Following his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, many fans are speculating that Stone Cold Steve Austin will make an appearance at WrestleMania 42. Since coming out of retirement to defeat Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 38, Austin—the Texas Rattlesnake—has not competed in WWE, which was four years ago. There were widespread expectations for him to join an Avengers-style climax alongside Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40’s main event, but that never occurred.
During this past Monday’s RAW, it was revealed that Stone Cold will be a headline guest throughout WrestleMania Week 42. He is set to attend WWE World, a fan convention taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 16th to 20th. He will engage with fans by signing autographs and taking photos, likely alongside other current and past WWE stars. The main excitement stems from his planned presence at WrestleMania itself on April 18th and 19th.
Fans are thrilled at the idea of the Texan returning to WWE, even if not in a wrestling role. When one fan shared the news on X, they confidently predicted a match would happen: “Stone Cold Steve Austin has announced that he will be appearing at WWE World in Las Vegas. Yes, there will definitely be a match.” Responses from fans included dream matchups, such as a tag team featuring Stone Cold and CM Punk versus The Rock and Roman Reigns on the first night of WrestleMania. Others joked about surprise opponents or suggested he act as the special referee in a main event involving CM Punk and Roman Reigns, potentially setting up future storylines.
Additionally, some suggested Stone Cold might confront SmackDown’s Kit Wilson in a dramatic surprise appearance.
Recently, Austin stated he’s in good enough shape to compete again and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of wrestling once more. Now 61, he initially retired in 2003 due to severe neck injuries but made a memorable comeback at WrestleMania 38.
Given the limited time to build up any storyline, a return to the ring at WrestleMania 42 seems unlikely. A surprise appearance similar to his WrestleMania 38 return is possible, but if he wrestles again, it might be at next year’s event. WWE is preparing its first WrestleMania outside North America, scheduled for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where there are already rumors that legendary stars like Stone Cold and The Rock are being courted for special appearances.
If Stone Cold were to have one final match, fans widely agree the ultimate showdown would be a generational battle against CM Punk—two superstars who have share a history and mutual respect, and once even considered a match during Punk’s original “Best in the World” run.
Fan Take: Stone Cold Steve Austin’s involvement in WrestleMania 42, whether as a wrestler or special guest, reignites excitement among WWE fans eager for a connection to the company’s golden era. His presence could not only draw huge crowds but also create unforgettable moments that blend nostalgia with current storylines, potentially shaping WWE’s future direction.
