As for how a potential Austin appearance would’ve gone over, WWE Hall of Famer and former producer D-Von Dudley stated on “Gabby AF” that Austin taking out The Rock to help Rhodes win would’ve been an even bigger moment than how it played out, even though Dudley admitted he was happy to see Undertaker. His reasoning was the long-time feud between Rock and Austin during The Attitude Era, and hints of unfinished business between the two following their final match at WrestleMania 19 back in 2003.

Advertisement

“The last thing we saw was Austin down on his back, Rock sitting up, whispering something to him, talking to him, this and that,” D-Von said. “[He] pushed Earl Hebner out of the way because he only wanted him and Austin to hear what was going on and what he saying to him. And it was like that little bit right there, showed me there could’ve been a possible continuation, where the lights go out, there’s Austin. Austin comes in, now he puts The Rock down, he takes him out. 

“But again, me being a producer in WWE, sometimes ideas like that, even though we say that would’ve been great, we don’t know what it would’ve taken to have Austin be there. And maybe Austin couldn’t make it, maybe he had other obligations somewhere else, I don’t know. But to me, that would’ve been phenomenal…I cheered just as hard [when The Undertaker came out]. I was still just as happy.”

Advertisement