Steve Austin has shed some light onto why one dream match never happened.
When Austin got hot as the lead babyface on WWE television on Monday Night Raw in the 1990’s, there was a match that the WWE Universe wanted to see badly. That match was to have Austin take on Hulk Hogan one-on-one.
Although Hogan almost signed with WWE in the late 90’s, a deal was never made. Fast forward to 2001, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon bought WCW. Even though Hogan waited for his contract with WCW to expire until 2002, there was still hope for the match to happen.
Despite the fact that WWE brought in Hogan in earlier 2002 and the fans wanting to see the match, the company decided to go in a different direction for WrestleMania 18 in Toronto, Canada. Austin faced Scott Hall, and Hogan faced The Rock at the event.
Austin’s career was winding down in 2002, and he decided to have his retirement against The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003. He didn’t make a big deal about it and rode off into the sunset on his terms. Hogan ended up wrestling McMahon in a Street Fight at the event.
On his latest episode of The Steve Austin Show, Austin answered questions called-in from listeners. During the podcast, Austin commented on wanting to compete against one person who he’s never faced. Here is what he had to say (h/t WrestleZone):
“I gotta say, Hulk Hogan. Because one of the biggest draws in the history of the business. Everybody thought that match between ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan should have happened a couple years back and never did. Just for whatever reason, I didn’t feel like stepping back in the ring. I think Hogan was ready to go, but I wasn’t. And so, I never got a chance to wrestle that guy, and it would’ve been fun to be in the ring with him, because I was watching an old match on YouTube between Paul Orndorff and Hulk Hogan, and I watched how Hulk Hogan was down there on that mat, and he was just selling his a** off.”
“Paul Orndorff was just kicking the snot out of him, and then finally, finally, finally after all this heat, started making that trademark comeback… He started firing up that comeback, the people started going crazy, and I realized that guy wasn’t born on top, he worked his tail off to get to the top. So I’d say Hulk Hogan right off jump street.”
Austin also talked about William Regal, getting ribbed on live TV, and more. What are your thoughts on this match never happening? Have YOUR say in the comments section below, and the fourth episode of GiveMeSport’s WWE podcast is here!
Check it out via this link: https://soundcloud.com/user-818579649/gms-wwe-podcast-money-in-the-bank-fallout