Following WWE’s announcement that Kurt Angle will be inducted into its Hall of Fame during WrestleMania weekend, speculation began to spur about the possibility of the veteran returning to the promotion’s ring.
On January 23, Angle was supposed to be a commentator on the debut episode of 5 Star Wrestling’s new series, “Dominant Wrestling” on Spike UK, but the promotion posted on its Facebook:
However, Angle said that appearing the the Royal Rumble “is not gonna happen,” he told TMZ Sports on January 24. But he didn’t completely rule out returning to the WWE following his Hall of Fame induction in March during the interview.
It’s been over 10 years since Angle was last on WWE TV, and much has been made over the announcement he’s “buried the hatchet” with Triple H after years of tension between the two. Angle was a guest on The Ric Flair Show in August 2016 and said about the tensions:
It was kind of cool to talk to Triple H and just bury the hatchet from the past and we’re both on good terms with each other. I reach out to Vince [McMahon] every once in a while via text and it’s just good to be able to let the past go behind you. And if it does happen, at least I’ll be able to end my career there, if I do. If not, that’s okay.
In his time with WWE, Angle held the world championship six times and the United States Championship, Intercontinental Champiship, European Championship, Hardcore Championship and was one of two WWE Tag Team Champions all once.
Due to health reasons in 2006, Angle was granted release from his contract with WWE. In a documentary, Angle said he asked the release because was unable to take off time and would consistently work injured. His final match for WWE was against Sabu.
After his illustrious WWE career in 2006, Angle wrestled for TNA from and continued doing so off and on — along with other independent promotions and New Japan Pro Wrestling — until 2016 when he stepped away from the ring and WWE came calling.
The 2017 WWE Royal Rumble starts at 7 p.m. Eastern on January 29 on WWE Network.
Comments
Will Kurt Angle Return at WWE Royal Rumble?