Veteran pro wrestler Kurt Angle has enjoyed immense popularity all around the world. But he’s best known for his work in WWE, as he had a great association with the Stamford-based promotion throughout his career.
The Olympic Gold Medalist enjoyed a lot of success in the Triple H-led promotion, but his journey didn’t start well. Kurt’s first interaction with Vince McMahon was so unforgettable that WWE’s executive chairman lost all interest in signing him.
The reason behind this whole issue was one particular condition laid out by the Wrestling Machine, which was baffling. Revealing the same, Kurt shared how he had the opportunity to sign a 10-year deal with WWE in 1996. He even had a meeting with Vince, but it didn’t come off.
Kurt Angle talks about trying out and signing with WWE.
“I’ll sign this, as long as I never lose a match” 😂 pic.twitter.com/Nct17jc4Tt
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) September 20, 2023
Telling what he answered after Mr. McMahon‘s offer, Angle said, “First thing I said is, OK, I’ll sign this as long as I never lose a match. And Vince was like, OK, nice meeting you. See you later. He (Vince McMahon) knew I didn’t get it.”
As the deal didn’t become a reality, he called Kennedy again in 1998, but he told him to talk to Jim Ross. Kurt asked Ross if the 10-year deal still stood, but the answer was the one he didn’t expect. He was told that he’d now have to try out to sign with the company.
After some hard training, Angle started picking things up quickly and eventually got a contract. After his signing with WWE, the Olympic Gold Medalist reached heights of success and became an all-time great in the pro wrestling world.
Vince McMahon rejected Kurt Angle’s plea to join WWE in 2015
While the Olympic Gold Medalist was able to have a highly accomplished WWE career, after the 1998 incident with Mr. McMahon, Vincent probably always had it in the back of his mind. Something that supports this possibility is the fact that Vince once rejected Kurt Angle’s plea to join the Stamford-based promotion.
This was shared by the veteran himself, as he once revealed it while speaking on The Kurt Angle Show. The legendary pro wrestler explained that Kennedy was the one who worked as an obstacle in his desire to make a WWE return in 2015.
The Wrestling Machine said, “There was one point where I wanted to come back in 2015. I reached out to Terry Taylor. Terry Taylor reached out to Triple H and Vince and two words Vince said, ‘Bad reputation.’ Vince didn’t want any part of me in 2015.” (Via: TJR Wrestling)
Kurt added that this was the time when his life was at its lowest because he had the DUIs, but Vince had interest in having him back. After about two years of this incident, the Olympic Gold Medalist eventually made a return, as he was inducted into WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
Following this, he became a regular feature in the Triple H-led promotion, as he worked as a general manager and competed in a number of matches. Even though Angle is no longer seen on WWE television, he’s still signed to a nostalgia deal with the Stamford-based promotion.