Kevin Owens has said it meant a great deal to him when ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin gave him permission to use the stunner on WWE TV.
At WrestleMania, Owens and Austin will have a confrontation in a segment that is expected the headline Night One on April 2.
Speaking with ESPN to promote “The Most Stupendous Two-Night WrestleMania In History,” Owens recalled getting permission from the Rattlesnake:
“It’s really unreal to find myself in this position, but what’s funny is, I got to tell you. When I first asked him if I could use the Stunner as the finishing move and he gave me a blessing, it meant a lot to me, you know, personally and professionally from, coming from him. Because like you said, I looked up to him for the longest time. But I did figure that if at some point he was to come back, the logic would be that he’d be involved with the guy who’s doing the Stunner, you know?
“So I think I played the long game here a little bit and it worked out in my favor. But honestly, man, you called yourself the biggest Stone Cold fan, I’ve got to tell you, I think I would rival, I think I would throw my name in the hat as far as that goes because I was a hardcore Stone Cold fan as soon as he showed up in WWE. So, I think that that’s what makes me ready to confront him at WrestleMania and have whatever happens there, happens. You know, I know him better than any other wrestler I’ve ever known because I was such a fan of his for so long. So to say I’m pumped is an understatement. Trust me.”
If Owens and Austin headline WrestleMania: Saturday, it will be the first time WWE’s headline event ends with a segment instead of a match.