Kurt Angle returned to WWE to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it led to him taking the role of general manager on Raw. The fans responded well to this decision, and for good reason.
Despite being gone for 11 years, Angle is still over with the WWE Universe. His work in the ring is second to none, and his personality allows him to switch from serious to funny at the drop of a hat.
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The Olympic gold medalist will likely wrestle at least one match for the company, but for now, he is the resident authority figure on Monday nights. He has already established himself as a man of action in the few short weeks since taking the job.
It's only a matter of time before Stephanie McMahon and Triple H return to a position of power on television, and when that finally happens, it should create an interesting dynamic between the three.
This slideshow will look at five reasons why Kurt Angle was the perfect choice for the position of Raw general manager.
#5 The fans love him
The casual fan may think chanting “you suck” during Angle's entrance is a sign of disrespect, but it couldn't be further from the truth. The chants have become linked to his music to the point where it's no longer a negative statement.
Every time his song plays in an arena, the fans get on their feet and start cheering. His popularity hasn't waned at all in the years since he last worked for the company as a wrestler.
Whether it's his ability to suplex anyone from any position or his willingness to put on a tiny cowboy hat and sing, Angle is always willing to do what it takes to make sure everyone leaves the show with a smile.
Angle is one of those guys who could easily find a position once he is retired for good because he will always be a valuable commodity as far as the fans are concerned.
#4 He won't be intimidated
One of the biggest problems with past authority figures is how easily they can be manipulated by Superstars who are intimidating, but that won't be a problem where Angle is concerned.
We have already seen his willingness to stand up to bullies on Raw during a confrontation with Braun Strowman. The Monster Among Men said he wanted more competition “Or else,” and Angle immediately replied, “Or else what?”
Those three simple words established Angle's unwillingness to be pushed around, even by a guy who probably eats Angle's weight in protein every week for his diet.
The roster is filled with heels who are going to try to take the low road, and it's going to be a lot harder when the man in charge knows all your tricks because he used to do the same things to get ahead when he was a villain.
#3 He is willing to be funny
So many wrestlers want to be seen as tough and serious, but Angle understands the value of mixing comedy into his character. He knows looking like a fool sometimes can actually benefit him in the long run.
It didn't matter if he was part of the joke or the butt of it. As long as fans had a chance to laugh, Angle was willing to do what was necessary. However, there is a good reason why he was able to make those sacrifices.
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No matter how silly he looked, as soon as Angle got in the ring, nobody could touch him. He was one of the best technical wrestlers to come along in years, and his chemistry with Superstars of all shapes and sizes was unmatched.
His Hall of Fame video package showed many of his funniest moments, and Angle even relived some of them on the stage during his induction speech. If WWE comes up with stuff that's even half as funny as his previous comedic moments, his run as GM is going to be hilarious.
#2 He brings mainstream media attention
When Angle was announced as the headliner of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017, every media outlet covered it. WWE loves anyone who can bring more attention to the product.
Vince McMahon has always wanted WWE to be a bigger part of pop culture, so whenever the company gets attention from outlets like ESPN, NBC, Fox and CNN, it takes full advantage of the press.
Lest we forget, Angle is also a legitimate Olympic legend after winning a gold medal in 1996 with a broken neck. Winning the gold is a huge accomplishment on its own, but doing it with a significant injury makes you the toughest man alive.
#1 He wants to get back in the ring
Angle has stated in every interview he has given since being announced for the Hall of Fame that he wants to get back in the ring for WWE at least once before he calls it quits for good.
Putting him on TV every week means he can establish relationships with the current roster on both the heel and babyface side of things. Once the perfect storyline becomes available, he can begin working toward a return to the ring.
He may end up in a feud with Triple H, but the better option would be to pair him with someone from the new generation of wrestlers he has never faced before.
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are at the top of the list for possible opponents, or WWE could have him lock up with someone from his TNA days like AJ Styles or Samoa Joe.
Having Angle serve as GM will create multiple opportunities for him to get back in the ring. WWE just needs to make sure it picks the right person to make the most of the storyline.
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