10 Wrestlers Who Left And Returned More Badass
2. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle's career in ECW, between the authentic article and ersatz corporate reboot, is as brief as it is fascinating.
Angle initially appeared as an invited guest at ECW High Incident, at which he provided colour commentary, in what was essentially a welcoming party. Heyman wished to convince Angle to step foot in the professional wrestling arena, but the Olympic gold medallist was repelled instantly by an infamous, blasphemous angle even the diehards were vehemently opposed to. At the sight of the crucified Sandman, an apoplectic Angle berated Joey Styles - Heyman made himself scarce - and threatened legal action in the event that he was shown on the broadcast.
As Angle's fame receded, and the WWF subsumed ECW's identity, complete with less on-the-nose imagery - does it count as blasphemy if a cross is instead referred to as a "symbol"? - Angle did enter that arena with no scruples holding him back.
He also returned to ECW, in a way, as less "morally disgusted bystander" and more "totally f*cking unhinged sh*t-kicker". Angle was phenomenal in an ill-fated role. His personal issues forced him out of WWE just months later, but the skull-scraping viciousness of his headbutts left many to mourn what could have been, since what actually happened was "Bobby Lashley gets the belt, and everybody hates it".