‘Back in the gym’ – WWE icon provides health update weeks after undergoing major knee surgery
Stone Cold Steve Austin dealt with destabilising knee issues for much of his professional wrestling career. At the height of his popularity, part of his signature look included a black knee brace, which helped the WWE Hall of Famer with injuries that stemmed from his college football days at North Texas State University. Austin wore a knee brace at the height of his WWE popularityWWE He first tore his ACL during a game in the 1980s, but due to the strength of his quads and hamstrings at the time, doctors decided against repairing his left knee. That led to a host of issues down the line, and while Austin managed to forge an iconic in-ring wrestling career, he has been left picking up the pieces in more recent years. In October 2024, Stone Cold revealed that his knee issue had gotten so bad that he needed major surgery to fix it. “I’m telling you like it is… I need a new left knee here pretty quick,” he said at the time. On Tuesday, the WWE legend provided fans with an update on his health, confirming he is now recovering after finally having the operation seven weeks ago. Taking to Instagram, Austin shared X-rays of his knees, and said that he is already back in the gym as part of his rehab. “How it was. And how it is… I am seven weeks post op on a Total Knee Replacement,” he wrote. “My left knee was on its last leg, and I have been putting this surgery off for years. Post op X-Rays show everything is healing nicely.” Stone Cold went on to thank his doctors and their ‘excellent’ team for the surgery, but admitted he came out of surgery too ‘aggressive’. “Before starting PT, I came out of the gate aggressive and started walking way too soon and too far and really p***ed off my new knee,” he continued. Austin has provided an update on his successful knee surgery@SteveAustinBSR The WWE legend underwent an operation seven weeks ago@SteveAustinBSR Austin is recovering well and has set his sights on a racing return@SteveAustinBSR “Total Knee Replacement is a year long healing process, so I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. “Swelling is still an issue, but things are healing up nicely and getting solid. I am back in the gym and training. “Nothing heavy yet. And no squats…” If he continues to recover as planned, Austin wants to compete in The Mint 400 off-road race in Las Vegas seven weeks from now, having found a new passion post-WWE. He even teased an appearance at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas a couple of months before his knee surgery – but it’s unclear if he will be in any condition to step in the ring come April. “I do spend several trips a year in Las Vegas,” Austin said back in August. Austin last performed at WrestleMania in 2022 and has hinted he would like to appear in Las Vegas this yearWWE “So, to think that WWE’s biggest signature pay-per-view event is 400 miles away, in a state that I live in, that I’m going to be there, make a couple of appearances. “I’ll be promoting my beer if they, WWE, reached out and said, ‘Hey, maybe you want to do something.’ I’d be happy to do it as long as it makes sense.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin dealt with destabilising knee issues for much of his professional wrestling career.
At the height of his popularity, part of his signature look included a black knee brace, which helped the WWE Hall of Famer with injuries that stemmed from his college football days at North Texas State University.
He first tore his ACL during a game in the 1980s, but due to the strength of his quads and hamstrings at the time, doctors decided against repairing his left knee.
That led to a host of issues down the line, and while Austin managed to forge an iconic in-ring wrestling career, he has been left picking up the pieces in more recent years.
In October 2024, Stone Cold revealed that his knee issue had gotten so bad that he needed major surgery to fix it.
“I’m telling you like it is… I need a new left knee here pretty quick,” he said at the time.
On Tuesday, the WWE legend provided fans with an update on his health, confirming he is now recovering after finally having the operation seven weeks ago.
Taking to Instagram, Austin shared X-rays of his knees, and said that he is already back in the gym as part of his rehab.
“How it was. And how it is… I am seven weeks post op on a Total Knee Replacement,” he wrote.
“My left knee was on its last leg, and I have been putting this surgery off for years. Post op X-Rays show everything is healing nicely.”
Stone Cold went on to thank his doctors and their ‘excellent’ team for the surgery, but admitted he came out of surgery too ‘aggressive’.
“Before starting PT, I came out of the gate aggressive and started walking way too soon and too far and really p***ed off my new knee,” he continued.
“Total Knee Replacement is a year long healing process, so I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.
“Swelling is still an issue, but things are healing up nicely and getting solid. I am back in the gym and training.
“Nothing heavy yet. And no squats…”
If he continues to recover as planned, Austin wants to compete in The Mint 400 off-road race in Las Vegas seven weeks from now, having found a new passion post-WWE.
He even teased an appearance at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas a couple of months before his knee surgery – but it’s unclear if he will be in any condition to step in the ring come April.
“I do spend several trips a year in Las Vegas,” Austin said back in August.
“So, to think that WWE’s biggest signature pay-per-view event is 400 miles away, in a state that I live in, that I’m going to be there, make a couple of appearances.
“I’ll be promoting my beer if they, WWE, reached out and said, ‘Hey, maybe you want to do something.’ I’d be happy to do it as long as it makes sense.”
