After some 20 years in the wrestling business, the established Kurt Angle has made many friendships, accumulated a huge fan base and gained knowledge throughout his illustrious career. 

The self-proclaimed 'best in the business' is one of the few remaining icons in the industry and lucky fans got a chance to put their questions to the 47-year-old at a recent question and answer session in London. 

A return to WWE has been a hot topic for a while now with the former Tag Team Champion reportedly interested in a 'Team Angle' reboot, but with many issues facing the company the wrestling machine offers his thoughts in the build up to WrestleMania 32.

On Booing Roman Reigns

Angle says he understands the fan's frustrations over Roman Reigns (image: BleacherReport.com)
Angle says he understands the fan's frustrations over Roman Reigns (image: BleacherReport.com)

The talk surrounding Roman Reigns is now inescapable during the build up to what is being labelled 'The Big One' and the veteran superstar was no Houdini during the fan orientated session. With 30-year-old Reigns set to headline WM 32 in Dallas going one-on-one with authority member Triple H, fans are split between the booking decision but who else is better to ask for their opinion than a man who headlined 'The Grandest Stage of Them All' at WrestleMania 19 against Brock Lesnar

Angle's thoughts on the fan rejection towards the push of the former Shield member was clear, he believed there were too many favourable matches that have caused 'The Big Dog' to become stale very quickly as he said he could "understand fan's frustrations." The four-time WWE Champion offered a simple solution for the predicament "turn him heel" in a rather blunt admission, but it could prove to be the simplest and boldest move but most importantly the right move. 

Angle's success truly arrived upon turning heel after his character originally maintained a comedic nature to his personality, it was not until Judgement Day 2002 - after losing to Edge in a stipulation match that saw him forced to shave his head- that he became 'The Wrestling Machine' as his well famed bald head become the emblem of his no nonsense persona. 

On Shane McMahon return

Shane McMahon returned to Monday night raw with a huge 'pop' from the crowd (image: therollingstone.com)
Shane McMahon returned to Monday night raw with a huge 'pop' from the crowd (image: therollingstone.com)

The son of chairman Vince McMahon returned to WWE television on last week's Monday Night Raw receiving a huge pop from the crowd in what was the most unexpected moments of the past year. 

Shane McMahon announced 'a deal' his father had made with him to take control of the company in its time of need. After angling for a complete takeover of Raw, Shane-O-Mac was cornered into a huge match at WrestleMania 32 against The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell contest. 

Angle felt this was a great move for WWE describing it as "The best thing" the company had "done in five years." The bold statement offered perspective to how an established professional outside of the company has viewed the recent years of the company, and many would agree that in the PG Era the product has become restrained and too simplistic, lacking any real surprises. This is why the crowd reaction last Monday may have been so emphatic.

Shane left the company in 2009 stating he needed not to "spend more time with family" and cites his "father's shadow" as one of the key reasons of his release. After venturing out successfully into the business world, the father of three became chairman of a broadband company in China before he becoming CEO of YOU, an videoing service in Asia, dubbed 'The Netflix of China.'

With an impressive stock standing at $36 million and rising it's clear the former Hardcore champion is not returning to his family's company to make a profit to which Angle said on the 46-year-old's return "He must really love his family."

On Chris Benoit

Angle faced of against Benoit on a number of occasions (image: Sportskeeda.com)
Angle faced of against Benoit on a number of occasions (image: Sportskeeda.com)

Despite most wrestlers shying away from any mention of the rabid wolverine, Angle answered the questions regarding his former friend citing him as "The best wrestler I have faced."

The history regarding the tragic death of the 40-year-old has been well documented, but the WWE have opted to ignore the death of the 2004 Royal Rumble winner. The acts he committed to his wife and child are not ones a publicly traded company rightly deem acceptable. 

The overlook of the deceased Canadian has been something that Angle has spoken about in the past as he revealed to WrestleTalk TV in December 2015 "If things did not end up the way they did" he believed people would be "talking about Benoit as the best ever."

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Joel Lampkin
Sports Journalist from Chester University, Professional wrestling writer. Contact [email protected]