In an interview for WWE Digital following his in-ring return as part of a No Holds Barred Match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin offered his thoughts on his decision to make an in-ring return.

“This is where I started, and I was lucky enough to finish here. KO is outstanding, but he ran his mouth a little too much and it finally caught up with him. It was an honor to be here on such a stacked card with so many great matches. You just love the crowd, you love the crowd, the guys and girls before me had so many great matches, it’s really hard to follow that, but you live and die by that crowd.

This crowd is so faithful, so loyal, so rambunctious, they’re behind everything you do. I give a shout out to the WWE superstars that worked before me and will work tomorrow night, but I give the biggest shout out to the crowd, because I never expected to headline a WrestleMania at this day and time, it’s all about the WWE Universe.”