10 Things We Learned From Kurt Angle On Vince Russo's Podcast
7. Angle Initially Turned WWE Down
Kurt was approached by the then-World Wrestling Federation immediately after the Olympics. Vince McMahon called him and invited him for a meeting, where Kurt was offered a 10-year deal worth a whole hunk of cash (we're talking millions). Kurt presented the contract to his agent, who immediately put it in the bin.
Kurt didn't grow up watching pro wrestling, encouraged by his family to view it as 'fake !*$%' and that he was doing the 'real !*$%'. He was told to stick to what he was doing. His agent followed the same tack, and Kurt subsequently turned the WWF down.
Instead he went on to become a commentator and sports anchor for Pittsburgh's local Fox affiliate. Kurt wasn't too fond of this, stating that he wasn't a 9-5 guy and that filling in reports just wasn't for him. It was time to call Vince back.