I remember listening to an interview in 2011 where Austin said that he's the healthiest he's ever been since starting in pro wrestling, and that if he wanted to he felt like he could produce an entire year of full-time WWE travel schedule. I also remember him saying he probably wouldn't ever consider that, but another match would certainly be in the realm of possibility. I'll try and find it for ya...
He's had some corrective knee surgery to take care of a few nagging things; if anything he'll be in better shape after a few months of physical therapy. Not all surgery is a bad thing in these guys' world.
And if you don't think Steve Austin deserves THE top match of the night, even approaching 50 years of age, for his last match ever...you're out of your damn mind son.
I know CM Punk wants the match, and he'll probably throw a fit if he doesn't get it. And no, for the love of God, I don't care how nostalgic it would be...I do NOT want to see Austin/Hogan. The guy can barely walk down to the ring. I enjoyed what him and Sting did at Bound for Glory last year, but if Austin is going to actually wrestle one more match, he should be able to go out there and do it to the best of his ability, not cater to Hogan's beaten up body.
John Cena is the most logical choice in my mind. CM Punk is great, and he's become probably the #2 star in the industry...under John Cena. If he beats the Rock at WrestleMania, maybe I'll consider re-thinking that. Maybe. If Steve Austin wants to have the biggest, "era vs era" type match at WrestleMania, I really think Cena is the only logical choice. But yeah, Punk would work almost as nicely. Maybe even better, considering we'd have to put up with constant "this is stupid, WWE is burying Punk again" nonsense if they did go with Cena.