WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle believes that had he remained with the company he could have joined the select few who have achieved a very prestigious accolade.
Although Angle is a former 5 time World Champion, King of the Ring winner and was in the main event of WrestleMania 19, the Hall of Famer was never able to be the last man standing in the Royal Rumble match. The closest the Olympic Gold Medalist came was in 2002 when he was the runner-up to winner Triple H.
With Angle hitting the peak of his wrestling career in the mid-2000s, there was definitely an argument to be made to have the Hall of Famer go on a defining run and win the iconic match and headline WrestleMania one more time. However, with Angle leaving WWE in 2006 to start his TNA run, he was not given that opportunity.
Speaking with Great Offshore Sportsbooks, Angle was asked if there was ever any discussions to have him win the match, to which the Hall of Famer responded there was not but had he remained in the company it would have likely happened:
“No, but I took second once, I think third twice. I didn’t have to. To win the Royal Rumble is like to give a guy a push for that year to be the world champion. So he’s on his way by winning the Royal Rumble. I was already a champion in my rookie year before the Royal Rumble even started. So I was world champion already. So I didn’t have to do the Royal Rumble or win the Royal Rumble.
Now, I could have later on in my career, but I only went to WWE for six years. And then I left and went somewhere else for 11. So if I would have stayed, I think I would have ended up winning the Royal Rumble. Because I believe they were going to give me the title multiple times. But because I left early due to my injuries and my painkiller problem. I left early and never found out if I would have gone on to win it.”
Kurt Angle Addresses Fan Nickname
While Angle has been known by multiple monikers throughout his professional wrestling career, the Hall of Famer admitted that one name hurts his feelings. Releasing a follow-up statement, Kurt Angle opened up about the nickname.