12-time world champion makes a shocking revelation about his second WWE run: "We're going to teach him a little lesson"

A WWE Hall of Famer recently made a surprising revelation about his second tenure with the Stamford-based promotion. The former 12-time World Champion Kurt Angle explained why he felt underappreciated after returning to the company in 2017.

In his first stint with World Wrestling Entertainment from 1998 to 2006, the Olympic Gold Medalist was elevated to unprecedented heights. However, Kurt Angle requested his release due to an inability to take time off and the toll of continuous competition. The former four-time WWE Champion ultimately signed with TNA Wrestling in late 2006. There, he solidified his position as a leading figure and became a six-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion before departing in 2016.

After Angle's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 by John Cena, Vince McMahon appointed him as the General Manager of RAW upon his return to the company. The former World Heavyweight and WCW Champion Champion officially retired from in-ring competition in 2019 after losing a singles match to Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35.

During a recent appearance on Notsam Wrestling, Kurt Angle mentioned that he felt unappreciated during his second stint in the Stamford-based promotion, believing it was partly due to his abrupt departure in 2006 for TNA Wrestling.

"I just felt that my second time in WWE, I wasn't so much appreciated. I think it has a lot to do with me leaving the company high and dry in 2006 and going straight to TNA. I was supposed to go back to WWE in six months. Vince [McMahon] wanted me to take six months off and come back. So literally, when I left his office and I quit, I called TNA and got a contract that day," he said.

The four-time WWE Champion believed that World Wrestling Entertainment may have punished him for this decision:

"I didn't wait for a second, I knew what I wanted to do, and where I wanted to go, and I think they were like, 'Okay if he comes back, we're going to teach him a little lesson.'" [From 47:50 to 48:26]

You can watch the full podcast below:

Kurt Angle open to face John Cena during his WWE Retirement Tour

John Cena is set to retire from in-ring competition next year. As announced at Money in the Bank 2024, The Cenation Leader will be on a Retirement Tour from January to December 2025.

During the same interaction with Sam Roberts on Notsam Wrestling, Kurt Angle revealed that he would love to have a match against John Cena during the latter's Farewell Tour. However, the 55-year-old legend admitted that he is no longer physically capable of taking the impact of wrestling.

"Listen, I'm sure if I made a call, I could make it happen. But there's no way I can do it. But I would love to, you know, be one of John Cena's retirement matches," Angle said.

For those unaware, The Franchise Player made his WWE debut against Kurt Angle on an episode of SmackDown in 2002. It would be a fitting full-circle moment for John Cena if he faced the Angle during his Retirement Tour.

Please credit Notsam Wrestling and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.