Google News Inside the Ring: Kurt Angle and EC3 Discuss Wrestling's What-Ifs and Future Matchups
by NOMAN RASOOL
In a candid moment on his popular podcast, "The Kurt Angle Show," the WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold Medalist opened up about his tenure as a backstage producer for WWE. After retiring from active in-ring competition following his match against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35, Angle took on this off-camera role.
He continued to make cameo appearances on WWE TV until April 2020, when he was let go due to pandemic-related budget constraints. During the podcast episode, Angle revealed the call from WWE's Mark Carano that confirmed his release.
"When I got the call, I wasn't surprised. Honestly, I wasn't fully invested in the producer role. I knew my salary was higher than most, and if cost-cutting moves were coming, I'd likely be first on the list. I should have been more passionate about it, but my heart was still in wrestling," Angle confessed.
Wrestling Futures Unveiled
Special guest EC3, who was present on the podcast, praised Angle for the job he had done but noted that it looked as if Angle would have preferred to be in the ring. Angle responded, "Given a choice, I'd still be wrestling, but that option was off the table." The pair also playfully speculated about a hypothetical match where Angle could contend for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title.
Further into the discussion, EC3 took the opportunity to drop a challenge of his own, announcing he would defend the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title against wrestling sensation Bryan Danielson, albeit with undisclosed conditions.
This frank discussion sheds new light on Kurt Angle's departure from WWE, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look into the internal dynamics of the organization during a challenging economic period. It also teases intriguing possibilities for future matchups in the professional wrestling landscape, keeping fans eagerly awaiting what comes next.