WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Predicting 10 Biggest Spots

1. A Hero's Return

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WWE.com

Kurt Angle’s impending Hall Of Fame induction has whipped his fans into a frenzy. At this point, the only thing assured is that Kurt will show up at the induction ceremony on 1 April. There’s absolutely no guarantee he’ll appear on Raw, SmackDown, or at a pay-per-view any time soon, and there’s a strong chance that fans are setting themselves up for immense disappointment.

That being said, WWE just happened to pull Angle from a scheduled booking in Scotland this Saturday night. Coincidence? Hopefully not.

The move likely means that Kurt Angle is showing up in San Antonio, and restricting him to a backstage segment or on-camera appearance would be a huge waste. Few things would pop the Alamodome crowd more than the countdown ticking away and “Gold Metal” blasting through the speakers. The Olympic Hero’s appearance would immediately go down as one of the greatest returns in Rumble history.

Fans have been calling for Angle’s return for years. He had a tremendous run in TNA, his independent run shows that he can still put on a good match, and he hasn’t appeared on WWE television in over 10 years. The circumstances all but guarantee and excellent reception, and he doesn’t even have to do all that much in the ring. The Rumble is a low risk, low impact match that makes for a perfect stage for returning veterans, and the event thrives on spots like this, and WWE couldn’t possibly deliver a bigger spot than Angle’s appearance this Sunday.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.