three of them title matches) on the card.

The show saw Gunther retain his Intercontinental Championship against Ricochet while new SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan held off both Ronda Rousey and Natalya to keep the gold.

The Usos defeated The New Day to retain the WWE Undisputed Tag team Championships while in the main event it was Drew McIntyre who bested Sheamus.

The Rattlesnake Slithers into Town

While the Reno, Nevada event had a stacked card, perhaps the biggest name at the show didn’t appear in the ring.

On Twitter, Natalya revealed that ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was backstage at the event, calling it the coolest part of the event.

“The coolest part of tonight in Reno was having @steveaustinBSR at our show watching every match backstage… Steve is the best. Truly. ??”

Austin replied to Natalya’s comments, calling the Reno untelevised “a helluva show.”

“Reno was a damn good crowd. In it from start to finish. Y’all gave em a helluva show and that’s the bottom line.”

Austin in 2022

This year has been a huge year for Stone Cold Steve Austin, who competed at WrestleMania 38.

In his first match in 19 years, the Rattlesnake defeated Kevin Owens in the main event of Night One, a moment fans for years thought would never happen.

Despite his near two-decades spent not as a wrestler, Austin looked very impressive and held his own against the former Universal Champion.

Austin has said that he has no plans to wrestle ever again after being able to end his in-ring career in his native Texas.

Stone Cold Steve Austin will welcome a WWE Hall Of Famer on the next episode of “Broken Skull Sessions.”

WWE has confirmed that Jeff Jarrett will be joining Austin on an episode that will air on June 3 on Peacock TV. Jarrett joins a plethora of big names who have already been guests on the show; including The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Kane, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, and so many more.

Jarrett was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2018. During his time with WWE, Jarrett was a six-time Intercontinental Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, and European Champion. Aside from his WWE accolades, Jarrett has done a ton in the professional wrestling business.

In WCW, Jarrett won the World Heavyweight Title four times, and was also a three-time WCW United States Champion. One of his World Title wins in WCW came as a result of winning the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament in 2000.

Jarrett also helped found and create TNA, which is known today as IMPACT Wrestling. This provided the groundwork for stars such as AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, Bully Ray, and so many more.

With all that being said, there will be no shortage of topics for Austin and Jarrett to touch on during their conversation.

Theory was given instructions by WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin before taking one of the best Stunners we’ve ever seen.

On night two of WrestleMania 38, Theory went one-on-one with Pat McAfee. While Theory ended up falling short, he and Vince McMahon got a measure of revenge with Vince ultimately pinning the SmackDown color commentator.

While Theory and Vince thought they had the last laugh, Stone Cold marched down the ring and gave them both Stunners.

Instructions From Texas Rattlesnake

Theory spoke to Corey Graves on the WWE After the Bell podcast. During his appearance, the reigning WWE United States Champion detailed the instructions given to him by Stone Cold (h/t 411Mania.com).

“I remember him telling me when I was standing in the corner and he was arguing with Mr. McMahon. He’s like, ‘I’ll give you this look, and when I give you this look, start throwing. Come at me and start throwing some punches.’

“I remember standing in there, and I could feel my heart ready to go because I just knew what was about to happen. As soon as he looked at me, I was like oh hell yeah. It was so fun. It’s so cool just enjoying those moments.

“You’re standing there, and you’re in the ring with Mr. McMahon and Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania. I’m just like ‘wow.’ It’s speechless sometimes. I don’t even have words for that.”

WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin was once part of one of the most memorable segments in Monday Night RAW history.

In March of 1999, Steve Austin hit the ring with a beer truck, smashing into the ring; with Vince McMahon, The Rock, and Shane McMahon in it. He then proceeded to hose the three down with beer on the heels of WrestleMania 15 the following weekend, where Austin would challenge The Rock for the WWF Title. “The Rattlesnake” won the No Disqualification match, which was refereed by WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley.

Recently, Austin appeared on the BrewBound podcast to discuss his famed professional wrestling career, and opened up about the beer truck segment. Austin first talked about when the angle was first presented to him, and then revealed that most of what was being sprayed was actually water, despite the first few gallons being real beer.

Stone Cold’s Beer Bash

“Well, you know, living on the road back in those days was a pretty wild time. A lot of times you got creative the day of. I remember arriving in the building, Vince or somebody is saying, ‘hey man, you’re going to drive a beer truck into the arena, and hose down The Rock.’

“I bumped the ring with it, and the first 30 gallons that came out was actually beer, and then it turned into water. When you show up, and you hear all the crazy sh*t they’ve had me do, whether it was Zambonis, beer trucks, driving cement trucks, filling in a corvette with cement, just totaling a brand new corvette, you know.

“We were able to do so much fun things, it’s those moments that people will never forget, and that beer truck was one of them.”

Austin recently made his return to in-ring action for the first time in over 19 years. He headlined Night One of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, Texas against Kevin Owens. “KO” initially invited Austin onto the “KO Show” as a special guest.

However, he eventually challenged him to an impromptu No Holds Barred match, which Austin accepted. When it was all said and done, Austin emerged victorious after hitting his signature stunner. He even returned the following night once more to deliver a few more stunners to the likes of Vince McMahon, Austin Theory, and Pat McAfee.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Kevin Owens got the opportunity of a lifetime at WrestleMania 38 earlier this month.

Owens headlined Night One of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, Texas against WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin. The match was Austin’s first-ever match since retiring after WrestleMania 19 in Seattle over 19 years ago. Initially, the match was advertised as a special “KO Show” segment. Instead, Owens ended up challenging Austin to a No Holds Barred match on the spot – which Austin accepted.

The pair battled all over the arena before Austin ultimately pulled out the win with a stunner. It was an incredibly nostalgic way to end the first night of “The Showcase Of The Immortals.” Recently, Owens was interviewed by Metro News and discussed his reaction to finding out about the match in Vince McMahon’s office.

Owens admitted he dropped a few expletives in front of the boss when he first heard the news.

“Vince told me a little while ago. My reaction was quiet jubilation because I was in Vince’s office, but I may have said a few swear words to him – positively [swearing]! It was really surreal,” Owens said.

“It’s funny, ’cause I was a fan of his from the start. He came in as the Ringmaster, and even he would probably say it wasn’t a great time in his career. I loved him as The Ringmaster! And then he became Stone Cold and he was on another level.

“KO” added that he understands there are a ton of other Superstars that WWE and Austin could’ve chosen for this opportunity, and he’s honored to have been selected.

“To get to be the one to do it, there’s a lot of very talented and competent WWE superstars out there. For me to be the one in this situation, it’s a huge honor and I don’t take it lightly.”

While Owens’ feud with Austin seems to have come to an end, the former WWE Universal Champion is now locked in a feud with Ezekiel, who he is likely to go one-on-one with at WrestleMania Backlash.

Austin Theory was front and center for Vince McMahon’s horrendous stunner sell with Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 38, and knows better than anyone how the locker room reacted once McMahon returned backstage through the curtain.

Speaking to Mark Andrews: My Love Letter to Pro Wrestling, Theory revealed that the locker room, especially the female talents, teased McMahon for the botched stunner once he returned backstage. However, it sounds like the boss took it all in stride and laughed it off.

“It was really cool. When Mr. McMahon walked to the back, everyone was screaming at him,” Theory said (via Fightful). “It was a lot of the female wrestlers, they were screaming at him and messing with him. He was like, ‘Okay, okay.’ It was proud, like being proud of your dad.

“Pat comes through and everyone was proud of what we did out there and everyone enjoyed it. You know it went well when everyone in the back enjoyed it. It was awesome. Even days after and now, hearing so much about it, you know you made that WrestleMania moment, which is really cool to me.”

McMahon was initially sitting ringside for Theory’s match with Pat McAfee, but angrily entered the ring after Austin Theory came up short against the SmackDown Live commentator. After ordering an impromptu match between himself and McAfee, it didn’t take McMahon long to put the ex-NFL punter down for a three-count. After the match, however, Austin hit the ring to give stunners to all three men – Theory, McAfee, and McMahon.

“The Chairman” is no stranger to taking stunners, probably having taken more than anyone over the years given his famed rivalry with Austin throughout the Attitude Era, but this one was one of the worst of all time. While Night Two of WrestleMania didn’t offer the best closing stunner, Night One certainly did.

Austin made his in-ring return after over 19 years, defeating Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match after nailing “KO” with the stunner. His appearance the following night wasn’t advertised, nor expected, but it was a tremendous treat nonetheless.

WWE Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle is the latest professional wrestling legend of note to chime in on Vince McMahon’s horrendous sell job of Steve Austin’s stunner at WrestleMania 38.

Angle took to his podcast, “The Kurt Angle Show,” to reflect on WrestleMania 38 weekend and all of its big surprises. One of those surprises being Stone Cold Steve Austin making his in-ring return. Austin took on Kevin Owens in a No Disqualification match, his first official bout in over 19 years, winning with a stunner to close out the show.

The following night, Austin returned for Night Two, interrupting Vince McMahon’s celebration for his win over Pat McAfee. Austin hit stunners on Theory, McAfee, and McMahon – the latter being one of the worst sold stunners of all time. “The Olympic Hero” described the moment as a “disaster.”

“I gave him a hug and said good luck to him. I didn’t see him afterward. I’m sure he was a little pissed off about Vince and the way he took the Stunner,” Angle said. (via Fightful). “Yeah, it was crazy because Austin was chugging these beers and you could see his lips say ‘That motherf***er.’ Vince’s timing was just bad.

“You know, he didn’t know when the jump. He didn’t know where you’re gonna go down, up and down. He just thought you’re gonna go up and down and with Austin, he didn’t expect the boot to the gut, he thought he’s just gonna Stun him.

“So when Steve booted him, Vince went to his knees… Steve had to pick him back up and then he tried to get him and Vince backed up into the ropes, and he bounced off the ropes. It was like a disaster.”

Although the stunner was terrible, it was still nostalgic for fans to see Austin and McMahon rekindle their rivalry that helped make “The Rattlesnake’s” run during the Attitude Era so iconic. Not to mention how shocking it was to see Austin make another appearance after everyone thought he was done following his victory the previous night where he closed out Night One of WrestleMania 38.

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross and fellow Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin have been close friends for decades, so it’s no surprise that Ross has the inside scoop on how “The Texas Rattlesnake” felt about his performance at WrestleMania 38.

Austin made his highly-anticipated return to in-ring action at “The Show Of Shows” from Dallas, Texas earlier this month, taking on Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match. Initially, Austin was scheduled for a special edition of “The KO Show,” where he was to be Owens’ guest on the program. However, after Owens challenged Austin to a No Holds Barred match right then and there, Austin was quick to accept.

The pair battled all around the arena before Austin ultimately picked up the win with a stunner inside the ring, giving him a victory in his first match in over 19 years. Austin had been very vocal about not wanting to wrestle again up until returning for WrestleMania this year, mainly worried about not being able to perform to his standards given his age and injury history.

However, on the latest episode of his podcast, “Grilling JR,” Jim Ross revealed that Austin told him he was “really happy” with how things played out.

“He and I talked going into that thing and we communicated on Saturday after the show,” Ross said (via WrestlingNews.co). “He seemed to be really happy and almost relieved that they pulled it off. He and Kevin Owens deserve a hell of a lot of credit for what they did.

“To show you what kind of ballplayer Austin is, he hadn’t been on the field for 19 years or something like that and he didn’t look like he missed a step. They kept the match in their lane. I thought that was really smart how they strategized and laid out that match.

“It was just absolutely a masterpiece in my view, and Kevin Owens deserves a lot of credit as well. You gotta have a dancing partner to make these things work, and Steve had a great dancing partner.”

Prior to this, Austin’s last match took place in 2003 at WrestleMania 19, where he suffered a loss to The Rock. Austin and Rock were longtime rivals throughout the Attitude Era, headlining WrestleMania opposite each other a total of three times – WrestleMania 19 being their last.

With WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin recently making headlines with his in-ring return at WrestleMania 38, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Matt Hardy took to The Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy to offer his take on the situation.

Matt and his brother, Jeff, were on the rise within WWE during Austin’s iconic superstar run in the late 90s, so the tag team legends got the opportunity to brush shoulders with “The Texas Rattlesnake” from time to time. During that time, Matt says he developed a great relationship with Austin, and called him to congratulate him on the in-ring return last week in Dallas.

Austin had an impromptu match with Kevin Owens after what was initially expected to be a special edition of “The KO Show” segment instead. However, after Owens challenged Austin to a No Holds Barred match, Austin accepted and subsequently hit the stunner for the victory in what was Austin’s first match in over 19 years.

While discussing his relationship with Austin, Hardy also recalled the first bit of advice the Texan ever gave him regarding his in-ring work. It’s a piece of advice he still utilizes to this day.

“One of the first things he told me from a serious aspect,” Hardy said (via Wrestling Inc.). “I remember when I would make comebacks. I would come in and I would punch, punch, punch, punch, and if guys were bumping and feeding. He was like, ‘man, just think about this. Maybe come in and just clothesline them, and take their head off.

“To me, it looks a lot more vicious and like, legitimate. And the more legitimate you look, the better it is for you.’ And that’s a piece of advice that I always held dear, and I always followed as well. Like, if I am ever doing something and guys are bumping multiple times in the comeback, I will give a stiff-ass clothesline where I take their head off, as opposed to a punch.

“It always looks better too, and that came from Stone Cold. That’s one of the first pieces of advice he gave me back when Jeff and I were still wearing tights.”

As for Hardy, he signed with AEW back in March of 2020 after his run with WWE ended when his contract expired. He and Jeff have since reunited as The Hardys after the latter signed with AEW in March.

WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin is set to host his next episode of Broken Skull Sessions on Peacock.

It has been confirmed that Austin’s next guest will be none other than fellow Hall Of Famer Bully Ray (Bubba Ray Dudley). The episode will premier on Peacock this Friday (April 15, 2022). Bully Ray has been teasing the episode for nearly a month now on social media, but now WWE has made it official with the announcement.

Ray is a longtime professional wrestling veteran; having competed for several companies such as WWE, ECW, IMPACT Wrestling, Ring Of Honor, and many more. As a member of the legendary Dudley Boyz tag team, Ray and partner D-Von Dudley were inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame class of 2018. He currently co-hosts Busted Open on Sirius XM Radio.

As for Steve Austin, this has been a busy month for “The Texas Rattlesnake.” After becoming embroiled in a feud with Kevin Owens, Austin found himself making his return to in-ring competition for the first time in over 19 years at WrestleMania 38. Austin took on Owens in an impromptu No Holds Barred match, which he eventually won after hitting the Stone Cold Stunner.

The following night at Night Two of WrestleMania 38, Austin again got physical for a big spot, hitting Vince McMahon, Austin Theory, and Pat McAfee all with Stunners before engaging in yet another legendary celebratory beer bash. Prior to that, Austin hadn’t wrestled since his retirement match back in 2003 at WrestleMania 19 where he was defeated by longtime rival The Rock.

Perhaps the biggest story out of WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, Texas this past weekend was the long-awaited return to the ring of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Austin was scheduled to be a guest on Kevin Owens’ “The KO Show,” however, it ended up being an official No Holds Barred match between the two after Owens challenged Austin. “The Texas Rattlesnake” accepted Owens’ challenge, and wound up victorious after hitting Owens with the stunner. It was Austin’s first match in 19 years.

The former WWE Champion wasn’t done there, however, as on Night Two of WrestleMania, Austin got involved in the Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory matchup. After McMahon defeated McAfee in an impromptu match in retaliation for beating Theory, Austin hit the ring to confront “The Chairman Of The Board.” Austin gave McMahon a stunner, which was one of the worst sold stunners of all time, before also stunning McAfee and engaging in his signature celebratory beer bash.

One man who was watching along with the rest of the world was none other than former WCW president Eric Bischoff. Bischoff took to his “83 Weeks” podcast to describe the entire ordeal as simply – awesome.

“I know I’m older, but to see Steve in there doing what Steve is so great at doing – even beyond that, forget about the fact that Steve and I are friends and spent a lot of time in the same industry together and were peers in that era,” Bischoff said (via 411Mania).

“Forget about all of that. The crowd reaction was just awesome. It was just awesome. I just got back home and picked up in the Pat McAfee/Vince McMahon stuff and I can’t say enough good things about it. It was so much fun.”

As for the segment between McMahon and Austin in particular, although Eric Bischoff admits the stunner on McMahon was “horrible,” the former Monday Night RAW General Manager maintains the segment still did its job and was fun for the entire audience.

“I know people are gonna be laughing about the Stunner or whatever, but c’mon, man. You said it, one word – fun. You pay money to be entertained and having fun is a part of that. That whole segment was nothing but fun.

“Yeah, the Stunner looked horrible and I would imagine Vince is very angry with himself [laughs]. But hopefully he gives himself a break because he entertained the hell out of me and a lot of people. Hats off to Vince and the entire team. What an incredible event. In many ways, I think it was one of my favorite WrestleManias in a long time.”

The best gimmicks in wrestling are the ones that are very close to the wrestler’s real-life personality. Stone Cold Steve Austin is one great example of it. The Rattlesnake cares for the rules off-screen, just as much he does while he is on the screen.

This was evident once again during his appearance at WrestleMania 38. Austin defeated Kevin Owens in a no holds barred match on the show. Pat McAfee, who was in the arena before the PPV saw the Attitude Era star practicing his entrance before his big return at the Show of Shows.

On the latest episode of his podcast, McAfee told an interesting story of how Steve Austin reacted to being told not to use his middle finger during the PPV:

“He was working on coming out. And you know, we’re in a different era now of the WWE than we were then. So I got to watch this dude’s entrance within an empty stadium or whatever. He goes right to that top rope, f**king both fingers straight up in the air. He’s doing his whole thing.

And then I see three producers running over [to him] ‘Can’t do that. Can’t do that’. So he does it again. ‘Can’t do that.’ He was like, ‘Alright.’ So he just put his fist up or whatever. So then as I was watching him [at the show], I was wondering, ‘There’s no way he keeps that middle finger down, the middle finger from Steve Austin is coming at some point.’ And then last night, he had a couple.”

If you use the quotes from this article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

This article has been edited for clarity

One of the biggest bright spots of WrestleMania 38 this past weekend was Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory. Theory was accompanied to the ring by Vince McMahon, who was not pleased when McAfee came out on top and pinned Theory for the victory in front of the jam-packed Dallas, Texas crowd.

After the match, McMahon got into the ring himself and ordered for an impromptu match between himself and the former NFL punter. McMahon ended up defeating an already beaten down McAfee, earning himself a win at “The Show Of Shows” at 76-years-old. However, after the match was over, WWE Hall Of Famer and old McMahon rival Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring.

Austin hit McMahon with, arguably, the worst stunner of all time, before engaging in his signature celebratory beer bash. “The Rattlesnake” then invited McAfee into the ring to share a beer, before hitting him with a stunner too. McAfee got the opportunity to reflect on his WrestleMania moment this morning (Monday. April 4, 2022) on his radio program “The Pat McAfee Show.”

When co-host AJ Hawk asked McAfee if he knew ahead of time that Austin was coming out after the match, and would stun him too, McAfee claims he did not.

“Listen, I was sitting there just befuddled with everything that was going on in my life right there,” McAfee said (via WrestleZone). “And I’m not good enough in that business for everything that happened there. There was a lot of trust that was placed upon me, hindsight, that should not have been because I’m in there, like, I should have been given a heads up. I’ve done this three times, like should I have not been given a heads up? Hindsight, like they were really confident in me figuring some stuff out, I guess. But it was cool, AJ.”

As for Austin, this was his second night in a row getting physical at WrestleMania, as he main evented Night One by defeating Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match; his first official match in WWE in over 19 years since retiring in 2003.

Kevin Owens thinks it’ll be hard for him to top what he will be doing at WrestleMania 38.

Owens is set to have “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as a guest on The KO Show. The two won’t be exchanging pleasantries. It’s been said that this segment will be a “fight sequence.” The fracas will go down on night one (April 2) of WrestleMania 38.

Kevin Owens’ Biggest Moment

During an interview with Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Kevin Owens said that out of all of his career highlights past, present, and even future, nothing will top his segment with Austin.

“Well, it’s the biggest thing I’ll ever do in my career, I think, because of obviously who it’s with. I think I have plenty of left in my career afterwards, but as far as the magnitude of the moment, I’m in there with Stone Cold, Steve Austin at WrestleMania.

“It’s going to be hard to top that one. I’m really trying to take as much time as I can to enjoy it because that’s something I haven’t been great at before, because I was always worried about what’s next, trying to get bigger, trying to get further.

“A lot of moments in my WWE career that I’ve accomplished are lost on me because I wasn’t able to enjoy them in the moment. I’m really trying to make sure I don’t make that mistake this weekend.”

SEScoops will be providing coverage throughout WrestleMania weekend. Be sure to join us on both nights for results and video highlights.

Kevin Owens has a very special moment coming up at WrestleMania 38 as he steps in the ring with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. It happened when after weeks of disrespecting the “Texas Rattlesnake”, Owens invited him to be a special guest on the KO Show at the Grandest Stage Of Them All.

Steve Austin accepted Owens’ invitation, and reports have come out saying that Austin is slated for a “fight sequence” at WrestleMania.

To further taunt Stone Cold, Owens impersonated him on the March 21st episode of Raw by wearing his signature attire and bald cap. Owens recently appeared on ESPN’s DC & RC, where he said that he loves to piss off Stone Cold fans with his impersonations.

“You know, it’s really funny because that’s really not the kind of stuff I’m used to doing. Like that’s happened before right, where one of the wrestlers would dress up as someone else, one of their rivals, whatever. Like, The Miz did it a few years ago, DX have done it, a couple of people have done it and done it pretty well but it felt like I was stepping out of my comfort zone a little. I figured that was the most impactful thing I could do going into this match or this confrontation, whatever you wanna call it and it ended up being a lot of fun. I think I pissed a lot of people off which was delightful.”

Kevin Owens was also asked how does it feel to be imitating Stone Cold as one of his biggest fans. He was also asked if he ever thought it would lead to him facing his idol when he started doing the Stunner and what makes him ready to face his icon.

“Yeah, it’s really unreal to find myself in this position. But what’s funny is, I gotta tell you when I first asked him if I could use the Stunner as my finishing move and he gave me a blessing, it meant a lot to me personally and professionally coming from him, Owens said. “I looked up to him for the longest time. But I did figure that, if at some point, he was to come back, the logic would be that he’d be involved with the guy that’s doing the Stunner. I think I played the long game here a little bit and it worked out in my favor. “

As Stone Cold Steve Austin prepares to return to the WWE scene this weekend at WrestleMania 38, it looks like he’s going to get the brightest lights of all on Saturday night.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, the KO Show featuring Austin will headline night one of WrestleMania this weekend. Many had assumed the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey would close the show.

Last year, Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks headlined one night, so it was assumed that a women’s match would also headline one of the nights this year. However, that does not appear to be the plan as of right now.

In addition to Meltzer’s report, a Reddit user who has broken several wrestling stories in the past has also confirmed that Owens/Austin is the plan for the main event slot during night one. That user indicates that Belair vs. Becky Lynch will open night one.

During tonight’s edition of WWE Monday Night RAW, Owens commented on his segment with Austin this weekend. He said that if Austin tried anything out of the ordinary with him, Owens vowed to stun him and pour beer on his body.

Night two of WrestleMania 38 will be headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns. Here are the cards for both nights of WrestleMania as it stands right now:

Night One

• WWE RAW Women’s Championship Match
  Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair
• The Miz and Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio
• Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin
• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
  The Usos (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs
• WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
  Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
• Seth Rollins vs. An Opponent of Vince McMahon’s Choosing
• KO Show Featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin

Night Two

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
  Queen Zelina and Carmella (c) vs. Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan vs. Natalya and Shayna Baszler
• Anything Goes Match
  Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn
• Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
• WWE RAW Tag Team Championship Match
  RK-Bro (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy
• Edge vs. AJ Styles
• Bobby Lashley vs. Omos
• WWE Championship vs. WWE Universal Championship – Winner Take All
  Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (c)

As you prepare for WrestleMania, be sure to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

There are few men who know Stone Cold Steve Austin in the ring better than Bret Hart.

The feud between Hart and Austin in 1996 and 1997 is what helped turn business around for the WWE at the start of the Attitude Era. Austin and Hart first worked together at some house shows in 1996; the Hitman then faced Stone Cold at the 1996 Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden.

That Survivor Series match was an all-time classic, but the duo followed it up with arguably the greatest match in WrestleMania history at WrestleMania 13 in Chicago. They continued to feud throughout 1997 until Hart left the company following the “Montreal Screw Job” at Survivor Series.

During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Hart commented on Austin’s pending “return” to the ring at WrestleMania 38 this weekend with Kevin Owens.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Hart says. “I’m proud of him. It takes a lot of courage to come back and do what he’s trying to do. I’ll be there to cheer him on.”

Hart has been hitting the road again recently as the Covid-19 pandemic has eased up. He’s been appearing at fan festivals and is glad to interact with his fans once again, commenting about how he’s never taken his fans for granted.

“I always appreciate every fan I’ve ever had,” Hart says. “People might laugh, but I remember a time when I didn’t have many fans, so I never take any fan for granted. That’s one of those values I learned from my parents, to treat people the way you want to be treated.

“I remember what it was like to be a fan, and I remember meeting my favorite wrestlers. A lot of fans have special memories, and hearing those mean a lot to me.”

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

Bret Hart Names the Greatest Match of His Career

While Kevin Owens is getting ready to host a talk show at WrestleMania 38, his guest Stone Cold Steve Austin is getting ready for a fight.

The Texas Rattlesnake recently appeared on Rich Eisen Show. On the potential of having one last match, the wrestling veteran said ‘never say never.’

Steve Austin recalled how he didn’t want to leave when he was forced to retire. So this comeback means a lot to him and he is getting back into in ring shape for it:

“When I left, I didn’t want to leave. WrestleMania 19, my neck had presented some problems. After I got spiked and dropped on my head back in 99, I had three, four fused up, and it was time for me to ride off into the sunset and do something else.

This comeback means a lot to me as I’ve been getting back into in-ring shape.” said Steve Austin, “I’m gonna go out there and do the absolute best I can … I’m doing this for the fans. I’m doing this for WWE. I’m doing this for me, number one.”

The former world champion also mentioned how Mania is the biggest wrestling show of the year. He said that to be part of it is really special to him.

WrestleMania 38 will be a two-night event airing from the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The KO show featuring Steve Austin is scheduled for Saturday, April 2.

• Watch: Steve Austin Accepts Kevin Owens’ WrestleMania Invite

H/T to Fightful for the transcribed quotes