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On April 7, 2019, Kurt Angle wrestled his last-ever match against Baron Corbin. The match took place in front of 82,000 fans in New Jersey's Metlife Stadium at WrestleMania 35.
The Olympic hero was defeated by Corbin in just six minutes. Thereafter, the WWE Hall of Famer bowed out after competing inside the squared circle since 1998. It brought an end to the career of one of the most illustrious and gifted WWE Superstars of all time.
It was recently reported that Angle was set to make a return to the company. Reports suggested the former WWE Champion was set to return to television in the short term, but the move was ultimately scrapped. On the latest episode of The Angle Podcast, Kurt revealed more about what was lined-up for him:
"There are a lot of rumors going around that I was supposed to be booked for WrestleMania 38, which is not true at all. If you saw the posts, a lot of people thought that I was talking about WrestleMania when I was talking about what I was going to do at the Royal Rumble and have the program for a few weeks. Then the blow off would be in Saudi Arabia, where I would referee the match between RK-Bro and Alpha Academy." (h/t WrestlingNews.co)
But what if WWE had called Kurt Angle about a possible return to the ring for one night only? After all, there was a lot of displeasure from fans about Corbin being his final opponent.
A return match would be the ultimate method to make amends and compete against someone of a higher caliber. That's not to say Corbin isn't of a high standard, but the WrestleMania 35 match didn't feel big enough to warrant it being Kurt Angle's final bow.
On that note, let's take a look at five dream matches for Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 38 if he was to come out of retirement.
#5. Kurt Angle vs. Edge
A match between two of the Attitude Era's biggest stars would immediately hook the interest of the WWE Universe. Edge and Angle were rivals in the past, and seeing them collide again in 2022 would be a full-circle moment.
When Kurt Angle put on his wrestling boots for the last time, Edge was still in retirement, and had been since 2011. Had Angle's retirement held off for a short while longer, they could have grappled once again inside the squared circle.
A potential classic between The Olympic Hero and The Rated R Superstar would have already earned its place on the WrestleMania card. The pair fought during the Attitude Era, through the Ruthless Aggression Era, and could now add a final chapter in the modern era.
#4. Kurt Angle vs. Finn Balor
The dream match between Kurt Angle and Finn Balor should have happened long before The Olympic Hero hung up his boots.
Angle even stated in an interview with Metro that he hoped to face Balor at some stage in his career:
"He's on top of the world, one of the top three guys right now and he's just started. Being able to do a program with him would be awesome. I'm sure he dreamed of wrestling me back then, now I'm dreaming of wrestling him."
If the former WWE Champion was still competing today, Finn Balor would be the perfect opponent for him at the Show of Shows. The two even have a somewhat parallel background when it comes to competing all over the world. This match would guarantee to have everybody on the edge of their seats.
#3. Kurt Angle vs. Seth Rollins
Fans may recall that at the Tables, Ladders and Chairs event in 2017, Kurt Angle teamed up with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose to be an honorary member of The Shield for one night only.
Aside from entering the 2019 Men's Royal Rumble match, this was the only time both WWE Superstars stepped into the ring together on television. It's a crime that we never got to see them face each other before Angle retired.
Seth Rollins is one of the modern greats who would put on a stellar contest with the Hall of Famer. Era vs. Era, it just needed to happen. If Kurt wasn't retired, it would steal the show at WrestleMania.
#2. Kurt Angle vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Kurt Angle and Shinsuke Nakamura have teamed up together once during their time with NJPW. In 2008, they defeated AJ Styles & Hiroshi Tanahashi at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.
Prior to this, Angle and The King of Strong Style collided in a one-on-one match to unify the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP 3rd Belt title. Nakamura claimed victory over the former WWE Champion and took the spoils for himself.
Kurt Angle could aim to seek revenge on Nakamura and have their first-ever one-on-one match on United States soil. If the two were allowed to go all out, it would be a match for the ages.
As it stands, it's just another bout we'll never get to see that probably should have happened before the Olympian retired.
#1. Kurt Angle vs. Roman Reigns
The story is there. Kurt Angle replaced Roman Reigns at TLC in 2017 when Roman was ruled out of action. But how dare he take the place of The Tribal Chief in The Shield? The Head of the Table will need to make sure Angle falls in line like everybody else.
Roman isn't one for messing around these days, even if he was doing Rollins and Ambrose a favor that night. Angle could wind up being just another WWE legend that he picks off on his road to becoming the greatest of all time.
If Kurt was to return and compete at WrestleMania 38, this would be the ultimate face-off. Angle as the aging virtuoso and Reigns as the young, dominant monster would captivate fans. Kurt ultimately gets the star-studded match he deserves on the way out, and Roman gets a rub from the Hall of Famer. It's a win-win.
Who would you like to have seen Angle face at WrestleMania 38 if he wasn't retired? Let us know in the comments section below!
