The Kurt Angle Show - WrestleMania 33 & 34 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

It’s WrestleMania season - and what a discussion this is going to be. From your return to the WWE, being inducted into the Hall of Fame, becoming General Manager and then your story with Ronda Rousey, Triple H & Stephanie. Let’s get right into it!

The rumor and innuendo starts in early 2017 that you’ll be heading back to the WWE after some independent promoters go to book you and you let them know you’re unavailable.

The Observer would report: “Angle said he had received a phone call from Paul Levesque in May and the subject of coming back to WWE was talked about, but he never got a follow-up call. Vince McMahon had been negative toward his return. Angle said when he didn’t get a follow-up call he felt it had fallen through.”

What do you remember of this phone call?

Did you get a chance to speak directly with Vince McMahon during this?

You had already been announced as a new character for the upcoming video game. Did that play a role in this or was that a separate deal?

Did you miss working with the WWE?

From the Observer: “Angle claimed he was called on 1/16 about being the main eventer for the WWE’s 2017 Hall of Fame ceremony, which takes place on 3/31 in Orlando at the Amway Arena. Angle has already said that he would like Steve Austin to induct him.”

It’s announced on January 16th, 2017 on Monday Night Raw you will be the newest inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame. How big a deal is this to you?

Was it really one day from them calling you to you agreeing to them announcing?

Kurt Angle joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017

Did you tell them you’d like Steve Austin to induct you?

As this is all going on - a very important moment takes place over in the UFC. Ronda Rousey loses to Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds at UFC 207 - effectively ending her MMA career. Did you see this fight?

Did you have a relationship with Ronda at the time?

Did you think Ronda could be a major player for the WWE like she was for the UFC?

At the time you comment to ESPN.com regarding your induction saying that you had only signed a contract until April and that wrestling wasn’t discussed. What was your physical shape at the time?

Would you had been interested or even capable of doing a full-time return to the ring?

A few weeks after you’re announced for the Hall of Fame you give another interview and now say that you’d like Austin, Cena or Undertaker induct you. Are you told Austin is unable to do so so you start hedging on it?

You work your last indie match against - oddly enough - Cody Rhodes at Northeast Wrestling in Waterbury, CT drawing 3,000 fans. At the time Mick Foley is the Raw GM and needs hip replacement surgery. Is this when the idea of you becoming GM is floated to you? Who has that discussion with you?

From the Observer: “Angle did an interview with The Sporting News about meeting Vince McMahon for the first time since 2006. “We met and the first thing he did was embrace me. He hugged me like I was his son. It got really emotional. We didn’t leave on the best of terms. It wasn’t bad terms but there were some angry remarks, especially from my side and Vince was frustrated with me, with everything going on at that point in time. To be able to come back and Vince say, `Just let it go, let everything in the past go. We’re here now, there’s nothing you need to worry about that occurred in the past. Just worry right now about the future. We have some wonderful plans for you in the future.’” Regarding wrestling he said that he knows that the WWE wants him to work for the company after the Hall of Fame, probably in a non-wrestling capacity. Angle was at the Smackdown show on 3/14 since it was in his home town of Pittsburgh. But he left before the show started. He filmed more interviews for WWE Network and other WWE documentaries and videos before the show started.”

Can you explain what meeting with Vince again was like?

The night before WrestleMania you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame. WWE’s really documented a lot of it so we won’t cover too much but how did it feel to have Cena induct you?

There’s a clip we’ll put up on social media of you getting emotional watching your career highlights. Can you convey how big a moment this is for you?

What is the process for the Hall of Fame? Did they write your speech for you?

Who’s idea was it to sing?

The milk Kurt…the milk! It was so good!

Your wife Giovanna’s podcast with Kim Orton and Jon Alba over on Podcast Heat - Wives of Wrestling - recently had on Reby Hardy and she talked about how Matt & Jeff Hardy’s return stole your fireworks! Did you hear this story?

WrestleMania has you come out during the introduction for the Hall of Fame members. How did it feel to be back in front of the WWE universe?

The pop - the stadium - no offense to your work while you were gone from the WWE but 75,000 people in that stadium. Felt good to be “home” didn’t it?

Was it a disappointment that Howard Finkel wasn’t able to be the one who announced your Hall of Fame entrance as had been tradition?

We’ll talk more about your run as GM, your storyline with Jason Jordan, and your return to the ring as a member of the Shield at a later time but we’ll skip ahead to around Survivor Series.

On October 23rd Shane McMahon leads an attack on Raw from SmackDown to launch Raw vs. Smackdown into a program for the Survivor Series.

On October 30th Stephanie McMahon returned and made you team captain of Raw vs. SmackDown at Survivor Series and if Raw lost you’d be fired. At this point did you know Ronda was coming or where the story was going?

Was the plan always for you to eventually have a program against Stephanie & Triple H due to being the GM?

What was the creative process like this time around? Much different than 2006?

We’ll cover the Survivor Series in great detail later this year for the 5 year anniversary but the angle heats up when Triple H turns on you at the Survivor Series and causes you to be eliminated.

Did you know at this point we were building to a match at WrestleMania?

It’s written in the Observer that the plan way back when you first returned to the WWE was to have a match between you & Hunter. Is that how you remember it?

The night after the Survivor Series you get right in Hunter’s face for him hitting you with a Pedigree and the crowd goes banana. You gotta be excited when you hear a crowd like that react?

Were you wanting a singles match with Hunter?

Are there any better heels than Stephanie & Hunter at this time?

Was there anybody on the roster at the time that you would’ve been interested in working with?

Ronda signs with the WWE and her debut is held off until the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia. What did you think of Rousey coming in? Did you know at this point the plan was for the mixed tag match?

You’re all over TV being the GM. You’re involved in the Alexa Bliss - Nia Jax program, Jason Jordan program with Seth Rollins & the Bar, Braun Strowman…do you think that was hurting you in the build?

At Eliminaton Chamber Ronda Rousey’s contract signing takes place. The story is that Hunter & Stephanie wanted to get Rousey into the WWE to help avenge when Rousey embarrassed them at WrestleMania 31 with the Rock. You reveal that to Ronda but she still signs anyway…and well things get messy between Ronda, Stephanie & Hunter.

Ronda Rousey puts Triple H through a table at her contract signing: WWE Elimination Chamber 2018

From the Observer: “Next came the Ronda Rousey segment. Kurt Angle, Stephanie McMahon and HHH were out. HHH said this was the best athlete the company has signed since Kurt Angle. HHH put her over like crazy, saying that she paved the way for young women athletes all over the globe. He called her the baddest woman on the planet. Rousey came out all smiles. She didn’t get that big an initial reaction but there were no boos. Michael Cole then put it over like the fans were giving her a standing ovation. She put over Angle and his winning an Olympic championship. She was almost in tears because the crowd got behind her. He said she would compete at WrestleMania but would not be given a title match. She wanted to earn it. She was about to sign when she saw Angle and HHH arguing in the background. She asked Angle if he wanted to say something. Angle said that he was in awe of HHH and Stephanie, saying that they were brilliant. He said that they have been talking about Rousey as long as he’s been back with the company. He said they couldn’t wait to sign her because they wanted to manipulate and control her for what they did to her at WrestleMania 31. He said that HHH had told him this was three years in the making and now we own the bitch. HHH told Angle to shut up. Rousey’s smile turned into her death stare. HHH said that Angle isn’t feeling well, that he was hospitalized earlier in the week with the flu and is having a relapse and he needs to take Angle to the doctor. Stephanie then told Rousey that it was true, that she did embarrass them at WrestleMania 31, but she also impressed them. Stephanie said Rousey was one of the greatest fighters in the world and they’ve been wanting her ever since. Angle was being dragged to the back by HHH and said, “Didn’t you tell me Ronda was a has-been and even you could take her.” Stephanie looked stunned. Rousey got in her face and HHH came back in and got between them. Rousey got in HHH’s face and suplexed him through a table. The crowd went nuts for that spot. Stephanie then slapped Rousey in the face. The crowd was hot for Rousey but Stephanie then bailed out. That was smart as Rousey shouldn’t touch Stephanie on offense until WrestleMania. Rousey then signed the contract.”

How do you think Ronda did in her first real action in a WWE ring? This is such a great perfectly well laid angle Kurt. Who had a hand in the creative here?

The next night on Raw the story continues … “The final segment saw HHH & Stephanie out. Stephanie said how the signing of Rousey was going to be one of their proudest moments, but Angle’s hallucinations messed it up. She said they thought he had the flu, but found out he had double pneumonia. She said that Rousey’s actions may have been appropriate in MMA, but it’s not tolerated here. Yes, in MMA it’s completely appropriate to suplex your boss through a table. She said she understood Rousey acting out her savage instincts because that’s how she was trained. She said that she had to get physical with Rousey to remind her of the hierarchy of WWE. She said that Rousey signed her contract last night so WWE owns her. Rousey and Angle came out. Rousey had the mean glare going. Angle said that he needed this job. So then Angle said that he lied last night. Of course nobody believed this. Fans booed that. Angle said he was sorry. Rousey grabbed the mic and said that Stephanie still needed to apologize to her for slapping her. She said if she didn’t, she wouldn’t hesitate to rip her arm out of its socket. Stephanie did the most insincere mock apology to Rousey, and then she and HHH left the ring, but not before HHH gave Angle a sucker punch to end the show.”

Were you ok with this creative here Kurt looking like you had to back down and you needed this job? Or was it necessary to keep the story going.

Now in prep for this you, Hunter, Stephanie & Ronda all worked out at the PC going over the match many times is that correct?

In my research I also heard that Ronda didn’t know how to do anything half speed and ran through everything full speed. Is it tough to try and teach that to someone who doesn’t really understand it?

Who helped you all put the match together? Did you need an agent?

It feels like your match is the most pushed match on the show in the weeks coming up to it…even when you consider Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar is the scheduled main event, Taker vs. John Cena is being built up, and Charlotte vs. Asuka’s unbeaten streak. Do you think that was based on the strength of the angle or the fact Ronda is the big new signing?

The next week on Raw it’s announced that in Ronda’s contract there was language added that she had creative control over her opponent at WrestleMania…and picked Stephanie. Stephanie tries to say she isn’t talent but you step in and correct her that she’s an exec and talent. You also bring up Hunter has double contracts and ask Ronda if she would be OK with doing a mixed tag at Mania…and she agrees.

This really is some great creative work and all 4 of you are tremendous in your roles. Are you surprised Ronda was able to just step in and be great at this?

Now the end of the segment… “Stephanie started yelling at Angle. She went to slap him but Rousey blocked the slap. HHH then went to sucker punch Angle, but he ducked it and came back. Angle got the ankle lock on him but HHH kicked Angle off. Stephanie blind sided Rousey, who went to a knee, but got right back up, while Stephanie ran off. HHH then set up Angle for the pedigree. The only problem here was the timing as Rousey needed to be selling when the set-up came, because since she wasn’t, she had to just stand there and do nothing. But Angle reversed into the ankle lock until Stephanie pulled him to safety. Rousey then grabbed Stephanie by the hair and pulled her in the ring and laid her out with a Samoan drop. The segment was great. It worked huge to the live crowd. Rousey got her name chanted and they in the end reacted to her like a big star.”

Ronda Rousey's Road to WrestleMania: Raw, March 12, 2018

Daniel Bryan ends up getting cleared to return at WrestleMania after years of injury issues. Did you get a chance to talk to Bryan during this time on his process?

Bryan’s always said you getting cleared to compete again was a big part of his determination that he could get cleared as well. How does that make you feel?

Was there ever talk of putting your match on last to your knowledge and being the main event?

Hunter & Stephanie aren’t on TV for the last couple of weeks towards the build of Mania. Do you know why that is?

Rousey cuts a big promo on Stephanie saying she’s trust fund tough, limousine tough and personal trainer tough. Are you surprised you didn’t get more mic time?

The go-home Raw features a “press conference” type segment with Jonathan Coachman. From the Observer: “HHH made fun of Angle's three I's, saying he sees the intensity and integrity but not the intelligence. He said that Rousey was perhaps the biggest signing in WWE history and Angle ruined it and set her up for embarrassment, because she's going to lose on the biggest stage possible. Stephanie said they signed her because she's a big star, they chant for her even with her appalling attitude. She said they brought her in because it was best for business. She said Angle works for her and has already derailed your career, cost you millions of dollars and cost the company millions of dollars. They talked about how Rousey dreamed of coming to WWE, but this is their lives and there is a massive learning curve and it's a foregone conclusion that she's going to lose. Angle said that Rousey was going to make Stephanie tap out. Stephanie said that Rousey's first match in WWE will be a loss and we all know how she handles losses. I like that they address real but doing it in a way to make them heels. Rousey asked if she was right or left handed, saying she didn't want to tear off her arm that she signs the checks with. Fans popped for that line. They ended up and had them pose together. HHH and Angle shook hands. Rousey wouldn't shake hands with Stephanie. HHH then suckered Angle, hitting him from behind with a mic. Rousey started choking HHH, and Stephanie got underneath her and kind of choke slammed her through a table. In the end, the build was simple, effective, and they covered Rousey's limitations well.”

Are you happy with how this all goes?

Going into Mania according to my research you worked out the whole match 4 times in the week up to the show, a couple times the day of in the practice ring but the night before the show in your run through you got hurt. What did you hurt?

Did it affect you?

Was anybody worried?

Were you?

You get the most amount of time on the card for your match. Did you think it was necessary to tell the story you were telling?

The match itself is voted as best match of the show according to Wrestling Observer readers. Here’s the recap from Meltzer:

“The Kurt Angle & Rousey vs. HHH & Stephanie McMahon match was generally viewed as the highlight of the show, with Rousey making one of the best debuts in pro wrestling history.

7. Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey beat HHH & Stephanie McMahon in 20:26. So the story is that nobody in the history of the company was ever there so long before having their first WrestleMania match and Stephanie started as a character 19 years ago. Jerry Lawler started with WWF in 1992 and his only WrestleMania match was in 2011, but in his case it was 18 years plus. HHH & Stephanie came out to a big motorcycle parade ring entrance. Rousey came out wearing a kilt like Roddy Piper. The crowd was up more for this than anything on the show, by a wide margin. They were chanting Rousey’s name right away. McMahon pie faced Rousey and pulled her down by the hair. It started with Angle vs. HHH to build to the women. Stephanie pulled down the ropes and Angle took a bump over the top. HHH threw him shoulder first into the post. Stephanie slammed his head on the ring steps. HHH was beating on him. HHH went to punch Angle, who moved, and almost hit Stephanie. Angle went to tag but Stephanie had pulled Rousey off the apron. Finally Angle got out of a pedigree and flipped HHH over the top rope and made the hot tag. The place went insane. Rousey used a back suplex and a ton of punches, dropping Stephanie with a body shot, just like Coach Edmond taught her. Rousey was throwing her around and then did a monkey flip into the mount. Rousey went for the armbar and Stephanie broke it attacking the eyes. The one bad thing, and this is probably the only thing negative about this match is that Stephanie’s ability to continually block the armbar was too ridiculous, especially in Rousey’s first match. Blocking the armbar should be saved for a top wrestler many matches deep in her career. Stephanie tried to tag out but HHH wasn’t there. Rousey hit a DDT and a spinning Samoan drop, but HHH pulled the ref out of the ring before he could count three. HHH then pulled Rousey out of the ring. Angle went after HHH. HHH flipped Angle onto the Spanish table. Rousey then challenged HHH. The place went nuts again. Rousey landed all kinds of punches on him and also hit him with a huracanrana. They were very careful that HHH never got any offense on her and any man vs. woman stuff was the woman attacking and not the man. Rousey was throwing all kinds of punches to HHH and got the armbar on him which may have been the biggest pop on the show except for maybe Bryan’s ring entrance. Stephanie broke it up and slapped Rousey. Rousey chased her around the ring but Stephanie was able to throw Rousey into the post. In the ring, Angle gave HHH two belly-to-belly overhead throws and two German suplexes. HHH came back with a pedigree but Angle reversed into an ankle lock. Stephanie broke it up. He put the ankle lock on Stephanie but HHH then hit the pedigree on Angle. Rousey saved. Angle put the ankle lock on HHH but HHH broke it by pulling Angle into Rousey. HHH shoved Angle into the post and Stephanie threw Rousey shoulder first into the post. They set up a double pedigree spot, but Angle backdropped HHH over the top rope and Rousey reversed and got the armbar. They showed Dana White at ringside, and identified him as Rousey got a standing ovation when it was over. ****¼”

What did you think Kurt? What did Ronda think? Were Hunter & Stephanie happy? How was Vince?

Listen…you’ve had amazing Mania matches in the past - against Shawn being the biggest and most memorable. But Kurt this is a whole different beast working with Ronda Rousey in her first professional wrestling match, Stephanie McMahon who isn’t a full-time worker, and you & Hunter aren’t exactly spring chickens here. Do you consider this your biggest achievement or accomplishment to help make Ronda the megastar she still is?

Do you wish this would’ve been your last match looking back?