Stone Cold vs. Brock Lesnar—Not Roman Reigns—is the WrestleMania 39 Match We Need

It feels like longstanding requests of fans have received an emphasis in the new-feeling WWE headed up by Triple H directing creative.

So, WrestleMania 39 sure would be a sweet spot for making another happen—by giving fans "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar.

That's a fun idea by itself, something fans have dreamed about for years. Well-versed WWE lore experts also understand The Beast Incarnate was slated to work with Austin in 2002 before The Texas Rattlesnake walked out on the company.

Apparently, it's not just an idea fans have, either. Things got interesting on this front around Raw XXX on Monday when Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats) WWE had approached Austin about a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.

Not long after, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported (h/t Sean Rueter of Cageside Seats) that the offer was actually for a match against Lesnar.

As with anything, the reality is probably somewhere in the middle and/or both names were floated in talks. WWE would undoubtedly love to have Austin back for 'Mania after his superb two-night performance last year during his big comeback feud against Kevin Owens.

Now, though, it's dream-match time, not time to ham-fist Stone Cold into the top title scene for no good reason.

Fans never got Austin-Lesnar, and it's a case of better late than never here. Both guys could still put on a fun, heavy-hitting slugfest not unlike the shockingly good early renditions of Lesnar-Goldberg. They work styles that would mesh well within the structure of, say, a 10-minute literal fight and the storytelling handles itself.

Perhaps more interesting than the how and why of a feud and execution of a match is its timing. WWE needs fun sideshows like this for The Show of Shows.

The company's top two men's titles remain locked in a gripping tale involving Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. Midcard belts have rising stars like Gunther attached to them. Other attractions like The Rock, John Cena and Logan Paul are question marks for various reasons.

Austin-Lesnar? That's the type of cross-generational matchup that will intrigue even the most lapsed of fans. As far as luring in viewers from well beyond the wrestling landscape, it just doesn't get much bigger.

Letting Stone Cold come back a little ways out from 'Mania itself to kick off a feud with Lesnar is just shrewd booking. And letting The Beast settle his beef with Bobby Lashley (another dream match that has already been done once) at Elimination Chamber next month instead of dragging it out all the way until April 1-2 is just properly paced booking at this point.

It's worth mentioning Austin taking on Reigns just doesn't make sense. He's got no affiliation with The Tribal Chief, his family or the GOAT-making end of a title run, and it might turn fans away from the whole thing.

Just imagine how awkward it would be for the veteran, of all people at 58 years old, to win the men's Royal Rumble match on Saturday. It's worth wondering whether the crowd would really be that hot for the moment or the idea of Austin challenging for the unified titles.

That's not to say there aren't other interesting ways to go.

Austin-Owens worked much better than expected. Getting him in the ring with Cena, or putting over a young guy like Austin Theory could make sense.

One has to think KO was the pick because he's such a safe in-ring worker and would protect the veteran, a role that a criminally underrated in-ring worker (in terms of safety and selling) such as Lesnar could carry well. It's a big reason why another dream match—Austin and Goldberg—is not even considered.

It probably doesn't hurt to double down on that point about The Rock potentially not being available to work The Show of Shows, either.

This is a WrestleMania in Inglewood, California. The tagline is "WrestleMania Goes Hollywood." It's supposed to be an all-star event. If The Great One isn't there, it needs Austin in a very high-profile spot. And if he is, it only fuels the big-event feel.

While some could argue a match with this much hype is prone to wind up a disappointment, that's selling fans short. It's 2023, and they see what Lesnar can do in the ring. They got the whole Austin experience last year against Owens. The hype would be big, but not so out of control that what the two Superstars can do wouldn't entertain.

With so many "impossible" things happening in pro wrestling lately and all of the dream fulfillment seemingly occurring on a monthly basis, Austin-Lesnar would just be a historic continuation of the trend.

That doesn't mean expect it, but don't count it out, either. This is one of those obvious-feeling matchups pro wrestling might have a shot at just one last time.

Austin tangling with Lesnar, not interfering with Reigns' storyline, would make for an unforgettable path to WrestleMania, never mind their final and only confrontation.