‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin needs knee replacement ‘pretty quick’

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin is going to need a knee replacement at some point soon.

During a September appearance on the BobbyCast, the 59-year-old wrestling legend discussed his history with knee injuries dating back to when he played college football. Austin said he’s going to need his left knee replaced “pretty quick.”

“My first year at North Texas State University there in Denton, Texas, running down on a kickoff coverage and I hit my guy I was supposed to block — and man, I went down,” Austin said. “I’d never felt anything like what I felt in my left knee. And I tore my ACL, but it was a mop-end tear where you tear it in the middle and the edges are kind of frayed, and that’s why they call it a mop. But they could either repair it or not repair it. Based on the strength of my quads and my hamstrings, they didn’t repair that knee. So, anyway, subsequently, that’s what led to all my knee issues down the road. And I’ve had ACL, PCL put in there from cadaver ligaments several years ago. And you know, if I’m telling you like it is and I will, you know, I need a new left knee here pretty quick.”

Austin has said that, if WWE has an idea that makes sense, he’d be happy to make an appearance at WrestleMania 41 in his new home state of Nevada next April. Austin has indicated that his career as an in-ring wrestler is likely over, though, saying he understands reality and believes pro wrestling is a young man’s game.

After nearly 20 years without having a match, Austin came out of retirement to face Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. He did not appear at either WrestleMania 39 or WrestleMania 40.