Kurt Angle cleared to return to the ring

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

Kurt Angle has already received doctor's clearance to return to the ring. The news came on Wednesday, according to WWE.com, although Angle won't actually be returning to Smackdown until June 3.

 

"(Last week) I took about 30 bumps and I didn't have any pain in my neck or head, which is a good sign," he said. "That made me feel better."

 

Angle said that there are lessons to be learned from all of the injuries being suffered by wrestlers.

 

"If you give someone a powerbomb through a table, or if you press slam them out of the ring onto the floor - which we've done a million times - tell that story! Keep him off TV for a month or so, interview him about how he's doing," Angle said.

 

Angle says he isn't sure whether he'll be returning as a babyface or a heel, but figures the fans will decide. WWE officials have been debating what role would best suit Angle - returning to his heel role or getting the ball and running with it as the top babyface.

 

Credit - PWTorch.com

[Invictus 0]

Let the good times roll!

[Guest AndrewTS]

I'm still worried...but if he's cleared but still taking another 2 weeks off, that's great. I can't wait to see him back though.

 

Thank goodness for Dr. Jho.

[Guest Coffey]

I still can't believe he's coming back this fast. This is uncanny. I need to see it to believe it.

[Guest The Tino Standard]

I just hope the guy is gonna be ok. To hell with the wrestling and stuff... I mean yeah, Angle is as entertaining as anybody in the business, but I'd rather see a healthy Angle above all else. If this all works out, AWESOME. But yeah, I hope he's ready to come back and this doesn't lead to anything worse.

[Guest Austin3164life]

I'm all for this, but I'm praying Angle will be careful in the beginning to feel his neck out first.

[Guest ManKinnd]

So he'll be back in plenty of time for the first SD only PPV. This could really shape up to be a great show, with Angle, Lesnar, and Rey there. Plus, since it's SD only, guys like Hardy, Rhyno, and Benoit will be able to have some spotlight. I'm excited.

[Guest Aero]

Good news that Kurt's coming back, but he definitely should've stayed out a little longer to be safe.

 

(EDIT: I didn't see the other topics about booking Angle's return. I'll just keep this one in here.)

What does everyone think Angle should do upon returning? It's pretty apparent that he needs to do something with Brock as the long-awaited follow-up to WM, and WWE seems to think the same thing. I'd have him return as a face for an interview putting himself over as a superhero in two weeks, in the middle of the show. Then, have him cut a respect promo with Brock, keeping him face. Angle wouldn't be wrestling, yet, BTW. In coming weeks, have Angle continue to talk to Brock and stay face, yet at the same time, staying aligned with Team Angle. However, have Angle "scold" them for their work during his absense. Afterall, every week you hear Tazz yell something like, "I wonder what Kurt Angle's gonna think about this!" anytime TA loses a match.

 

Have Angle stick around as a face, but not wrestling yet. They can hype that for July or something. Despite Brock and Kurt respecting each other, there's still the hatrid between them. Everytime Brock talks to Angle, have him hint toward his win at WM, or that he's better than Kurt. Or, during a match, Brock could use the Ankle Lock. Bottom line, Kurt is quietly getting jealous and frustrated. In late June-early July, have Kurt in the ring for a pep talk type thing with Team Angle, and have TA about to turn on Kurt, because, let's say TA has continued to lose, so Kurt is in their faces' about it. Before TA can inflict any serious damage, Brock runs out to make the save, and Kurt seems a little angry, judging by his facial expressions. Due to this incident, the main event for that Smackdown is Brock (& a partner, if totally necessary) vs. Team Angle. In the end, TA is all over Brock, who can't take much more. Have Kurt run out to seemingly make the save with a chair, but instead, he nails Brock and reunites with TA. From there, Kurt gets on the mic and cuts a heel promo saying that he wants his title back, etc. It would kind of be like Kurt snapping after all that's happened: His loss at WM, neck surgery, inability to wrestle (in June), and TA's losses. This could either set up that Brock-Angle match for Vengeance or Summerslam. That seems to be the match that WWE wants.

Edited May 23, 2003 by Aero

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

I can't wait for Kurt to come back. Smackdown! really needs him on the show to be a great show. And the best part is, I'll be visiting my family in Chicago on June 3rd, so I'll actually get to see Smackdown! in its entirety.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

He's coming back on the night they come to Anaheim

[Guest Choken One]

Anaheim? Shit...The crowd always sucks in Anaheim...

[Guest Lightning Flik]

Hey... This arctile said letting Angle "have the ball as the top babyface"~!

 

You mean he has to be a fucking face to get the ball and run with it? WTF? Oh wait. I get it. Can't have Angle be the heel everyone loves to boo because that's reserved for Triple H to have (except, I don't think he's getting anything but deadly silence).

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Man, I've missed him a lot. Don't realize just how incredibly vital to a show he is until he's gone for a couple of months.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

So, any bets on how badly they're going to fuck this one up? The options are......

 

A) Immediatly sqauashing the face pop he gets by having him beat on Lesnar.

B) Launching him into a high profile feud with Mr. America.

C) Getting him to run in and put an anklelock on Tenacious Z's prosthetic leg.

 

My vote goes to C.

[Guest Banky]

So, any bets on how badly they're going to fuck this one up? The options are......

 

A) Immediatly sqauashing the face pop he gets by having him beat on Lesnar.

B) Launching him into a high profile feud with Mr. America.

C) Getting him to run in and put an anklelock on Tenacious Z's prosthetic leg.

 

My vote goes to C.

::sigh::

[Guest El Satanico]

I'm all for this, but I'm praying Angle will be careful in the beginning to feel his neck out first.

Him trying to be extra careful would just lead to him landing funny and injuring something else.

 

Over the next two weeks they will work out all of the testing the neck stuff. He'll feel comfortable going all out when he returns.

[Guest wwF1587]

i hope hes carefull as well... thank god he is coming back, hopefully with his return it will cut some of the America/McMahon shit goin on

[Guest EsotericMaster]

This seems a little early to me. I think it's only been Two months since his surgery. He should ride the pine for a while like Benoit did.

[Guest hebtheeagle]

If you'll be glad to see Angle back, give me a hell yeah!