Report: Backstage News On Steve Austin's Potential WWE WrestleMania Return

Almost 20 years after his last match, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin could be set for a sensational return to the ring.

According to a report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Austin vs. Kevin Owens has been discussed for WrestleMania 38, with the pay-per-view set to take place in Austin's home state of Texas. Fightful Select noted WWE had made a "significant overture" to bring The Texas Rattlesnake out of retirement.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider has since noted WWE reached out to Austin in late December/early January about wrestling at WrestleMania 38 to give "Stone Cold" a big sendoff in front of a large crowd. WWE also believe the 57-year-old having a match at the pay-per-view would boost ticket sales for the event from AT&T Stadium.

As of February 14, Austin had not committed to returning to the ring at WrestleMania 38 and a source told PWInsider in January the pitch was a "hail mary idea." WWE does plan to have Austin involved at The Show Of Shows in some capacity, though.

Austin hasn't wrestled in WWE since his retirement match against The Rock at WrestleMania 19 on March 30, 2003. When asked about a potential return to the ring in 2020, the former WWE Champion noted he was "done."