What’s the story?
WWE NXT Champion Bobby Roode and the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame inductee Kurt Angle have exchanged some words on Twitter.
The Tweets in question have involved the Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle seemingly calling Bobby Roode out for a match in the WWE, following Roode questioning a T-shirt design that had Angle putting him in an Ankle Lock. Roode has since responded to the challenge.
In case you didn’t know...
The 48-year-old Kurt Angle and the 39-year-old Bobby Roode have both previously been a part of the TNA (now Impact Wrestling) roster. As part of TNA, Angle and Roode were involved in many memorable matches, feuds and rivalries over the years.
On several occasions, Angle and Roode were even on the same side of proceedings. In fact, when Kurt Angle was leaving TNA, Bobby Roode and James Storm (as Beer Money) had given him an emotional farewell, complete with offering Kurt Angle a gallon bottle of milk to chug down.
Here’s a clip of one of the many interactions and confrontations that Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode had in TNA:
It is well known at this point that Angle has been clamouring for a return to the ring in the WWE, he has stated the same in several interviews that he has given since his Hall of Fame induction was announced.
Roode, on the other hand, is the currently reigning NXT World Champion and is certainly bound for the main roster at some point in 2017.
The heart of the matter
Wrestling merchandise website ProWrestlingTees recently came out with a new design for a Kurt Angle T-shirt. The design, which can be seen below, is a play on geometric angles. The design displays the Right, Acute and Obtuse angles in the first three frames and tops it off with Kurt Angle himself.
Here’s PWT’s Tweet, promoting the shirt:
The Kurt Angle image shows him putting Bobby Roode in an Ankle lock during their time in TNA.
Angle has put Roode in the Ankle lock several times over his TNA tenure, and while it is difficult to ascertain which exact match was the image taken from, it certainly is Roode on the receiving end in the image.
Also read: 5 men who could face Kurt Angle in his final WWE match
Angle retweeted PWT’s Tweet, promoting the design. Bobby Roode noticed this and came up with a Tweet of his own, pointing out that it was him on the shirt, he also used the hashtag #PreGlorious, making a reference to his wrestling career prior to his “Glorious” NXT days.
Roode’s Tweet was as follows:
Kurt Angle, who was also tagged by Roode in his Tweet, was prompt to respond and called out Roode for a match. Angle stated that it was indeed Roode on the shirt and insisted that Roode should never forget the fact that he had been put in the Ankle Lock.
Angle also went on to state that if Roode wanted, Angle could put him the Ankle Lock yet again, implying a challenge for a match.
Bobby Roode has since responded to Angle’s Tweet, stating that the idea of a WWE showdown sounded “Glorious” to him.
Roode’s Tweet is as follows:
A match, or even a confrontation between Bobby Roode and Kurt Angle, it appears, might not be too far removed from reality in the near future.
What’s next?
Kurt Angle will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 2017, by John Cena. The ceremony will be taking place on the 31st of March, 2017 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida and will be streamed live on the WWE Network.
Angle will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside the Rock “N” Roll Express, Teddy Long, Rick Rude, Beth Phoenix and Diamond Dallas Page.
After his induction into the Hall of Fame, Angle might make an on-screen return to the company, with the role of the Raw General Manager appearing to be in his future, if rumours are anything to go by.
Bobby Roode, on the other hand, is slated to defend his NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: Orlando, which is also being held at the Amway Center, on 1st April 2017.
Author’s take
As someone who had been a fan of TNA during the days of Bobby Roode, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle being on the roster, I would love nothing more than to see these two bonafide TNA Legends come face to face for a match inside a WWE ring.
Despite their Twitter banter, Bobby Roode has referred to Kurt Angle, many times, as the “best there’s ever been”. Roode holds Angle in very high regard and both him and Angle are good friends in real life, with Angle having stated on record that Roode is in his “Top 3”, and adding that Roode reminded him of Arn Anderson.
The friendship and in-ring chemistry that these two veterans share would certainly be put on display were they to ever face off against each other in a WWE ring. It’s a spectacle that any professional wrestling fan would love to watch, and I for one certainly hope that this can be made to happen.
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