If you were hoping for a Kurt Angle return to World Wrestling Entertainment then I'm afraid I've got some bad news. He's staying right where he is in TNA Impact Wrestling. According to a report from PWInsider, TNA President Dixie Carter is set to make a major announcement about Angle staying in the company that he's been a part of since he left WWE in 2006. Even though TNA has not announced where their TV show will air in America starting in 2015, they will announce that Angle is staying. Angle has been out of action for much of 2014 after tearing his ACL in his knee although he has stated he should be cleared for action in January. He also said that he wanted to sign a one year deal and retire from active competition since he'll be 46 years old this December. It's been discussed for months that Angle wanted to go to WWE. This isn't some rumor either. Angle talked openly about wanting to go back there. He did so on a podcast with Jim Ross and he's talked about it with many others as well. It was all a matter of whether or not WWE wanted to bring him back. Apparently they don't. There were reports in the last few months that Angle had discussions with WWE (we covered it last month), specifically calling WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Since Angle had a close relationship with McMahon at one point he probably felt like he should talk directly to him about it. We don't know how far those discussions went, but apparently Vince told him to talk to Paul Levesque (Triple H) since he is the head of Talent Relations in WWE. When they talked, there were stories that Hunter was upset that Angle didn't talk to him directly. Other reports suggested that WWE would only bring him back on a full time deal for one year while Angle only wanted a part time deal. An Angle return to WWE could have been a big deal because it's been eight years since he was there. While some fans may not even know who he is, most fans would have given him a huge reaction and he could have fit in well as a veteran that could still have great matches once in a while. It's silly that WWE would only want him on a full time schedule. They should have worked out a deal to allow him to work a part time schedule like 6-8 PPV matches in a year, plus appear on TV half the year. It could be similar to Shawn Michaels in his last year or two.Imagine Angle's music hitting during a Rusev promo? There's nobody that could fit the role of American hero better than the only American Olympic gold medalist in wrestling history. Instead, he's going to be back in TNA performing for a company that is barely hanging on. We wish Kurt Angle the best in his return to action while we wonder "what if" he came back to WWE. It's not happening any time soon although with TNA's future very much in doubt we know to never say never.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.
