Stone Cold Steve Austin walked out of WWE in 2002 when he was booked to lose a match against Brock Lesnar on a random episode of RAW.
His frustrations with the company had been growing for some time, and being asked to do the job for The Beast with no build or fanfare was the straw that broke the camel's back. He'd eventually return to the company, but not as a wrestler.
The Texas Rattlesnake has been an authority figure, made several guest appearances, and even competed in the main event of WrestleMania 38 in a "No Holds Barred" match against Kevin Owens.
Rumours have persisted about Austin returning to the ring, and according to @WrestleVotes and Fightful Select, there have now been talks in WWE about the WWE Hall of Famer making an appearance in the "very near future."
That's all we have to go on for now, but it seems likely that he'll be at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, not necessarily in the 30-man match, but to hype up next year's WrestleMania, which also takes place in the Middle East.
During a recent interview, Austin addressed his physical health a year after having a total knee replacement surgery on his left knee.
"I was limping around so bad, and I didn’t know I was limping," the WWE Hall of Famer recalled. "People would ask me, 'What’s wrong?' I said, 'What are you talking about?' [They said] 'You’re limping.' I didn’t know, because I don’t watch myself walk."
"I’ve always wondered what arthritis felt like. Man, I found out firsthand. And it’s chronically over time, years and years and years of it," he said, confirming that he now no longer walks with a limp. "It’ll change your personality. It just puts you in a state of mind where you just want some relief."
Finally, pushed on whether he could now step back into the ring for WWE, Austin seemed surprisingly positive about the possibility. "I could still do it. I’m not advocating for nothing, so I’m not selling a match here. You asked me, 'Could I?' Yes. Probably not. But you say never say never."
So, the door is open to him competing for WWE again, and this planned appearance could be what sets the stage for that. We'll have to wait and see, but we'll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more about what's next for Austin.