Kurt Angle wrote the following about CM Punk’s RAW promo on Monday night, on his Twitter page this afternoon:

“CM Punk had classic promo last night. Good for Him. But if U ever say another word about Me again, Ur toast! If U don’t believe Me, try Me!”

It should be noted that Punk didn’t mention Angle on Monday night. Angle may have been referring to a comment Punk made on Twitter a few months back, mocking Angle for when he said his Twitter was hacked.

Labels: cm punk, kurt angle

Posted by Matt Loede at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

When asked about a possible WWE return, TNA’s Kurt Angle said “anything is possible” on his Facebook page today, however he said that he was currently loyal to TNA.

Angle had particularly kind words for TNA President Dixie Carter, thanking her for looking after his “well being.”

He he had the following to say:

“A lot of you want me back in WWE. I appreciate your kind words. I love TNA but anything is possible.”

“Dixie Carter has been wonderful to me. She cares about my well being. That means more to me than anything. So I would never count out WWE, but TNA is my loyalty right now.”

Labels: kurt angle, tna

Posted by Matt Loede at 9:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

With rumors of Kurt Angle returning to WWE circulating the internet, ProWrestling.net confirms reports that there was some talk of it within WWE. However, when re-signing Kurt was pitched to Vince McMahon by the WWE creative team, Vince shot the idea down quickly. Vince said he feels Angle was not a “channel changer” and also cited his prescription pill issues. Prior to pitching it to McMahon, the creative team was split on the issue.

Several months ago, a WWE source said that the company would be interested in using Angle on a limited schedule similar to Shawn Michaels and Undertaker, however that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The main concern is whether he would adhere to the Wellness Policy.

There are conflicting reports regarding Angle’s current TNA contract. Some say it expires in September, while others are under the impression that there’s another year left on the deal.

Labels: kurt angle, vince mcmahon

Posted by Matt Loede at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments

Although the talks only appear to be very preliminary, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Kurt Angle’s name has been brought up within WWE and it appears the company could be making a play to bring him back later this year.

Angle, who turns 41 this December, could be faced with a big decision if he is approached by WWE about a return. His wife Karen was said to be a major force behind him leaving WWE and now she is no longer a factor with the two splitting up recently. The negative is that Angle is still pretty banged up and is much smaller than when he left WWE in 2006.

While many feel his size could work against him, the belief is that WWE would give him an easier schedule and he would make more money. Angle has dropped a ton of weight in the last couple years, and tells friends he is much more comfortable this way. The plus to staying with TNA is that he is always guaranteed a top spot, his size will never be an issue and even if WWE offers him an easier schedule it will never be as easy on him physically as the TNA schedule is. The general opinion on Angle is that the smartest thing he could do is stay in TNA, but Angle’s career is also coming to a close and the possibility of an increase in pay becomes even more important at that stage of his career.

Labels: kurt angle

Posted by Matt Loede at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

WWE’s creative team has had recent discussions regarding TNA wrestler Kurt Angle. The discussions are more of a “what if?” scenario as opposed to making any plans that he will return to WWE once his deal with TNA is up in 2009.

People in WWE are interested and are pushing the idea of having Angle work a schedule similar to the one Shawn Michaels works, where he does all TV tapings and pay-per-views, plus some live events, but not a full schedule. The feeling is Angle wouldn’t hold up to a full-time schedule with all his injuries and he will be almost 41 by the time he can return.

Shane McMahon and Michael Hayes have both pitched scenarios for Angle to make his WWE return. Other people in the company are critically thinking why even discuss the subject after Angle’s controversial departure and the way he was in 2005 when he left the company.

Labels: kurt angle, Michael Hayes, shane mcmahon

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

From: PWPIX.net

The Daily Star posted an interview with Kurt Angle today. He addressed a number of topics including what he'll do when his TNA contract expires next year (next September), his thoughts on Shawn Michaels, Triple H & Vince McMahon, TNA making his match at Hard Justice with AJ Styles last month "complex," and more.

His plans when his TNA contract expires: "When my contract comes up I'm going to be doing some MMA, so there it is straight up. At present I am leaning toward TNA, but I will choose whatever company is in my best interests."

How he will make his decision: "My decision will rely on how I feel about the company, and I feel pretty good right now about TNA. It comes down to where I feel I am able to fill the greater purpose. Right now TNA is the better way to go, I like being the top guy here and helping them grow."

If he'd return to WWE: "If I did go back, which is a very slim chance, my schedule would be a lot less. I just can't do it, I've wrestled twenty two years in amateur wrestling and eight as a pro. It just won't happen."

His feelings on Shawn Michaels and Triple H: "My anger has passed. I don't blame Shawn or Triple H for what I went through. When it was time for me to get help, instead of shouting out I kept my mouth shut., Trip and HBK are two of the best wrestlers who ever lived. I harbour no animosity towards them. McMahon is a billionaire who wishes he had a gold medal in the Olympics. I may not have the money, but I am a valuable commodity. He knows, and I know."

His feelings on Vince McMahon: "He is the smartest, most intelligent, and most successful promoter of all time. Him and I have had our ins and outs, and it's almost come to blows, but Vince and I have a mutual respect for each other. I know how good he he is at what he does, and he knows how good I am. No-one can break that bond, not Jeff Jarrett, not Dixie Carter. It's like a father-son bond."

TNA complicating his match with AJ Styles at Hard Justice: "We had a match at Hard Justice - I wanted to have a straight up match, one on one, but at the very last second they came to us and told us that it would be last man standing. Then they changed the rules - we had to pin each other, then after that he has ten seconds to get up, and it was all starting to get too complex."

More on TNA booking: "We have to make the fans understand what we are doing. All of a sudden we have to have a pinfall??! We are trying to be innovative, but sometimes we can be a little too innovative, and it can backfire on us. It's better to be simple so the fans understand."

Labels: kurt angle, shawn michaels, triple h

Posted by Matt Loede at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

Strong Style Spirit reports that New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Naofumi Yamamoto is signing with WWE. Yamamoto has been away from Japan for some time now and has spent much of his time at WWE’s developmental territory in Tampa, FL. Yamamoto returned to the NJPW offices yesterday and announced he was leaving the company to join WWE. He said he actually left in February after not getting a new contract and had a successful WWE tryout match in April. He said he was thinking of returning to NJPW but when he saw Nakamura defeat Kurt Angle in February, he knew he would have to reach Nakamura’s level before returning anyway.

He said he would start from the bottom in WWE but said his goal was to wrestle on a WrestleMania event. Yamamot

Labels: kurt angle, Naofumi Yamamoto

Posted by Matt Loede at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

Jim Ross is back with another blog update at jrsbarbq.com. Below are the highlights from this entry:

- JR on Kurt Angle: There aren’t many wrestlers that I have known over the years that I have respected for their natural, in ring talents more than Kurt Angle. Being involved in signing Kurt into pro wrestling and seeing him grow in the early part of his professional career was a very rewarding experience for me. However, I am growing tired of the talk that a viable MMA career for Kurt is going to happen essentially any day now. Reading this stuff is more painful than Kurt’s ankle lock and I don’t see Kurt ever migrating to the main stage of MMA, the UFC. If the talented, former Olympic Gold Medalist had gone that direction instead of coming to the WWE back in the day, I could easily buy it but not today. Too much time has passed, too many injuries have occurred and, to me, that ship has sailed. No one asked me my opinion on this matter nor will they or should they but if asked I would suggest to Kurt to stick with pro wrestling and do all he can to maintain good health.

- JR on Trish Stratus: I can still remember the day a few years ago that Trish Stratus walked into my office on the 4th floor of the WWE headquarters in lovely Stamford, Connecticut to meet with me about a job in the company. Any one with sight could see that Trish had an amazingly marketable look (she still does for that matter) but what stuck with me the most upon reflecting back on that first meeting was her positive attitude and her overwhelming desire to be successful. No Diva that I have ever been around in the WWE ever worked harder at getting better in the ring than Trish Status. Trish always gave great effort and was extremely reliable and low maintenance. Her new TV show which airs in Canada on Monday nights on the Travel and Escape Network is called “Statusphere.”

- JR on Orton and WWE injuries: I don’t know when Orton will actually be back in the ring but I have heard it could be in approximately two months. It won’t come none too soon. Injuries are a part of the fabric of the business and always have been. I’ve always believed that when someone goes down it creates an opportunity for others who have been waiting for their chance to strike pay dirt. That scenario is unfortunately the lay of the land right now in the WWE with some many talented individuals injured.

Labels: jim ross, kurt angle, randy orton, trish stratus

Posted by Matt Loede at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry on his website. Some highlights from this entry:

- Gasp….Floyd Mayweather did not actually get $20M for his fight at WM24 or so we have been told…the boxing media, always known to never "hype" an event is appalled, pray tell. I don’t know exactly what "Money" made for the fight, but I assure you he was pleased and who’s to say that the monies he negotiated won’t be flowing in for a while longer?

- I recently read where wrestling websites exist solely on the back of the WWE, which I find perplexing. I don’t necessarily agree with that assessment, but everyone has a right to their opinion. Without the WWE there is lots of other wrestling to cover globally, not to mention the ever growing mixed martial arts biz.

- I did not solely create the idea of the WWE Legends Video Game, but thru the Legend’s Program that I did help launch, the video game concept was an idea I floated around the WWE about 10 years ago. It was akin to always wondering what it would be like for, say, Roger Clemens pitching to Mickey Mantle in a baseball video game. Now wrestling fans will be able to book some amazing dream matches with many of the greats that will be featured on the Legends Video Game. Yes, some old timers won’t want to be a part of the process, but what can one do? Those veterans who want to help other old timers who did not plan for their future or drank their future away, etc would be well served to be a part of the video game and donate their earnings to those more needy, if that was there mindset. At least the Austin vs. Hogan match could be booked on the Legends Video Game.

- I can’t be sure why certain things jump into my mind, but this morning I thought about when I used to travel with Don "The Spoiler" Jardine, whose car was always immaculate and smelled so fresh, which was a contrast to the cigar stained, beer spill odors of so many other wrestlers. Don always had classical music on the radio, as well, and gave me a great education of what it took to be a great, wrestling villain. More people who have had long, productive careers in the wrestling business had one common denominator and that was that they worked the territories and were able to exchange ideas and philosophies on long car trips. It’s amazing what happens when one doesn’t have access to a cell phone, etc. A conversation actually takes place.

- I read where Kurt Angle has been having more neck problems, which gives me cause for genuine concern. Getting that "one more match" and then "another match" out of a flawed body is flirting with disaster. I have great respect for Kurt’s athletic ability and helped hire him in the WWE and I hope he doesn’t stick around as a wrestler for one match too many. Especially when he has so many other skills that have little to do with putting on a singlet and risking his long term health.

- For the record, I am not a fan of stripping any one of a title and feel that titles should be won and lost inside the ring. I know I am old school, I get reminded of that on a fairly regular basis, but that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Labels: floyd mayweather, jim ross, kurt angle

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

TNA Champion Kurt Angle recently did an interview with Mike McMahon. In it, he talks about the circumstances surrounding him leaving WWE.

Angle commented, "I wanted time to really heal my neck," said Angle. "I went to Vince McMahon, the head of WWE, and asked for the time off and he basically said, 'No.' That incident really made me look at my life. That year, I was on the road for 304 days, and my marriage was just falling apart, my wife had filed for divorce... I went back to Vince and asked to go part-time, like some of the older veterans had done. He said no to part-time, so I was fed up and told him I wanted to quit, and he got really mad, and I mean really mad, almost like he wanted to fight me. I took real offense to that. My life was falling apart, and I felt like they didn't care. My neck was in tough shape, and they wanted me to keep performing every night. I felt I deserved to at least go part-time, even though I really needed the time off."

Labels: kurt angle, tna, vince mcmahon

Posted by Matt Loede at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

As we continue to run through lists upon lists leading up to WrestleMania 24 in Orlando, I guess it can only be time to take a look at what we feel are the top 10 matches in WM history. Trust me, there will be some left off the list that I am sure you will think should be on there, and if so, feel free to let me know, but this is what we came up with and for now - we're sticking to it!

1. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - WrestleMania III: While this was not the main event on the card, this match is still to this day the all-time best at Mania. The back and forth between these two, plus the added importance of the match being for the IC belt cannot ever be overshadowed in my opinion. A 14 minute 35 second classic that truly was one of the best of all-time.

2. Steve Austin vs The Rock - WrestleMania X-Seven: This is the second of the three Austin-Rock matches from Mania, and this one was by far - the best. Just over 28 minutes, these two fierce wrestlers put it all on the line as they went back and forth for the WWF Title. A lot of blood, sweat and tears were lost in this one, and while the ending was a bit short, the match itself was incredible.

3. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart - WrestleMania X: This was really the first of a great series of matches between these two brothers that stretched out the entire year, and this really got the feud off to a great start. A 20-minute epic that went back and forth, and ended with Owen getting the best of Bret with a sit down on a victory roll. I'm sure to this day Bret will say that his matches with Owen were some of his best.

4. TLC (Edge & Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz) - WrestleMania X-Seven: A match that was clearly one of the most dangerous in Mania history was pulled off as one of the best ever, as these three teams went back and forth close to 16 minutes, putting their bodies on the line each and every second. They took some huge risks, and they were rewarded by having one of the best matches of Mania history.

5. Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 21: One of the best pure wrestling matches in Mania history, these two went back and forth for over 27 minutes in a match that won't for sure be forgetton. Angle was at his very best on this day, and Michaels was not far behind. The ending with HBK tapping out to an ankle lock that seemed to last forever was by no means a letdown, and this match delivered in every way.

6. The Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan - WrestleMania X8: I already know that this is one I will take heat over, but let me just say that this match was one of the hottest matches crowd-wise in Mania history, and from a historical standpoint on what it really represented, this was a very good match. The crowd at the SkyDome made this match the best of the night, and while there were no belts at stake, this really was the main event. They billed it as "The Best Ever" and it can't be denied it really was two of the all-time greats.

7. Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania X: The first high profile ladder match in the history of the company, and these two went back and forth for close to 19 minutes in a match that is still fun to watch to this day. Ramon was at his best, and as far as Michaels went, this really was the first match that made him the "Showstopper." Great match with some brutal and solid action.

8. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13: Somewhere out there I know that I saw this match as the greatest in Mania history, and while it was a very, very good match, I dont' think it was the best ever. Yes, it was brutal since it was a submission match, and the facials of Austin at the end of the match when he "passed out" were great, but overall, it was not as good as some make it out to be. With that said, it's still high enough to be one of the 10 best ever.

9. Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle - WrestleMania XIX: Even knowing Angle was working on a severe neck injury, this match between these two stars was a very good main event to end one of the best Mania's ever. Angle worked his butt off here, and Lesner showed why he clearly could have been one of the best ever if he wouldn't have let his ego get in the way of his pro career. This match also had one of the most scariest moments, as Lesnar nearly knocked himself out trying a shooting star press.

10. John Cena vs Triple H - WrestleMania 22: Again, the crowd is what made this match, and there out and out hatred for Cena was classic, even more so when he actually won via submission, which was a shock to the crowd in Rosemont at the Allstate Arena. This was a very good back and forth match, where you always had the feeling that Triple H was going to win, which is maybe why it was as good as it was, due to the surprise ending.

Labels: hulk hogan, kurt angle, shawn michaels, the rock, wrestlemania

Posted by Matt Loede at 12:23 AM | Permalink | Comments