WWE Rumors: Latest Buzz on Stone Cold, Drew McIntyre, More Ahead of WrestleMania 40

Could "Stone Cold" Steve Austin roll into Philadelphia for WWE WrestleMania 40, drink some beer, and raise some hell?

Possibly.

The latest on the status of The Texas Rattlesnake ahead of The Showcase of the Immortals headlines this collection of wrestling rumors and innuendo, which does not stop at the former WWE champion.

Joining ol' Stone Cold and a potential WrestleMania appearance as the latest on Drew McIntyre and his WWE contract, as well as the first signs of a potential change in promo philosophies under the Triple H regime.

WWE in Talks with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin About a WrestleMania 40 Appearance

The Rock will main event Saturday's WrestleMania but he may not be the only Attitude Era icon to appear in Philadelphia for the biggest show of the year.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite reported that WWE officials have talked with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin about appearing at the show, though his role is unknown (h/t Cageside Seats).

The Texas Rattlesnake last appeared on the grand stage in 2022, when he came out of retirement after 19 years to defeat Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania Saturday. He celebrated the following night by dropping Austin Theory, Mr. McMahon, and Pat McAfee with Stone Cold Stunners to send the fans home happy.

With Cody Rhodes assembling Bloodline foes Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Jey Uso to combat the faction, it would make sense for him to reach out to Austin, who defeated The Rock in Philadelphia 25 years ago to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 15.

Austin countering any interference from Rock in Sunday's main event pitting Rhodes against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, then standing tall with The American Nightmare as a seal of approval for the new champion and face of the company would be an appropriate way to close the show, not unlike Mike Tyson once raised his arm in victory to let the world know it was Stone Cold's universe.

An appearance from Stone Cold elevates the show's importance even more than the card, spectacle, and prestige already do. It pops the crowd, creates social media buzz, and, if nothing else, adds to the celebration of 40 years of WrestleMania.

The Latest on Drew Mcintyre's WWE Contract

Drew McIntyre may be in one of the biggest matches on the WrestleMania 40 card but that does not mean he has re-signed with WWE.

Johnson reported that, while all sides expect the company and The Scottish Warrior to strike a deal, nothing has been signed (h/t Cageside Seats).

It is almost astonishing that McIntyre has gotten this far, just over one week from challenging Seth "Freakin" Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship on the biggest show of the year and in one of the most anticipated bouts of the event, and he still has not put pen to paper on a new contract with the company.

The former WWE champion has been one of the bright spots on this road to WrestleMania, thanks to expert trolling across both social media and the company's flagship show, Raw. That some believe he is justified and that everything he says is legitimate, only helps to enhance his heel persona.

McIntyre is expected to win the title in Philadelphia, getting his moment in the spotlight in front of a live audience of fans. Still, confidence in such a pick has to diminish every day because he has not yet locked in his future with the company.

Perhaps the deal is already signed and news has not leaked. It would seem rather unlike WWE to allow a Superstar who is not under contract to be in such a prominent position, especially since they could conceivably take their star power and go elsewhere.

Regardless, the uncertainty has helped add another layer to the intrigue surrounding McIntyre, his WrestleMania title match, and his future with the company.

Update on Punk, McIntyre, and Seth Rollins Promo

Could there be more organic promos in WWE sooner rather than later?

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that the promo involving McIntyre, Rollins, and CM Punk Monday night on Raw was given a "general outline" and that the three Superstars involved took it from there.

That would suggest a return to form for the company after years of rigidly scripted promos took the life and personality away.

At the height of the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras, Superstars were given bullet points to hit in their promos and allowed to go out and deliver them in their own voice. The rise of the PG Era and the over-reliance on writers made for a watered-down, everyone-sounds-the-same, overly scripted promo style.

Monday night, Rollins, McIntyre, and Punk delivered a segment of television that captivated fans, showed off the personalities of the men involved, and did more to elevate the excitement for and anticipation surrounding the world heavyweight title match at WrestleMania.

While it is likely that there will still be scripting going on, hopefully, this is the start of a new initiative to let wrestlers find their own voice and connect with the audience.

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