15 Wrestling Nightmares Somehow WORSE Than Imagined

There was merriment amongst fans when WWE announced they'd re-signed Kurt Angle from TNA in 2017. A Hall Of Fame induction beckoned, but so did something else. Namely, a string of blockbuster matches against fresh stars Angle hadn't been able to work with since leaving the company in 2006 and tearing it up elsewhere. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan. The possibilities were endless.

Ultimately, WWE decided to turn Kurt into an on-air authority figure and have him wrestle sporadically in shorter bouts. Being fair, Angle has admitted since that he was physically done in after decades of working a punishing in-ring style, but yes - this second stab at WWE proved to be a disappointment for him knackered body or not.

Then, Vince McMahon slapped him right across the chops at WrestleMania 35.

Hype before the pay-per-view suggested that this would be Kurt's retirement date. Fans were confused then that he was warring with Baron Corbin on TV. Surely Corbs wouldn't be Angle's retirement opponent, right? Right?! No offence intended to Baron, but he was far from an ideal pick on people's lips for such a lofty, important spot.

The show rolled around and Kurt jobbed for Corbin in a short, unsatisfying six minute match. He then tearfully waved to fans and that was it for his in-ring career. Angle hasn't wrestled since. His last hurrah on WWE TV was an insulting nightmare that glossed over how cherished the Olympian was/is to the core audience.

WWE and McMahon should've been ashamed of themselves for treating him so poorly on the way out.