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Every WWE fan has their dream match that never happened. The chances are that most of them did not take place because the superstars were from different generations.
What if Big Show went up against Andre The Giant? Who would win if John Cena and Hulk Hogan faced each other in their WWE prime? All these are fictional, but there are a few dream matches that could have happened.
However, one Superstar who was supposed to be in the match decided it was not worth it and dismissed the idea. Here's a look at 5 such dream matches that were rejected by WWE legends:
#5 - Stone Cold Steve Austin rejected WWE dream match with Hulk Hogan
Stone Cold vs Hulk Hogan will forever remain a dream match that should have happened but never did. The two superstars were the faces of the company for some time, and in the early 2000s, there was a good chance for them to go head-to-head.
While the idea of Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan feuding was attractive for all, the Texas Rattlesnake did not feel that way. He was adamant that they would not sync in the WWE ring, and the match would not be the spectacle the WWE Universe were keen to see.
On his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross spoke about the reason behind Stone Cold's thinking and said:
"Austin had it in his mind that Hogan's style and Austin's style were oil and water. He just didn't feel the chemistry. Austin was never about having good matches. Austin was about having great matches. He knew better than anybody else in the world who he could work the best with. Hogan wasn't on that list. Steve could be wrong too. I'm not saying that Hogan and Austin couldn't have a good match. Look at the match Hogan had at WrestleMania 18 with the Rock."
"Steve is a stubborn guy and he just didn't feel it. That's what we are trying to explain in meeting with these guys is that there is a new sheriff and town and his name is Stone Cold. It is not Hulkamania anymore. But if we could use Hulkamania in a bitter way, in an angry way, maybe we could get a WrestleMania out of it. That was the idea but it never came to fruition. It didn't happen because Steve didn't push for it." (h/t WrestlingNews.co)
After rejecting the WWE dream match, Stone Cold went on to face Scott Hall at WrestleMania XX. Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan went up against The Rock and produced one of the greatest matches in the company's history.
#4 - WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michael rejects dream match with AJ Styles
Once Shawn Michael announced his WWE retirement, he wanted to stay retired. He did not want to step back into the ring and get lured back in for a match every now and then.
However, he did make an exception and teamed up with Triple H to take on the Brothers of Destruction at WWE Crown Jewel in 2018. AJ Styles tried to use that window to get his dream match against the Hall of Famer but was rejected.
While speaking to WWE's Cathy Kelley in 2019, AJ Styles revealed:
"I would have loved the opportunity to have gotten in the ring with him. I'm not sure what it is about Shawn and I that people see as like, 'Oh wow, these guys are one and the same.'"
"I asked Shawn [about a match] and he said 'No.' Well That's on Shawn, guys. I can't do anything about that. I would love to opportunity to do that match, But I get where he's coming from too."
"It's one of those things where, if you say you're gonna retire — Now, granted, he had a match after his retirement, one match — but I understand not really wanting to do it. When I retire, I want to [stay] retired too."
AJ Styles vs Shawn Michaels would have been a dream come true for the majority of the WWE Universe, but we are sadly never going to get that.
#3 – Bret Hart rejects dream match with WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle
Just like the WWE Universe, the superstars themselves have dream matches in their minds. AJ Styles revealed he wanted to face Shawn Michaels, and as for Kurt Angle, he tried to go one-on-one with Bret Hart.
The plan was to have a match in early 2000s for Kurt Angle but Bret Hart rejected the idea. In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Kurt Angle said:
"Me being at 51 now and looking back, a young Bret Hart came to me right now and said let's do our dream match ...I would be like.. it's not going to be the dream match I like to be. I probably don't want to get in that ring."
"So, I understood why Bret didn't want to do it. Because he had the stroke and he had a lot of bad luck, you know, some things happened that made it medically difficult for him to come back and be at his very best."
"I told him, you know, listen, you didn't even have to bump at all. I'll do all the bumping and he was like, 'Nah, it won't be the Bret Hart match that I want to be and I can't do that."
Kurt Angle has now retired from WWE in-ring action, just like Bret Hart.
#2 – Shawn Michaels rejects Daniel Bryan's WWE dream match
WWE have their own set of dream matches for the fans, and one of them was Daniel Bryan vs Shawn Michaels. As per a PWInsider report (h/t Wrestle Zone), the company was planning the clash in 2013 and wanted the Heartbreak Kid to come out of retirement.
However, Shawn Michaels rejected the idea as he was not willing to return to the ring. HBK was one of the trainers for Daniel Bryan and had huge praise for him.
In an interview with WWE.com, Shawn Michaels was quoted saying:
"Heck, I knew at first glance what a talented young man he was. He came in good, for heaven's sakes. His work ethic, his integrity, his dedication, all of that stuff was all phenomenal from the get-go. And honestly, he had an understanding that it was going to be tough. He knew it was going to be a long road for him, and none of those things bothered him."
We never got the dream match WWE planned and now reports suggest Daniel Bryan is headed for AEW.
#1 - Stone Cold rejects WWE dream match with Brock Lesnar
While most 'dream matches' are set for pay-per-view, WWE planned a stunning Stone Cold vs Brock Lesnar match on Monday Night RAW. Vince McMahon wanted the Texas Rattlesnake to lose to the rookie, leading to the infamous walkout in 2002.
Explaining his refusal to job to Brock Lesnar, Stone Austin told Sport Bible:
"The time they [WWE] wanted me to fly down to Atlanta for Monday Night Raw and put over Brock Lesnar. The night before, I was working in Columbus, Georgia, working with Ric Flair in a cage, so I was like a kid in a candy store working with the GOAT, so of course I didn't show up."
"Because it wasn't time for me to do the favours yet for Brock in an unadvertised match in a tournament-style TV match whereas hey, man, I love Brock Lesnar, I'd lose to him any day of the week, but build it up so we can all make money off of it and it's going to mean something."
Which WWE dream match do you want to see? Let us know in the comments section below!
