Kurt Angle’s Potential WWE Return Raises Exciting Opportunities

By seanmeyers @sdmeyers1 on October 15, 2014

For the past several years, rumors have repeatedly circulated that Kurt Angle has expressed interest in returning to the WWE.

Those rumors intensified in recent months as a bevy of professional wrestling websites reported in August that Angle pitched an idea of a return to the company, for which he debuted in 1999. Angle has competed for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) since 2006, but his latest contract has reportedly expired, making the 1996 Olympic gold medalist a free agent.

If the speculation is true, Angle has indicated a strong desire to return to the WWE to work a limited schedule. In recent years, this has become prevalent as top superstars such as Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam have contracts that allow them to appear on WWE programming for several months, and then take a sabbatical.

Conversely, WWE management, including Triple H, has countered by offering Angle a full-time contract, which would require him to be on the road and competing in the proximity of 200 dates per year.

Given his medical history and age, Angle would likely not be physically able meet the demands of a full-time schedule, even if he was fully committed to the world of professional wrestling. However, much like Batista, who also returned to the WWE this year on a limited schedule, Angle apparently has Hollywood aspirations.

If the WWE is unwilling to budge in its demand of Angle to work full-time, the reunion is unlikely to come to fruition. Even though the future of TNA remains unclear, Angle knows he can re-sign and continue to work a part-time schedule while pursuing other endeavors.

The professional wrestling world always proves to be unpredictable, though, so it would be unwise to write off a return to the WWE just yet. It seemed inevitable that both Brock Lesnar and Sting would eventually sign with the WWE, and after years of speculation, both men ultimately struck deals with the company.

A return to the WWE would provide both the company and Angle with several exciting opportunities. The most obvious storyline for Angle upon his return would be to challenge the undefeated streak of Rusev. The former Olympian would be an ideal candidate to represent the USA against the Russian supporter.

In addition, Angle could have stellar matches against some of the company’s top talents in the ring, including Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler. Finally, a return would afford Angle an opportunity for a few more high-profile feuds, potentially against Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton or Triple H.

Angle’s first stint in the company, which spanned approximately six years, was nearly unparalleled in terms of in-ring performance. He has undoubtedly had his issues outside the ring, but if Angle truly sees this as his last chance to come back to the WWE, he may clean up his indiscretions.

If he were to return, Angle would rightfully be celebrated as a Hall-of-Fame talent, and would rival Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, among others, as the greatest in-ring performer in WWE history.

Sean Meyers is a professional wrestling writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and “Like” him on Facebook