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WWE News: Kurt Angle To Headline The WWE Hall Of Fame 2017 Class

By Bernadette Giacomazzo
Published on: 04:05 PST, Jan 17, 2017

After many rumors, much speculation, and tons of ideas about where, precisely, this year’s Hall of Fame class headed, the latest WWE news suggests that we know precisely what to expect now. After many years away from the spotlight, and a troubled past that includes drug abuse and other falls from grace, legendary wrestler Kurt Angle will be the headliner for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. But does that mean he’ll be back on the roster for good?

According to Forbes‘ latest WWE news, it was confirmed earlier today that Kurt Angle would be the headliner of the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame class, after much speculation about the possibilities. This news pleased Angle, who said that he was happy to be recognized by the company despite his previous issues with them.

“Hunter said they never forgot and he called and told me this is the first thing they want to do. And whether I wrestle or not after this — which is irrelevant right now — I’m just really proud to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.”

Angle, who is an Olympic freestyle wrestling champion, has a bit of a strange history with the WWE, according to CBS News‘ latest round of WWE news. Originally trained as an Olympic wrestler who was hesitant to join the WWE after his Olympic win, he eventually signed an eight-year contract with the company in 1998 and went on to win several major WWE titles.

Unlike many of the other “superstars” on the WWE roster, Angle was actually a trained wrestler; not just a showman. However, his career with the WWE was sidelined when, in 2003, he underwent neck surgery for some of the injuries he’d sustained in the ring. And though the WWE let him out of his contract in 2006 over his injury concerns, he signed with TNA Wrestling shortly thereafter, where he remained until 2016.

And while Angle battled drug addiction through that time, he still remained a beloved wrestler in the eyes of many. While it’s typical of the WWE to offer a contract to those wrestlers who are inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, even if only for a short while, no offer has been made to Angle from the WWE as of yet.

And according to the latest WWE news from Sky Sports, this induction will take place two days before WrestleMania 33, which will be held in Orlando, Florida.

Angle spoke exclusively to the outlet and said that he was shocked that he was about to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

“I was shocked. I’ve been out of WWE for a long time and out of touch with them so I didn’t really expect this. It’s a huge honor. This is the only Hall of Fame that I’m not in and probably [the one] I want to be in the most. I had a lot of fun entertaining the fans for seven years with WWE, and I’m glad that my hard work paid off. I gave a lot of energy and time to WWE those first seven years, and I’m grateful that they recognized it.”

What do you think of this latest round of WWE news? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

[Featured Image by Marsaili McGrath/Getty Images for Distinctive Assets]

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