Sting revealed in the book “WWE Attitude Era” that he was in fact set to face Steve Austin after Wrestlemania 19. The plan was for Austin and Rock to take place as normal, with Sting making his long awaited debut after the match to confront the Texas Rattlesnake. It would have set off a program between the two and an eventual blockbuster match.

“I had been negotiating with Vince [McMahon], and one of the ideas was for me to debut at the end of WrestleMania XIX and confront ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.” Sting claimed in ‘WWE Attitude Era’ “Negotiations fell apart and it never happened, but it makes you wonder, ‘What if?’ That was one of the times I was talking with Vince, and it would’ve been an incredible night that would’ve translated into some major, major rivalries and match-ups for years to come.“