Kurt Angle Calls Ex-WWE Star Underrated, Believes Company Failed To Utilize Him Correctly; November 13th Wrestling News Round-Up

Former WWE star Matt Riddle recently commented on Goldberg following the Hall of Famer’s announcement that he plans to retire in 2025.

With rumors swirling about a possible final showdown between Goldberg and WWE’s powerhouse Gunther, Riddle, who has been openly critical of Goldberg in the past, shared his thoughts on the Barstool Rasslin’ podcast.

Riddle humorously suggested Goldberg wouldn’t want to face him but clarified that the two had patched things up after a candid conversation on a flight back from a Saudi event.

“I think he has more of an understanding of where I was coming from,” Riddle said, explaining that any past tension was simply rooted in his outspoken nature as a professional and former UFC fighter.

Although some in WWE may have seen his remarks as disrespectful, Riddle emphasized that he’s just “spitting facts” and could hold his own in the ring.

Booker T recently weighed in on Darby Allin’s criticism of the term “Superstar” in wrestling, which WWE uses to describe its talent.

During a past appearance on AEW Meal and a Match, Allin expressed that he finds the term “stupid” because it implies a separation between wrestlers and fans, emphasizing that he’d rather be seen as relatable to fans rather than on a pedestal.

On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T defended WWE’s use of the “Superstar” label, saying it’s part of WWE’s branding strategy and helps inspire young fans to aspire toward becoming wrestlers themselves.

He noted, “If I’m a young kid and I hear the WWE Superstars are coming to town, damn it, I’m going to want to be there.”

Booker suggested that branding helps distinguish WWE in the wrestling world, advising AEW to focus on building its own unique image. [h/t Wrestling Inc.]

John “Bradshaw” Layfield recently defended AEW star MJF after the wrestler sparked controversy by tossing a fan’s replica WWE Championship belt during a meet-and-greet.

Speaking on Something to Wrestle, JBL expressed that fans critical of MJF’s actions are being overly sensitive.

Known for his praise of MJF, JBL emphasized that fans shouldn’t complain about heel antics when wrestlers are simply staying true to their characters.

“I have zero issue with it, zero,” Layfield stated, adding that fans who demand heel wrestlers to act differently “need to grow up.

” Echoing Jack Perry’s infamous “Cry me a river” sentiment, JBL underscored that heels aren’t obligated to break character just to please fans.

[h/t WrestlingInc]

AEW star Miro recently surfaced at Gangrel’s Coastal Championship Wrestling school in Kissimmee, Florida, appearing alongside trainers and students amid ongoing speculation about his future with AEW.

Despite being off television for nearly a year, the former TNT Champion made headlines earlier this year with reports that he had requested his release, citing creative differences with AEW.

While Miro reportedly remains healthy, he has yet to receive or comment on a release, and his current contract, signed in 2022, runs through 2026.

His last match was in December 2023 at Worlds End, where he defeated Andrade El Idolo.

Shelton Benjamin, MVP and Bobby Lashley, better known as AEW’s The Hurt Syndicate, have sat down with Rene Paquette for their first interview as a faction in AEW on the latest episode of ‘Close Up’.

Check it out below!

Jake Hager, a foundational member of AEW since its launch in 2019, has confirmed he is no longer with the company.

After a notable run in AEW alongside Chris Jericho, Hager’s appearances dwindled following the breakup of the Jericho Appreciation Society.

In an interview on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, Hager shared that his contract expired in June and that he’s now focusing on independent work and exploring opportunities outside of wrestling.

At 42, Hager expressed a desire to spend more time with his family and is considering ventures in business, including construction and rental properties, as well as a potential path in broadcasting.

Reflecting on his wrestling career, Hager said he’s grateful for his experiences and now aims to set a positive example for his kids.

Tony Khan continues to infuse AEW’s promotions with iconic rock anthems, securing Guns N’ Roses’ legendary track “November Rain” for the upcoming Full Gear pay-per-view on November 23rd.

Known for elevating AEW’s big moments with unforgettable music, Khan previously licensed hits like The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” for MJF’s return and Europe’s “The Final Countdown” for Bryan Danielson.

Announcing on social media, Khan expressed excitement for AEW fans to experience “November Rain” in promos, saying it’ll feature in Full Gear promotions leading up to the event.

Fans can expect to hear the track on AEW Dynamite and across AEW’s social media to build anticipation for Full Gear.

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII continues to build a unique, must-see lineup, with the latest addition being an exciting match featuring NXT star Karmen Petrovic taking on veteran grappler Sumie Sakai.

Known for her karate background, Petrovic will be facing off against Sakai, an experienced judoka and MMA fighter, adding a compelling mix of styles to the event.

Barnett’s recent announcement highlighted the dynamic between Petrovic’s “young blood” ambition and Sakai’s seasoned prowess, promising a hard-hitting showdown.

In addition to Petrovic vs. Sakai, the Bloodsport XII card will also feature other notable matchups, including NXT’s Charlie Dempsey, TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich, and AEW stars Marina Shafir and MVP, who is set to face Barnett himself. Here’s the full card so far:

• Josh Alexander vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
• MVP vs. Josh Barnett
• Masha Slamovich vs. Lei Ying Lee
• Charlie Dempsey vs. Akira
• Kevin Ku vs. Dominic Garrini
• Marina Shafir vs. Jody Threat
• Karmen Petrovic vs. Sumie Sakai

Kurt Angle recently shared his thoughts on Baron Corbin’s WWE exit, calling Corbin “underrated” and reflecting on his former opponent’s untapped potential.

Speaking with WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard, Angle admitted disappointment over WWE’s decision not to capitalize on Corbin’s WrestleMania 35 win, which sent Angle into retirement.

“Baron, I think he’s underrated… they had him beat me, which I was okay with… but they didn’t really do much with him after that,”

Angle said, noting his surprise that WWE didn’t fully utilize Corbin’s talents.

Angle emphasized that Corbin had the charisma to succeed without gimmicky character changes, adding,

“Baron has a great personality… he was entertaining as it is.” [h/t Fightful]

Hello and welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog.

My name is Liam and I will be with you from 2pm to 6pm (UK) covering all the biggest stories from the past 24 hours across the world in wrestling.

Kicking things off today we have:

• Kurt Angle has called one former WWE star underrated noting that the company failed to utilize him correctly.
• NXT star set to compete at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport.
• Tony Khan licences Guns N’ Roses iconic track for AEW Full Gear.