WWE: Kurt Angle Names His Ideal Opponent For WWE Return

12/20/2016 10:54 am EST

Ever since the summer, when Kurt Angle told Title Match Wrestling that he had recently spoken to both Triple H and WWE chairman Vince McMahon, the return of WWE's Olympic Gold Medalist has felt inevitable. Angle confirmed mutual interest from both sides, but said no plans were currently in place.

In a recent interview, Angle made some plans of his own, naming the his ideal opponent for a WWE return. Despite wanting work with Rusev, Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and even Daniel Bryan, Angle named Seth Rollins as the guy that he is looking forward to facing off with the most.

"I wanted [to wrestle] Daniel Bryan, but unfortunately I don't think he's able to go anymore. But I'd say, right now, on that roster, Seth Rollins is the guy. I watch how he is, what he does, his style, his ability in the ring… Right now he's one of the best in the world. There are other wrestlers that I wanna wrestle: Rusev, Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns. But right now, I think that Seth Rollins has the bullseye on his chest, and he's the guy that raises expectations."

An Angle vs Rollins program would obviously produce a phenomenal in-ring product, but it will be hard to resist aligning Angle with American Alpha, who seem to be cut from the Olympian's very same cloth. Angle would have also seemingly fit perfectly into a classic nationalism program with Rusev. Despite Angle's obvious ties to his country, his reputation is more that of a wrestling machine than a national patriot in the same vein as Hulk Hogan or Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

Kurt Angle was a six-time world champion, a one-time United States Champion, one-time Intercontinental Champion, one-time European Champion, one-time Hardcore Champion, and one-time WWE Tag Team Champion. He is the tenth Triple Crown Champion and the fifth Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.

Angle was granted an early release from his WWE contract because of health reasons in 2006. Angle stated in the Kurt Angle: Champion documentary DVD that he asked for his release from WWE because he could not take time off and was working hurt, severely on some occasions. After spending 10 years with TNA/Impact Wrestling earlier this year, Angle became a free agent and stated that he will sign with a major wrestling organization in 2017, which last I checked, there is only one.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 2K Sports — which is the company that produces the annual WWE video game — is considering making Kurt Angle the pre-order bonus for next year's game, a la Goldberg, Sting, and The Ultimate Warrior. All previous pre-order bonus characters have ended up reaching a deal with WWE to return to the company, or, in Sting's case, debut. If this turns out to be the case with Angle, his return would likely be delayed until next year's Survivor Series, much like Goldberg this year.

Who would you like to see Angle square off with?

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