5 WWE dream matches fans never got to witness

#3 Kurt Angle vs. CM Punk (WWE Wrestlemania 23)

August 1st 2006. 14 years ago today @CMPunk made his WWE Debut, he beat Justin Credible on an episode of ECW. #WWE pic.twitter.com/GbGqdooP84

— WWE Today In History (@WWE__History) August 1, 2020

This is another dream match that slipped through the hands of WWE in the year 2006. On August 1st, 2006, CM Punk debuted on the ECW brand after some hype. Later that same month on the 25th, WWE granted an early release to former WWE Champion Kurt Angle due to the situation surrounding his health issues. Before his release, Angle was on the ECW brand as well, so this is a match we could have seen.

Although Angle was injured in a match with RVD and was self medicating prior to leaving WWE, "The Olympic Hero" would go on to compete for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) just a few months following his release. Angle would have a stellar run with TNA, including a legendary feud with Samoa Joe.

It is not out of the question that WWE could have held on to Angle and allowed him time to recover, as well as deal with his addiction, prior to a return ahead of Wrestlemania in 2007.

2006: Kurt Angle headbutts Samoa Joe in his TNA debut2019: Samoa Joe heatbutts Kurt Angle on RAW#RAW #TNA @RealKurtAngle @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/5Z854rWzs9

— Kelsey (@iAmKelsey91) March 26, 2019

With Kurt out, WWE could have built the ECW brand around their young star in CM Punk, leading to a confrontation at the grandest stage of them all. Punk could have went in as the ECW Champion against the most decorated superstar in the land of extreme.

Not only would this be a tremendous contest, it would elevate the ECW brand, the ECW Championship and Punk. With the Straight Edge Superstar facing a wrestler the caliber of Angle in his first 'Mania appearance, WWE could have shown a dedication to their third brand and a future star in a time when it was rarely seen.