Kurt Angle reveals that he had an offer to join AEW from NBA legend
Kurt Angle might be an Olympic Gold medallist but his name has come to be synonymous with WWE over the past couple of decades.
Angle gave up wrestling inside the ring a few years back but was still contracted with WWE until April last year, when he released by the promotion as a part of Covid-19 related cutbacks.
He has also ventured in TNA and NJPW but fans always seem to remember him for his time WWE. That is why the thought of him at AEW sits really awkwardly with a lot of fans.
But it is not something that has been impossible for the American, as he revealed on the 500th episode of The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast. (h/t Wrestling-Edge)
“’I’m in the best shape of my life, but I’m not going to wrestle. I’m done with that. Shaquille O’Neal just texted me today and said, ‘You need to come to AEW.’ I was like, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ Actually, if I did wrestle again, it would be most likely for WWE, but I’m not going to do that. AEW was always an option, I just never really considered it because I’m retired. I’ve heard the rumors. That’s what they are. They’re just rumors. People like to talk. They like to get excited about things, and, unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.”
Angle receiving the offer from none other than Shaquille O’Neal certainly comes as news to many despite him making his AEW debut a few weeks back.
O’Neal also hosted Shaq Bowl just ahead of WrestleMania 37 and seems to be pretty heavily involved in the wrestling scene.
But Angle turning him down was obvious because he had a chance to work with WWE themselves last year when they contacted him to play the role of Matt Riddle’s manager.
Angle revealed that he gave up that opportunity because of wanting to focus on his own business and due to the pay being low.
So it makes little sense as to why he would turn down WWE for AEW, but if the terms are right and he has time on his hand, there is nothing that should rule out the ‘Wrestling Machine’ making the journey to Tony Khan’s promotion despite him clearly stating in the interview that he would only consider a return to WWE.
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