I truly believe, and I have always believed, that Kurt Angle will return to WWE for one final run before finally hanging up the boots and retiring. I don't say that as a slight against TNA in any way whatsoever, and I don't think that has anything to do with TNA being in high schools or suffering in the ratings or anything else like that. I feel that Kurt Angle came to TNA truly believing that he would be a difference maker and that he would elevate TNA significantly and be a big part of making them true direct competition to the big leagues. When it became apparent that this would never be the case, I felt then and there that at some point, he would return for a limited run in WWE in some capacity.
No one in the world not named Goldberg has an ego the size of Kurt Angle. That being said, he is going to want to go out with all the pomp and pageantry that frankly he deserves. He is going to want the financial windfall that a Lesnar-esque run will earn him. He is going to want induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. He is going to want to face some of the elite competitors that he either hasn't faced before, or hasn't faced for quite some time. And he is going to want to re-establish himself as truly one of the best ever, one of the elite competitors of his era, which he simply cannot do in TNA, especially in its current state.
It has nothing to do with "burning bridges" in the past. All parties involved will look beyond all of that if the dollars are in alignment. Lesnar, Warrior, Sable, RVD, Hogan, the list goes on and on of guys who have had significant problems with Vince and the WWE, and vice versa, who returned for mutual benefit. I have no doubt that Randy Savage, had he not prematurely passed, would have eventually mended fences with Vince and been inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. If Kurt Angle's contract expired, or if they let him out early, and Vincent Kennedy McMahon came calling with cheque book in hand, offering Angle a shot at the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, or a title shot, or winning the Royal Rumble, all parties involved, especially Angle, would be tripping over themselves to put it in action.
Sure, I've heard all of of Angle's pro-TNA rhetoric, and I fully believe what he says and that he truly believes what he says. I have no doubt that he has truly enjoyed his TNA tenure, that he is very appreciative of all they have allowed him to do, and that he really wishes he could have brought TNA to the heights his ego felt he would have. But at the end of the day, it's all about the Benjamins, the prestige, the legacy, etc., and I believe when all is said and done, it will be too enticing for Angle to pass up. He will be back, you can count on it, for a reduced schedule like has become commonplace for other guys. And he won't be alone. Especially if TNA is not able to right the ship and reboot their product, and soon.
