WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin sat down with Entertainment Weekly to promote the upcoming A & E / WWE documentary Biography: Stone Cold Steve AustinThe topic turned to Austin’s match at WrestleMania 19 against The Rock, a match that was equally remarkable for what happened off-screen.
“That was an interesting day at the office,” Austin recalls. “I was in the gym with Kevin Nash and my reflexes were very touchy that day. We were on recumbent bikes and my feet kept shaking. I thought nothing of it.
“I left Nash and went to my room on the 27th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and just before the elevator opened my heart started pounding out of my chest.”
Austin was in the midst of a panic attack that would force him to be taken to hospital and jeopardize his match with The Rock. According to Austin, he was not even allowed to leave the hospital, let alone participate.
“The bottom line was, I was drinking too much alcohol and caffeine and not getting enough rest,” said Austin. “I was not allowed to leave the hospital, but I left because I was going to wrestle The Rock.”
The fight remains the last match Austin would ever have. To this day, it remains an emotional topic for the Texas Rattlesnake.
“Hardly anyone on the squad knew that day that this was going to be my last game,” said Austin. “My nerves were working up from my previous spinal cord injury that I knew was going to be my last.
As you can see, I still get emotional even talking about the story and going back. I almost fucking started to cry in the documentary. My love for the company is so great, it’s the one thing I really wanted to do in my life for a living. It was extremely difficult to retire from that dream at the age of 38. “
If Austin is grateful for the match, it is the last gesture he received from his opponent.
“Normally someone stays in the ring when someone wins a match. Rock won but because I left he gave me the ring so I could say my last goodbye. He gave me that moment and it was really cool. “
Biography: Stone Cold Steve Austin premieres April 18.