Jim Ross Says the Ship Has Sailed on “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Competing at WrestleMania 32

In a new post on his official website, JRsBarBQ.com, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross says the ship has sailed on “Stone Cold” Steve Austin competing at WrestleMania 32, which has been a rumor since they announced that the event will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. WrestleMania 32 will emanate from the home of the Dallas Cowboys on April 3, 2016.

While Austin has claimed that he’ll likely be in the arena doing something at WrestleMania, he’s stated time-and-time again that he will not be wrestling anyone on the card. Initially, it was reported that WWE wanted to book several big names to headline the event, as this would be a chance for the company to set a new in-door attendance record, and it would could be the biggest crowd WrestleMania has ever seen.

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels has even said that WWE asked him to participate in a match or an angle at WrestleMania 32, but he’s sticking to his “not wrestling again” lifestyle. Austin toyed with fans saying that he was training for one more match about a year ago, and that he’d want Brock Lesnar if he had to choose an opponent for himself.

When Paul Heyman appeared on the “Live Stone Cold Podcast” WWE Network program in June, Heyman lobbied for the match, which caused Austin to launch into a promo about a possible bout with Lesnar, saying he’d “whoop his ass” and that he’d want it to be a Texas Death Match if it happens. He would then go on to say that there’s no chance of the match actually happening, and that he’s not competing at WrestleMania 32.

However, fans began questioning Austin’s involvement at the event again on July 6 when it was announced that Austin will be the cover star for WWE and 2K Sports’ upcoming video game, “WWE 2K16.” This of course prompted not only Austin to deny the rumors yet again, but also Ross. The Oklahoma Sooner had refuted rumors of Austin wrestling at WrestleMania 32 before.

Ross writes,

“Amazing the publicity and positive response that WWE has garnered with the announcement that Steve Austin is on the cover of the 2K16 video game due out in October. Now the Austin wrestling at Wrestlemania Texas will commence again which simply isn’t happening. Sorry folks, the park is closed…said in the late, John Candy’s voice.”

Ross also discusses how Cesaro is definitely a main eventer and needs to stay in that spot moving forward. You can read the entire blog post here.

Editor’s Note:

The fact that Ross used the “Vacation” quote and referenced Candy made me pop. Love Jim Ross.