Though the lineup for WWE RAW 1000 was far lighter on old school pro wrestling names than many anticipated, it did feature appearances from key company superstars like DeGeneration X, The Rock and The Undertaker.
As such, many fans were left scratching their heads at the conspicuous absence of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Austin is generally viewed as the most important figure in the history of WWE RAW, and fan enthusiasm for his character played a major role in the company’s late-90s breakout.
If WWE were going to celebrate the significant success of the RAW series, how could it justify doing so without a live appearance from the legendary performer?
The simple answer is that WWE did not justify that omission. WWE did not decline Austin an invitation to appear on its heavily-hyped edition of RAW and, in fact, absolutely wanted to book a “Stone Cold” appearance.
Austin, himself, declined to appear. Questions, therefore, centered on why he would pass on the opportunity.
The earliest media reports said Austin missed the show due to filming for the upcoming “Grown Ups 2.” One source noted that Austin, though a big name to wrestling fans, does not have the Hollywood clout to delay shooting and therefore could not slip away to attend the WWE event in St. Louis.
The wrestler himself, however, tells a vastly different story. In an update on his website, Austin attributed the absence to a recent surgery on his left knee. The Hall of Famer is only a few weeks into his recovery process and thus had to make the decision to abstain from the event.
“STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN IS A 100% ASS KICKING MACHINE. There was no way I was going to limp down the ramp on crutches for RAW 1,000. It was time to get my knee fixed. The decision to no-show RAW 1,000 was made by me and no one else. I have always taken pride in making my shots and have never faked an injury or illness. Pro Wrestling is a tough game and it was time to pay the piper for some of the damage I incurred in the ring. No gripes. No complaints,” explained Austin.
Austin, who notes that he normally likes to keep this kind of matter private, felt compelled to speak out against the “feedback and incorrect speculation.”
