10 Things We Learned From Kurt Angle: Homecoming
6. He Turned Down A Ten Year Contract Straight After The Olympics
After Kurt's unbelievable gold medal in the 1996 Olympics, WWE were keen to get him in for a meeting to capitalise on his new found celebrity. Looking back, Kurt admits that he didn't take professional wrestling seriously at this time. He'd been warned off it by his coaches and brothers while training to be an amateur wrestler.
Vince offered him a very attractive ten-year deal containing "more money than I'd ever seen at that point" according to Kurt. Angle then told McMahon that as a bonafide Olympic gold medallist he could never lose in professional wrestling. It was clear at this point to Vince and Bruce Prichard that Angle wasn't in the right frame of mind to make the sacrifices it takes to make it in the WWE.
Angle then attempted to be an American Football player, a sportscaster and promote various foods as careers before coming back to the WWE. Jim Ross allowed him to come to training before making him a reduced offer which he gladly accepted.