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During an episode of his Grilling JR podcast, WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross talked about Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003, which was Austin&#8217;s final match for 19 years (before he came out of retirement at WrestleMania 38).
The original plan for this match was to main event the show, but it got changed to Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship due to Austin spending the night before WrestleMania at the Hospital due to his health issues.
Here&#8217;s what Good Ol&#8217; JR had to say about why WWE decided to book a 3rd WrestleMania match between Austin &amp; Rock and how hard it was to call this match, knowing it was the last match of The Texas Rattlesnake:
<blockquote>“There was only one option. I guess it is a case where we’re overthinking it. In all due respect, Austin owed Rock a win, and he was hell-bent on delivering it. That’s old school way of looking at it.
Austin had won two WrestleMania matches with [The Rock], 15 and 17, and he felt like he owed Rock that return. Because number one, Steve’s health was deteriorating, as we all know, it is well documented. And you know, the night before that he had his health calamity.
So we were, there’s no other match that we thought about doing. What are you going to do with so and so? Well, we know that Rock is gonna wrestle Austin, period. And Rock is going to get put over, was going to be getting his hand raised finally.
So no, there was never any debate or discretion on who is going to be in that. The only tweak that was made based on Steve’s hospital stay the night before. You know, who’s gonna go on last?
Yeah, out of safety sake and precautions. We decided to put Kurt and Brock on last, because they seem to be the healthiest guys. And so yeah, it was Austin all the way. That’s what the audience wanted to see. You know, we could do Austin win three, could Rock win one, that story.
[Rock &amp; Austin] delivered a hell of a match and, and it was hard. It’s probably the hardest match I ever called because of my closeness with Steve and my friendship with him, to know that this was his last match. And he’s not one of those bullsh*t guys that’s gonna say, well, he’s gonna, I want to, I’m gonna unretire.
I just I don’t know, just he’s just a different guy. When he said it was his last match and he told me that, then it was troubling because I did want to see the company without him, without Steve, because he was so valuable to what we were doing and what we had done, what we had built.
There’s no way in the world in my opinion now, and I might be wrong. There’s no way that I would think that the WWE would have gone public with such fanfare and success if Stone Cold had not been Stone Cold.”</blockquote>

Original Plan For Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock At WrestleMania 19

During an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therock/">Instagram</a> video in 2020, Old School WWF Legend The Rock talked about working with WWE Hall of Famer &#8220;Stone Cold&#8221; Steve Austin, their three WrestleMania matches, and what he said to Austin after beating him at WrestleMania 19 (which took place on this day in 2003).
Below are the highlights:
His first meeting with Austin on WWF TV:
&#8220;We had a night, we had a first night to see if there was any heat or attraction between &#8216;Stone Cold&#8217; Steve Austin and myself.
We come out live on RAW, and we come out at the top of the ramp &#8230; we come out and Stone Cold basically says, &#8216;Bring it, I don&#8217;t give a sh*t who you are, what color you are, one of you, all four of you come on down to the ring and get some of this.&#8217;
We get to the back that night, I see Vince McMahon, Steve Austin, and some of the agents backstage. Everyone collectively felt like &#8230; there&#8217;s something special between [myself] and &#8216;Stone Cold&#8217; Steve Austin.&#8221;
Their WrestleMania 15 match:
&#8220;Steve had broken his neck and he&#8217;d come back from a broken neck, so he was very particular with who he wrestled with. He trusted me and there were only a handful of guys he trusted with at that time.&#8221;
Their WrestleMania 17 match:
&#8220;So much of our stuff had to be adlibbed because Steve was working with a broken neck. Every night was a different match.
We knew the finish, whether he would win or I would win, but we had to call everything out in the ring. Basically, based on how he would feel. We have a phenomenal match.
The night before we went out for a steak dinner, myself, Austin, Pat Patterson. We were talking about the match, it was a nice quiet before the storm because who knows what would happen the next day.&#8221;
What he said to Austin after beating him at WrestleMania 19:
&#8220;I hit him with three Rock Bottoms &#8211; I believe it was three Rock Bottoms &#8211; appropriately that&#8217;s what you need to beat &#8216;The Rattlesnake&#8217;.
I beat him in the middle of the ring, 1, 2, 3. That moment, in front of 55,000 people, you can actually see me&#8230; when you watch it back. I&#8217;m sitting up, and I sit next to him, and he&#8217;s laying there in front of everybody.
And I whispered to him, &#8216;I thank you so much for everything that you&#8217;ve done for me. And, I said &#8216;I love you.&#8217; He said &#8216;I love you too.&#8217; I hit him on the chest and I left, left him in the ring. That was it, he retired that night.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-91515" src="https://wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Rock-Reveals-What-He-Said-To-Stone-Cold-Steve-Austin-After-Beating-Him-At-WWE-WrestleMania-19.jpg" alt="The Rock Reveals What He Said To Stone Cold Steve Austin After Beating Him At WWE WrestleMania 19" width="1200" height="628" />
Passing the torch to John Cena in 2013:
&#8220;In New York is where I did for John what Steve did for me, which was do right by the business that we love — professional wrestling — and that&#8217;s the way you go out.
That&#8217;s the way you end your career, it doesn&#8217;t matter how big of a star you are, you go out on your shield and on your back: one, two, three.&#8221;
Also Read: <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/original-plan-for-stone-cold-steve-austin-vs-the-rock-at-wrestlemania-19/">Original Plan For Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock At WrestleMania 19</a>

The Rock Reveals What He Said To Stone Cold Steve Austin After Beating Him 22 Years Ago Today At WrestleMania 19

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On this week&#8217;s RAW Recap, Jey Uso was asked who he&#8217;d like to see accompany him to the ring for his World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther at <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/wwe-reveals-the-biggest-wrestlemania-return-of-all-time/">WrestleMania</a> 41.
Here&#8217;s what the 2025 Men&#8217;s Royal Rumble winner said:
<blockquote>“I want a female though, a female rapper, Uce. Cardi B. We out there in New York. You know what I’m saying? Sexyy Red, you been down there a couple of times at NXT. You can YEET with me up here, too. Kendrick Lamar, shout out.”</blockquote>
Sexxy Red, who has made multiple appearances in NXT, accepted Jey&#8217;s offer by tweeting the following:
“Yal tell Jey Uso I’m there!”
Her tweet went viral and received over 2 million views.

Possible Special Guest Appearance At WrestleMania 41

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As we noted earlier, Saraya aka Paige officially announced her departure from AEW.
During an interview on The Takedown on <a href="https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/aew/saraya-announces-aew-departure-discusses-potential-wwe-return">SI</a>, Saraya teased returning to WWE at WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans in 2026.
Here&#8217;s what the former WWE Divas Champion said:
<blockquote>&#8220;Maybe down the line, I get to have that WrestleMania or Royal Rumble. Or you know, next year they have WrestleMania in New Orleans. And that&#8217;s where I debuted, that&#8217;s where I retired&#8230; wouldn&#8217;t that be cool if I get to come back (there) too?&#8221;</blockquote>

Saraya Explains Why She Wants To Return To WWE At WrestleMania 42

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During Stephanie&#8217;s Places on ESPN+, an emotional backstage exchange between CM Punk and Triple H from SummerSlam 2024 was shown.
Here&#8217;s how their conversation before Punk&#8217;s first televised singles match in WWE in 10 years went:
Punk: Thank you for the <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/emotional-exchange-between-cm-punk-triple-h-at-summerslam-2024-released-video/">opportunity</a>.
HHH: We&#8217;re lucky to have you here.
Punk: I appreciate you.
HHH: Appreciate you.
You can watch it below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CM Punk and Triple H show respect to each other at SummerSlam 2024<a href="https://t.co/dqIq7EPZHA">pic.twitter.com/dqIq7EPZHA</a>
&mdash; WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrestleFeedApp/status/1904868835737399322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Emotional Exchange Between CM Punk & Triple H At SummerSlam 2024 Released (Video)

<img decoding="async" src="https://cdn4.whatculture.com/images//2024/09/24fa2a190db20d9731440a2062fd696f.png" alt="AEW's Saraya Would &quot;Absolutely&quot; Go Back To WWE (AEW News)" />
Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, has officially announced her departure from All Elite Wrestling. The news, confirmed on her upcoming podcast and through social media, signals the end of her AEW chapter, characterized by mutual respect and a look towards future endeavors.
<h3>A Mutual Parting: No Bad Blood</h3>
Saraya revealed her AEW exit on her new podcast, which is set to debut soon. &#8220;I&#8217;m here to tell you that me and AEW&#8217;s relationship has come to an end. I had an amazing time there. There&#8217;s no bad blood between us. I had such a magical time,&#8221; she stated in a snippet obtained by <a href="https://ew.com/saraya-formerly-wwe-paige-officially-departs-aew-podcast-exclusive-11703417">Entertainment Weekly</a>.
This sentiment was echoed in her subsequent tweet, where she emphasized the mutual nature of the departure and expressed gratitude for her time with the company. &#8220;It’s mutual! But I loved my time at AEW and I had such a blast with the girls there. It’ll hold a special place in my heart. Tony was a great, AEW was great. I feel so lucky to be apart of this family for a couple years. Here’s to 2025! Wtf am I gonna get myself into now.&#8221;
<h3>Lack of Recent Use: A Factor in the Decision</h3>
Saraya also addressed the issue of her limited use in AEW in recent months during an appearance on the Lightweights podcast. &#8220;Yeah, I feel like at this age and time, there isn’t really a spot for me right now. I feel like everybody’s got their own thing. I love wrestling, I will be back at work at some point. But right now, it’s good. They don’t need me. They don’t need me,&#8221; she explained.
This candid assessment suggests that Saraya felt her role in AEW had diminished, leading to a natural conclusion of her contract.
<h3>Saraya Teases Retirement</h3>
Adding another layer to her future, Saraya had recently teased a potential retirement from wrestling during an interview on The Takedown. 

<blockquote>&#8220;Absolutely. I feel like I do have stuff left in the tank, but I feel like I am coming to the end of my wrestling career, for right now. I feel like in the future, yeah, that would definitely be an opportunity. This year I really, really, really wanna focus on stuff outside of wrestling,&#8220;</blockquote>
This suggests that Saraya is looking to explore other avenues and potentially step away from the wrestling ring, at least for the time being.
<h3>A Look Ahead: Saraya&#8217;s Uncertain Future</h3>
Saraya&#8217;s departure from AEW leaves her future in professional wrestling uncertain. While she has expressed a desire to pursue other ventures, she has also left the door open for a potential return.
Her tweet, &#8220;Here’s to 2025! Wtf am I gonna get myself into now,&#8221; indicates a sense of anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. Whether that includes a return to wrestling or a complete departure remains to be seen.
Her time in AEW was a interesting chapter in her career, and many fans are interested in what she does next.
RELATED: <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/real-reason-behind-saraya-being-forced-to-hide-her-real-name/">Real Reason Behind Saraya Being Forced To Hide Her Real Name</a>

Saraya Announces That She Has Left AEW

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Alberto Del Rio, the controversial former WWE Champion, has once again found himself embroiled in a situation that has tarnished his reputation. This time, his actions at an AAA event in Tijuana have resulted in a 180-day suspension from the Tijuana Wrestling Commission, following a violent altercation with fans that spiraled out of control.
<h3>The Incident at Auditorio</h3>
According to reports from Rob Viper, the incident occurred following Del Rio&#8217;s match at the Auditorio. Frustration boiled over when Del Rio reportedly lost his temper at a member of the audience. Attempts to breach the guardrail proved unsuccessful initially, but Del Rio eventually found another point of entry. Once in the crowd, he reportedly threw a chair at an individual off-camera, prompting security to intervene.
<h3>Chaos Erupts</h3>
The situation quickly descended into chaos. A fan retaliated by throwing a chair back at Alberto Del Rio, striking him in the head. This sparked a full-blown brawl, with multiple objects being hurled between Del Rio and the crowd. Disturbingly, reports indicate that an elderly woman was struck by a chair during the melee and subsequently required hospitalization.
<blockquote>&#8220;The Tijuana commission suspended Alberto Del Rio for 180 days (~6 months) for his role in an incident on Friday at the Auditorio. One story going around is an old lady got hit by a flying chair at some point &amp; ended up in hospital,&#8221; Rob Viper reported.</blockquote>
<h3>Alberto Del Rio&#8217;s Suspension and Its Implications</h3>
The Tijuana Wrestling Commission&#8217;s decision to suspend Del Rio for six months underscores the severity of his actions. This incident has raised concerns about Del Rio&#8217;s conduct and professionalism, particularly given his history of controversial behavior.
The timing of the suspension also raises questions about its impact on AAA&#8217;s upcoming events. AAA has scheduled television tapings in Ensenada and Rosarito, both located in Baja California. While it&#8217;s unclear whether Del Rio&#8217;s suspension is limited to Tijuana or extends to these other locations, the incident has undoubtedly created a logistical and public relations challenge for the promotion.
<h3>Del Rio&#8217;s Troubled History</h3>
This latest incident <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/wwe/top-stories/famous-wwe-superstars-who-were-convicted-as-criminals/articleshow/112174876.cms">adds</a> to Alberto Del Rio&#8217;s already extensive list of <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/the-only-reason-why-you-still-have-a-job-is-because-i-never-exposed-you-alberto-del-rio-to-paige/">controversies</a>. His career has been marked by numerous altercations, legal issues, and accusations of <a href="https://wwfoldschool.com/sexual-abuse-charges-against-alberto-del-rio-reportedly-dropped-del-rios-sister-says-she-destroyed-her-brothers-life/">misconduct</a>. This pattern of behavior has consistently overshadowed his in-ring accomplishments, tarnishing his legacy.
The incident also highlights the volatile nature of live wrestling events, where the line between performer and audience can sometimes blur. While fan interaction is often a positive aspect of wrestling, incidents like this demonstrate the potential for conflicts to escalate rapidly.
<h3>The Aftermath and Future Uncertainty regarding Alberto Del Rio</h3>
The suspension raises questions about Del Rio&#8217;s future in professional wrestling. Whether he will take this time to reflect on his actions and make changes remains to be seen. The incident has undoubtedly damaged his reputation further, and it remains to be seen how he will address the situation.
For AAA, the incident presents a challenge in managing the fallout and ensuring the safety of future events. It also raises questions about their handling of talent and their responsibility to maintain a safe environment for both performers and fans.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of professionalism and self-control, particularly for public figures. Del Rio&#8217;s actions have not only harmed his own career but also put others at risk, highlighting the need for accountability and responsible behavior.

Original Plan For Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock At WrestleMania 19

The Rock Reveals What He Said To Stone Cold Steve Austin After Beating Him 22 Years Ago Today At WrestleMania 19

Possible Special Guest Appearance At WrestleMania 41

Saraya Explains Why She Wants To Return To WWE At WrestleMania 42

Emotional Exchange Between CM Punk & Triple H At SummerSlam 2024 Released (Video)

Saraya Announces That She Has Left AEW

Alberto Del Rio Suspended After Chaotic Fan Brawl At AAA Event