WWE Legend Kurt Angle Turns Down Shaquille O’Neal’s AEW Offer

Before AEW Revolution, Kurt Angle teased his return to wrestling with a cryptic Instagram video. However, the former Olympian trolled us all and had a hearty laugh. Angle isn’t keen on wrestling again, but a certain Shaquille O’Neal wants to see in him in AEW.

NBA legend trying to recruit WWE legend for AEW

A week after the Revolution PPV, Shaquille O’Neal made his AEW debut against Cody Rhodes. He teamed up with Jade Cargill against Cody and Red Velvet on a special edition of Dynamite called the Crossroads. Shaq’s debut was better than anyone would’ve expected, and he also took a huge table bump.

Although he’s only wrestled one match, Shaq’s career in AEW is far from over. We could see the giant return to face Cody down the line. But for now, he’s being a recruiter. The NBA legend is now trying to get former WWE Champion and Hall of Famer Kurt Angle to join AEW.

On the Kurt Angle Show, the former Olympian revealed that Shaq’s been texting him to join AEW. “Shaquille O’Neal just texted me today and said, ‘You need to come to AEW’. I was like, ‘I’m not going to do that.”

He also claimed that if he were to make his in-ring return, it would be for WWE and not AEW.

Angle wrestled his last match at WrestleMania 35 against Baron Corbin. Despite the history surrounding the match, fans and wrestling critics reacted negatively to it, with many claiming Corbin was the wrong person to retire Angle.

Should Kurt Angle receive a better farewell?

In the run-up to his retirement match, Angle faced a bunch of his former rivals and iconic opponents – from his TNA rivals Samoa Joe and AJ Styles to his WWE rivals Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Drew McIntyre. It looked like WWE was giving Angle a proper farewell, but the feud with Corbin ruined everything.

No offense to Corbin, as he played the role of a despicable heel to perfection, but was he really the ideal opponent for Angle’s last match? The WWE Universe wanted John Cena; Angle himself wanted John Cena, but WWE wouldn’t allow that to happen. Even in his last match, Angle selflessly put Corbin over.

WWE followed up with Corbin pretty well, having him feud with Seth Rollins over the Universal Title and then win the King of the Ring. However, Angle’s farewell wasn’t what he deserved, and if he ever wrestles again, maybe AEW could give him one worthy of a Hall of Famer.

Read More: The Controversy Behind the Backstage Fight Between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle