Stone Cold Steve Austin Talks 1 More WWE Match: 'I Have Nothing to Prove to Anyone'
May 20, 2024
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Actor and WWE personality "Stone Cold" Steve Austin speaks at Silicon Valley Comic Con at the San Jose Convention Center on August 17, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bill Watters/Getty Images)
Don't expect to see Stone Cold Steve Austin compete in a wrestling ring again.
"I walked away. I'm happy with what I did," he said in reference to his WrestleMania 38 match with Kevin Owens in an episode of A&E's Biography series (via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News). "There are people who have done more and lasted more, but I've had a good career and I'm happy with it. I have nothing to prove to anyone."
Austin had been inactive for 19 years before he and Owens capped off the first night of WrestleMania in 2022 in a No Holds Barred match.
It was an ideal setting for the Texas Rattlesnake to have a final send-off. He was on the biggest show of the year and in his home state.
In addition, the way the match was laid out helped to cover for the fact he was 57 and clearly limited in what he could do. Older fans nostalgic for days gone by and newer fans unfamiliar with his work both got to see an idealized version of Austin and what made him such a legend.
The Hall of Famer didn't have the same kind of longevity compared to others from his era and the stars from younger generations. Still, he's one of the biggest names in WWE history with a legacy that's unmatched by all but a select few.
Between that and leaving on a relative high against Owens, it's easy to see why Austin is happy to stay retired for good this time.
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WWE Rumors on Stone Cold & Undertaker, The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins & Becky
Apr 12, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Stone Cold Steve Austin is seen on February 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by JMA/Star Max/GC Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Stone Cold Reportedly Originally Planned for WrestleMania 40 Main Event Involvement
Several legends played a role in the WrestleMania 40 main event between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, but one star who was notably absent was reportedly planned to be part of the bout originally.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestleTalk), "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was "earmarked" for the match, but he ultimately wasn't used since the two sides could not come to terms on a financial agreement.
That led to The Undertaker replacing Austin, which still received a huge pop from the live crowd in Philadelphia.
As things broke down during the undisputed WWE Universal Championship match, John Cena showed up to neutralize Solo Sikoa. The Rock then made his way to the ring and took out Cena with a Rock Bottom.
At that point, the lights went out, The Undertaker's gong hit and The Deadman was in the ring standing behind The Rock when the lights came back on.
The Undertaker laid out The Rock with a chokeslam, and it wasn't long before Rhodes hit Reigns with three Cross Rhodes to pin him and end his historic world title run of over 1,300 days.
Given that Austin and The Rock engaged in one of the biggest rivalries in pro wrestling history and faced each other three times at WrestleMania, there is little doubt that The Texas Rattlesnake would have been the perfect choice to take out The Rock.
However, Taker was still a sensible option since Reigns was one of only two people to ever beat him at WrestleMania.
There could potentially be other opportunities for Austin to get involved since it seems as though The Rock is around for the long haul now that he is a member of TKO's board of directors, but it is possible that such a perfect scenario will never present itself again.
The Rock vs. Rhodes Possibly In the Works for WrestleMania 41 Main Event
The Rock and Cody Rhodes laid the groundwork on Monday night's episode of Raw for a potential future match between them and it reportedly could occur on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
According to Meltzer (h/t WrestlePurists), there is no concrete plan for when The Rock will have his next match, and although he could wrestle later this year, discussions have already started regarding him competing at WrestleMania 41 next year.
The Rock reportedly wanted to return to face Reigns originally, but Meltzer noted that he now favors the idea of facing Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 41.
During the build toward WrestleMania 40, The Rock made his return to WWE, turned heel and aligned himself with Reigns and The Bloodline.
That led to him wrestling in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, as he and Reigns beat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag team match, meaning the Night 2 main event would be contested under Bloodline Rules.
The Rock tried to help Reigns beat Cody on Night 2, but several Superstars and legends got involved, and Rhodes managed to defeat Reigns and finish his story by becoming world champion.
On Raw the next night, The Rock interrupted Rhodes' promo and proclaimed that he would be coming for Cody in the future regardless of whether he was still champion.
The Rock also handed Rhodes something, but the contents were kept a mystery from the WWE Universe.
It is fair to wonder what Reigns' role will be at next year's WrestleMania if The Rock vs. Rhodes happens, so perhaps the match could happen before then to set up the Reigns vs. The Rock dream match that was previously teased for WrestleMania 40.
Rollins, Lynch Reportedly Taking Time Off from WWE
Following their losses at WrestleMania 40, the husband-and-wife duo of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch are taking some time away from WWE, per Meltzer (h/t WrestlePurists).
Lynch opened Night 1 of WrestleMania in a Women's World Championship match against Rhea Ripley, but Rhea was victorious and extended her title reign of over one year.
Rollins teamed with Rhodes in a losing effort against Reigns and The Rock in the main event of Night 1, and he then opened Night 2 by putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre largely dominated the match by targeting Rollins' injured knee, and he beat The Visionary to win the world title.
However, CM Punk attacked McIntyre after the match, which allowed Damian Priest to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and beat McIntyre for the championship.
Rollins and Lynch have a daughter together, and while they often travel with her when they are on the road for WWE, they will now have the opportunity to spend some time with her at home.
Taking some time off could also allow Rollins and Lynch to make a decision on their next step in wrestling.
Per Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingNews.co), Rollins and Lynch are both scheduled to have their WWE contracts expire in June.
Given their standing in WWE as top stars, it is difficult to envision Rollins and Lynch doing anything other than re-signing, but taking themselves out of the grind for a bit could give them a different perspective.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
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WWE Rumors on Stone Cold, John Cena, Undertaker and The Rock; McIntyre Rips Rollins
Mar 22, 2024
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 18: Former WWE Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin shooting a Wndy's Commerical at PC&E Studio on September 18, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Wendy's)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
WWE Reportedly Making WrestleMania Plans for Stone Cold, Cena, Undertaker
WWE is reportedly attempting to have three of the biggest legends in company history involved with WrestleMania 40 in some capacity.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), WWE is looking to integrate "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, John Cena and The Undertaker into the Showcase of the Immortals.
Meltzer noted that unless it is a "well-guarded secret," there isn't yet any creative "locked in" for Austin or Cena at WrestleMania.
Cena's involvement will reportedly depend heavily on his acting schedule, while anything Austin or Taker do will come down to their "willingness."
While Cena is still technically an active wrestler, he is only a part-timer at this juncture of his career due to the commitments that come along with his highly successful Hollywood acting career.
Cena hung around for a couple of months this past fall and had a handful of matches, plus he competed at last year's WrestleMania, losing to Austin Theory.
Austin has been retired from in-ring competition for the past 21 years with the exception of two years ago when he shocked the WWE Universe by temporarily coming out of retirement to face Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 38.
That marked The Texas Rattlesnake's first match since WrestleMania 19, and his performance was excellent given how long he had been out of the game, prompting fans to openly hope for at least one more match out of Stone Cold.
The Undertaker last competed at WrestleMania 36 when he beat AJ Styles in the iconic Boneyard Match.
Taker has made it clear on several occasions that he has no intention of wrestling again and is officially retired, so it seems highly unlikely that he will do anything resembling a match at WrestleMania 40.
WWE has a long history of showcasing legends well on the Grandest Stage of Them All, and fans will almost certainly be thrilled to see Austin, Cena and The Undertaker in Philadelphia regardless of what they do.
Reported Belief in WWE That 'Double Standard' Exists with The Rock
Some in WWE reportedly believe that The Rock's return to the company as an on-screen character and a member of the TKO board of directors has also led to the return of some bad habits within the company.
According to Meltzer (h/t Mukherjee), a source noted that some in WWE feel that "double standards" have returned now that The Rock is in the fold.
The source indicated that there was a feeling Vince McMahon had double standards and favored his handpicked Superstars when he was in charge in the past, and while that went away after he was removed from WWE, there is now a similar feeling with The Rock playing a significant role on camera and behind the scenes.
The latest report on The Rock comes on the heels of a report last week from Aaron Varble of SEScoops regarding The Rock being given special privileges over other performers.
Varble noted that WWE executives Nick Khan, Triple H and Dan Ventrelle recently sent out a memo to WWE talent, reminding them to use PG language on television and social media.
However, The Rock has been cutting profanity-laced promos on social media as of late, and there is reportedly some belief within WWE that he is benefiting from a double standard.
With that said, Cody Rhodes was permitted to curse in the promo he cut Monday night on Raw, so it is possible WWE is softening its stance in special cases.
McMahon was the main person in charge of WWE from the early 1980s until the decision was made last year to sell the company to Endeavor Group Holdings and merge with UFC.
Still, McMahon was in a significant position of power after the merger, however, he resigned in January after a lawsuit was filed against him and WWE by a former employee who alleged they were the victim of sexual assault and misconduct at the hands of McMahon and others.
McMahon's departure seemingly put Khan and Triple H firmly in control of WWE, but with The Rock now holding a major position, it is possible that the balance of power is shifting.
McIntyre Takes Shots a Rollins Ahead of WrestleMania Match
Prior to his World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, Drew McIntyre made his feelings about Rollins known this week.
During an appearance on The Ringer's The Masked Man Show (h/t Mukherjee), McIntyre ripped his WrestleMania opponent, claiming that The Visionary is not a true locker-room leader in WWE:
"You get the moment, winning the title, your responsibility is to lift up the title. I don't hate Seth Rollins, he's not CM Punk, I just don't like the way he goes about things and his selfish attitude. He doesn't see it. He thinks he's a leader, but he's not, he's about himself. A true leader is about the roster and about democracy. And how can you lead the roster and the locker room if you're never in it and you're on your tour bus? You don't have your finger on the pulse."
Rollins and McIntyre have been at odds for months, and their rivalry was elevated even more when McIntyre won the men's Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber premium live event to earn a title bout against Rollins at WrestleMania.
McIntyre has not been world champion since prior to WrestleMania 37, and he has never won a world title in front of fans in WWE, as his two WWE Championship wins came during the COVID-19 pandemic when no fans were in attendance.
The Scottish Warrior has made it his stated goal to have his crowning achievement in front of the WWE Universe, and he has a golden opportunity to make it happen at WrestleMania 40.
In recent months, McIntyre has become the top heel on Raw and arguably the biggest "hater" in WWE. On top of taking shots at Rollins, McIntyre reveled in CM Punk suffering a torn triceps and being unable to compete at WrestleMania.
Punk's loss was likely McIntyre's gain, as all signs pointed toward a Rollins vs. Punk match until Punk got injured.
If McIntyre can beat Rollins for the title at WrestleMania, it could potentially set the stage for a McIntyre vs. Punk match for the World Heavyweight Championship down the line when Punk is able to return.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Hypes '3:16 Day' as WWE Fans Celebrate Iconic Legend
Mar 16, 2024
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Actor and WWE personality "Stone Cold" Steve Austin speaks at Silicon Valley Comic Con at the San Jose Convention Center on August 17, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bill Watters/Getty Images)
Pro wrestling fans celebrated WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on Saturday in observance of what has become something of an annual holiday in the wrestling community.
Saturday is March 16, meaning it is "3:16 Day," which references the iconic Austin 3:16 promo that Stone Cold cut at King of the Ring 1996. That promo helped launch Austin into superstardom and was the start of him becoming one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time.
The Texas Rattlesnake took to X on Saturday to acknowledge 3:16 Day, using one of his signature catchphrases:
After enjoying success in WCW as a midcard act under the name "Stunning" Steve Austin, Stone Cold had a brief run in ECW, and then signed with WWE in 1995.
There initially wasn't much hope for him becoming a breakout star, as he was saddled with a stinker of a gimmick in The Ringmaster, but Austin's big personality eventually took over, and the fans got behind him.
On the heels of winning King of the Ring 1996, Austin's career exploded, as he went on to win the 1997, 1998 and 2001 Royal Rumbles, and he competed in the main event of WrestleMania 14, 15 and 17 as well.
Austin beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14 to become WWE champion for the first time, but he was already a made man before that thanks to his interactions with legendary boxer Mike Tyson, who was a special enforcer for the WrestleMania 14 match.
The Bionic Redneck went on to have memorable rivalries with many of the top stars of the time, including The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, Kane and Mankind.
Due to a number of significant injuries, including ones to his neck, Austin retired from in-ring competition after losing to The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003.
However, 19 years later, Stone Cold returned to the ring at WrestleMania 38, beating Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match in the main event of Night 1.
Austin was as popular as ever with the WWE Universe, and he proved that he could still get it done in the ring.
It is unclear if there is one more match in the 59-year-old's future, but regardless, 3:16 Day is an annual reminder of how beloved he is by wrestling fans.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
John Cena Talks Pro Wrestling Mt. Rushmore, Wanting MJF in WWE; Heyman WWE HOF Rumors
Mar 5, 2024
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: John Cena attends the "Ricky Stanicky" red carpet screening on February 21, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Cena Chooses His GOATs of Professional Wrestling
John Cena is one of the most popular and recognizable figures in the history of professional wrestling, but the 16-time world champion did not put himself in the conversation as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
In an interview with wrestling reporter Chris Van Vliet, Cena provided his de facto Mt. Rushmore of WWE by giving four names he believes stand above the rest in the history of the company.
Cena's choices were Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock and current undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns.
While nearly every wrestler or fan is likely to have a different Mt. Rushmore when asked, it is difficult to argue with Cena's choices based on the impact all four of them have had on the wrestling business.
It can be argued that Cena's picks presided over the hottest periods in wrestling history with Hogan headlining the Golden Era from the mid-1980s into the early-1990s, Austin and The Rock leading the Attitude Era in the late-1990s and early-2000s, and Reigns being the face of the current era.
Cena was especially complimentary of his contemporary in Reigns, saying: "Roman has done a fantastic job of taking the business to heights its never been to before."
Although wrestling may not be as popular now as it was during the Golden Era or Attitude Era, WWE is more profitable than ever due to its multiple billion-dollar television deals and its recent merger with UFC.
Reigns has essentially taken the torch from Cena and helped make wrestling more popular than it has been in years thanks to his Tribal Chief character and world title reign of well over three years.
Cena himself belongs in the GOAT conversation due to his longevity at the top in WWE, holding the position of top dog for roughly 15 years.
Arguments can also be made for many other accomplished Superstars, including The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Bruno Sammartino, Kurt Angle and a host of others.
Cena gave his objective opinion on the matter, and when taking drawing power into consideration, it is tough to go against his picks.
Cena Says He Talked to MJF About Joining WWE
During his appearance on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Cena also discussed meeting AEW star MJF at a movie premiere for The Iron Claw last year.
While speaking with Van Vliet (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Cena showered praise on the former AEW world champion, lauding his professionalism and noting that he told MJF he was a "class act."
Cena also divulged that he talked to MJF about possibly signing with WWE in the future, saying:
"Then we got back and I was able to talk to him more and I kind of was like, 'Maybe we can get you to play for the right team one day', and all that. There's no denying the fact that he's doing good work and I don't think that I should ignore that. Honestly, I was floored by his professionalism."
The 27-year-old MJF was an original member of the AEW roster dating back to 2019, and he has developed into one of the biggest stars in wrestling since then.
MJF was initially a despicable heel who consistently garnered a ton of heat from the crowd, but like most good heels, fans eventually came to love him and turned him into a babyface.
He is the longest-reigning world champion in AEW history at 406 days, but MJF has not been seen on AEW programming since late December when he dropped the title to Samoa Joe at Worlds End.
For quite some time, MJF teased that his AEW contract was up at the end of 2023, and he often talked about creating a bidding war between AEW and WWE.
It isn't publicly known for certain what MJF's current contractual status is, although the long-held belief is that he re-signed with AEW at some point due to how heavily he was pushed as the face of the company.
Even if that is the case, there will be opportunities for MJF to potentially jump ship to WWE in the future since he is young and has many great years ahead of him.
Given that Cena is one of the all-time greats and doesn't often speak about wrestlers from others promotions, the fact that he thinks so highly of MJF suggests that WWE may see something special in him as well.
Heyman Reportedly Turned Down WWE HOF Induction in Past
WWE announced Paul Heyman as the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2024 on Monday, but it reportedly wasn't the first time WWE attempted to honor "The Wiseman."
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Mukherjee), Heyman turned down previous offers to get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame due to his belief that he should be inducted until after his retirement.
However, Meltzer noted that multiple factors may have contributed to Heyman changing his mind and agreeing to go in this year.
Among them is that this year's WWE Hall of Fame class is reportedly the first one to be chosen by head of creative Triple H, as he is now fully in charge of such decisions following the departure of Vince McMahon from the company.
Also, Heyman is set to get inducted into the Hall of Fame in Philadelphia, which was the home base of his beloved ECW promotion.
In recent years, WWE has not shied away from putting active performers in the Hall of Fame, as Rey Mysterio was inducted in 2023 despite the fact that he is still wrestling.
Heyman is not a wrestler, but he remains on top of his game as a manager or advocate for Roman Reigns and the entire Bloodline.
Many consider Heyman to be one of the greatest managers and talkers in the history of the business thanks to his work in WWE, WCW and ECW.
He also created a wrestling company that is still talked about and celebrated to this day in ECW, so there is no question that he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.
A Hall of Fame induction could prove beneficial from an on-screen perspective as well since it will give Heyman and The Bloodline yet another thing to brag about.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
The Rock Blasts Cody Rhodes; Stone Cold Praises CM Punk; WWE Rumors on Drew McIntyre
Feb 14, 2024
LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 08: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Cody Rhodes face-off on stage during the WWE Wrestlemania XL Kickoff on February 08, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PXimages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
The Rock Warns Cody Rhodes
Ahead of his scheduled appearance on Friday's episode of SmackDown, The Rock seemed to fire a warning shot of sorts in the direction of Cody Rhodes on Tuesday night.
In an Instagram post, The Great One shared a video of himself and undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns walking backstage after the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference in Las Vegas and included the following caption:
"Hear the rumble, hear the rumble. Run for dem life, when we step into the jungle. You f--ked around and found out quick, didn't you boy? You, your little friends and all your crybabies have no idea what's coming. The world's on notice. People's Champ + Tribal Chief."
The Rock posted this video of him and Roman walking out with the song killers in the jungle he just put the world on notice 👀 pic.twitter.com/hzQKoBNF8Q
Two weeks ago, The Rock made a surprise appearance on SmackDown and seemingly stepped up to Reigns after Rhodes announced he would not be facing The Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 40 despite winning the men's Royal Rumble match for a second consecutive year.
At the WrestleMania Kickoff media event the following week, Reigns chose The Rock as his opponent at The Show of Shows, but Rhodes stormed out and changed his mind by picking Reigns as his 'Mania opponent.
Reigns took some shots at Rhodes' family, and The American Nightmare struck back, which prompted The Rock to slap Rhodes across the face.
A furious Rock confronted WWE head of creative Triple H backstage, telling him to "fix" the situation.
On last week's SmackDown, The Game was defiant and made it clear that Reigns vs. Rhodes would be the match at WrestleMania 40 despite The Rock's apparent desire to be The Tribal Chief's opponent instead.
Despite the initial Rock vs. Reigns tease, the cousins now appear to be on the same page and working together, meaning there could be some major fireworks this week on SmackDown, especially if Rhodes is involved.
Stone Cold Open to Potential Match vs. Punk
Two years after making his in-ring return, WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin isn't ruling out another match, and he seems intrigued by at least one potential opponent.
Speaking to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, he was asked about CM Punk, and he both spoke positively about him and left the door open for a possible match in the future: "I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me—so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner. I consider him a great friend, a great guy, and a great wrestler who's had a great career. We'll see."
Austin retired after losing to The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003 due to injuries, and he remained retired for nearly 20 years before making his in-ring return at WrestleMania 38.
At that event in Arlington, Texas, The Texas Rattlesnake faced Kevin Owens in the main event of Night 1 in a No Holds Barred match. Austin did more than anyone could have expected in the match, and he came away victorious.
While the 59-year-old doesn't seem to necessarily be pushing for another match, he didn't shoot down the idea of wrestling again when asked about it by Raimondi, saying:
"I said I'd never get in a ring again unless all the stars aligned. And for some reason, somehow, they all did. And at the age of 57, I headlined the first night of WrestleMania. I never thought I'd do that. If you'd have told me that when I retired in [2003], I'd have said, 'You're crazy.' So I'm not gonna sit here and say no to anything, because you never say never in this crazy business of sports entertainment."
Austin vs. Punk has long been viewed as a dream match, and it was an encounter that was teased a time or two during The Best in the World's first stint with WWE.
It never happened, but now that Punk is back with the company, the match is again a possibility, provided WWE can convince Austin to lace up his boots one more time.
Punk is currently out of action with a torn triceps, but Punk vs. Austin is a WrestleMania match through and through, so perhaps there is at least some chance of them clashing next year at WrestleMania 41.
McIntyre Reportedly May Have Re-Signed with WWE
Recently released promotional material suggests WWE may have come to terms on a new contract with Drew McIntyre, or at least gotten him to agree to a short-term extension.
According to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson, the Scot is being advertised for a WWE event in Italy in May despite the fact that his deal had been believed to be expiring shortly after WrestleMania 40 in April.
McIntyre's contract has been reported on regularly over the past year, and there has yet to be a definitive report that he has re-signed despite the fact that his deal is due to expire soon.
Advertising The Scottish Warrior beyond April means he could have quietly signed a new deal with WWE and is set to remain with the company for the long haul, but it is also possible he signed a short extension about one month or so in length, which isn't an uncommon occurrence in pro wrestling if both sides want to finish a storyline.
Over the past several weeks, McIntyre has been a hugely important figure on WWE programming, oftentimes interacting with top Raw stars such as Rhodes, Punk and world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.
The 38-year-old has been portrayed as the top heel on the red brand, even attacking Punk after he announced his triceps injury.
Punk vowed to come after McIntyre once he returns, and it seems unlikely WWE would have had him say that if the Scot wasn't going to be with the company next summer.
McIntyre is also favored to win the men's Elimination Chamber match on Feb. 24 and challenge Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, and it's difficult to envision WWE putting him in such a big spot if a new contract isn't in place.
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Cody Rhodes will main event WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but that was not the plan entering last…
