Dream-Booking a Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar Match at WrestleMania 32

Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar, a match fans assumed would be limited to the dream world, may end up being WrestleMania 32's marquee attraction.

Every WrestleMania season, Austin is forced to field a succession of questions about whether he will return to the ring. Each time, he has declined to make a comeback. Each time, fans are forced to pine for Stone Cold's special brand of ass-kicking.

Paul Heyman was the latest to fire a question Austin's way about wrestling again. On a podcast interview on the WWE Network, he proposed that The Texas Rattlesnake clash with his client, Lesnar.

Austin didn't shake off the inquiry this time. He told him that he would take down The Beast Incarnate.

That was enough to get the Internet abuzz. That was enough to have images of how a Lesnar vs. Austin match would play out swirling in the collective mind of the WWE fanbase.

If both sides are interested and WWE goes in that direction, the path to that bout is clear. Lean on their past animosity, and portray Austin as a valiant gunslinger standing up to an outlaw. Let Heyman be the match's pitchman. Enjoy the fireworks.

The Chase for the Championship

Long before WrestleMania, Lesnar will be focused on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Seth Rollins stole that title from him at that very event this year. The powerhouse will be hungry to avenge that loss.

Credit: WWE.com

At SummerSlam, Lesnar and Rollins collide. Night of Champions hosts the rematch.

In both contests, Lesnar is dominant. He flings Rollins around the ring. He punishes him with brute force, wearing him out with German suplexes.

Somehow, though, Rollins escapes each time. He survives by count-out or time-limit draw the first time. A crooked referee calls for the bell in the second bout, claiming that Lesnar tapped out. 

The Authority then proceeds to deny Lesnar another title shot. Clearly, the group is afraid of him. Triple H and Company know they can't control him and so do everything they can to deny him an opportunity at the top championship.

The group much prefers a puppet like Rollins on top.

The Authority fails, however, to keep Lesnar from entering the Royal Rumble. He promises to win, to make sure that the championship is his again soon.

A Beast Enraged

Lesnar enters the Royal Rumble match and immediately begins to make an impact. He throws Jimmy Uso over the top rope. He sends Neville into the guardrail with an F5.

The other competitors know they have no chance with Lesnar around. A pack of eight wrestlers converge on him, ganging up on him and eliminating him from the match. That sends Lesnar into a red-faced rage.

Credit: WWE.com

He climbs back in between the ropes and knocks all of the Rumble entrants in the ring flat on their backs. He walks away, leaving a pile of still bodies behind him.

The next night, he storms out as Raw opens. Screaming, he demands a shot against the champion. "I am going to end him at WrestleMania," Lesnar says.

He calls out the world champ and the man who won the Rumble, but instead of either man coming down the ramp, the sound of glass breaking echoes through the arena. Austin's music hits, and he steps up to Lesnar.

Stone Cold says that he wants to finish what they started years ago.

To him, Lesnar is the last box to check on his list, the one man he never toppled. Austin tells him, "I left WWE instead of facing you and that was a mistake. It allowed you to take over. Now you think you can't be stopped, but I can damn sure stop you."

Lesnar refuses the challenge. He slips out of the ring.

Heyman later explains that Lesnar wants nothing to do with Austin because he's too old, too fragile and not worth his time. The title is on his mind, not messing with nostalgia acts.

Attacks Ensue

The Royal Rumble winner wins a match on Raw a week later. The celebration ends quickly, though. Lesnar charges in and pummels him.

The Beast Incarnate looks to simply eliminate the No. 1 contender and forces his way into the title match at WrestleMania. Lesnar sends him through a table and lifts him up, looking to inflict more damage.

That's when Austin rushes in, pops the big man with right hands before delivering a stunner.

Austin stands over Lesnar and taunts him. He helps the Rumble winner to the back as Lesnar slowly gets to his feet. 

Heyman soon arranges a backstage meeting. He says his client is now willing to discuss a potential WrestleMania showdown. 

Austin sits in a chair opposite Heyman. "Where's Lesnar?" he asks.

The manager explains that Lesnar is late. They talk about the match for a short while before Heyman hurriedly handcuffs Austin's wrist to a pole.  

Heyman says, "I'm sorry that this had to happen. I'm sorry that this is how things end for you." 

As Heyman slips out of the scene, in slides Lesnar, steel chair in hand. He throttles Austin until he is face down on the floor, unmoving.

The feud becomes personal thanks to this moment. Austin seeks revenge. Lesnar is the irked bear, now distracted from his title pursuits. 

The Climax Arrives

Leading up to the collision, Heyman continually warns Austin not to show up for the fight. "Do not climb out of that hospital bed, Austin. Do not risk everything for such a hopeless cause," he says.

For the most part, it's Heyman and vignettes that do the hyping. Austin does get one chance to speak his mind, though. He gives an impassioned speech about all the men he's taken down throughout his career, about having one more to add to the list.

He promises to whip Lesnar like he's never been whipped before. 

At WrestleMania, the two titans stare each other down for a long while in the ring. After the opening bell, Austin does as he promised. He delivers an early flurry that flusters Lesnar.

It doesn't last. Lesnar soon goes on a rampage. He dominates, grinding his knee into Austin's neck, hurling him into the guardrail. 

Austin has a few comeback attempts. He puts together a handful of moves only to succumb to a hammering clothesline. He looks like he's on a roll for a moment or two only to take a trip to Suplex City.

Credit: WWE.com

A hurt, drained Austin manages to hit Lesnar with a stunner, but the big man rolls out of the ring.

On the floor, The Beast Incarnate recovers and the two men brawl all around the ring. Lesnar sends Austin into the steel steps and laces him with hard right hands.

Even when Austin can barely stand, he remains defiant. He gets into Lesnar's face and talks trash. Lesnar responds with an F5.

The referee then counting to three, making Austin's farewell a non-triumphant one, is not the happy ending some are looking for. Austin instead goes down, furthering Lesnar's powerful aura. The Beast can then charge ahead with a most impressive notch on his belt.

Watching him get rocked, watching Austin fire away until the very end, is the more compelling story than him coming back and winning the day.