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Kurt Angle is one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history, who had incredible runs in both WWE and TNA. The Olympic Gold Medalist was not always sure about giving the sport a try though, which is perhaps understandable considering his background in amateur wrestling.
When he won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, there was immediate interest from the WWE, who wanted to sign him to a long-term deal.
Angle would pass up that golden opportunity though. Later that year, he was talked into going to an ECW taping though, in what was his introduction to professional wrestling, and let's just say, it did not work out as he would have envisioned.
Why Kurt Angle Turned Down A Mega Contract From WWE
Angle became a big name following his win at the Olympics and WWE clearly had a serious interest in bringing him in. How serious? Well, serious enough for them to offer Angle a contract worth $500,000 a year for a period of 10 years, without ever seeing him step foot into a ring.
That was life-changing money for Angle without a doubt, but then, he was from an amateur wrestling background.
He did not really understand the professional wrestling business and neither did the people who were advising him at the time and as a result, he ended up turning the $5 million deal down.
Another popular story from this time is how Angle never wanted to lose a pro wrestling match, owing to him being the Olympic Gold Medalist.
Kurt Angle Was Told ECW Was More Like Amateur Wrestling
Interestingly, while Angle had turned down the chance to go to the WWE, he would end up making an appearance on ECW that same year.
Shane Douglas knew a friend of Angle and approached him to make an appearance on ECW television, and told Angle that Paul Heyman's show was more like amateur-style wrestling.
Angle ultimately decided to go to an ECW show in late 1996, and it is safe to say that it was not the greatest introduction to professional wrestling.
Kurt Angle Was In An In-Ring Segment And Even Provided Commentary For ECW
It is almost surreal to see Angle on old-school ECW television, but that is exactly what took place back in 1996.
Joey Styles would end up introducing Angle to the ECW fans, as the fresh-faced Olympic Gold Medalist high-fived every fan on his way to the ring. Little Guido and Taz were then brought out, with Taz even cutting a bit of a heel promo on Angle.
Little Guido and Taz would then take part in a match, which was truly more geared towards an amateur style, while Angle provided commentary with Styles and tried to grasp the concept of pro wrestling.
In hindsight, it is a pretty funny segment and one that fans seek out, as Angle seems completely like a duck out of water.
The Infamous 'Crucifixion' Incident Involving Raven And The Sandman
Thus, it feels like ECW actually had a chance of landing Angle but things would go completely wrong for them later on in the show and almost caused Angle to sue Heyman.
Unfortunately for ECW, Angle's appearance on the show came on the same night that Raven and The Sandman got involved in the now infamous 'Crucifixion' angle.
On the show, The Sandman defended his ECW World Heavyweight Championship against 2 Cold Scorpio but after the match, Raven's Nest, which included The Sandman's wife and son, came out and attacked the champion. He was then tied to a wooden cross and a crown made of barbed wire was put on his head, in a 'crucifixion'.
The incident ended up hurting the religious sentiments of a lot of people and Raven was even forced to make an apology to the fans out of character.
Angle was upset with the angle as well, and went to Heyman to demand that the show was not aired with him on it, or Angle would sue him.
Kurt Angle Would End Up In The WWE In 1998
It goes without saying that that was a rough introduction to pro wrestling for Angle and appeared to put him off the business for a while.
Ultimately though, he would end up joining the WWE in 1998. By then, the mega contract offer was off the table though, and instead, he was handed a $ 52,000-a-year developmental deal.
Ultimately, it worked out just fine for Angle, as he took to the business like a duck to water and would go on to become one of the greatest performers in pro wrestling history and go into both the WWE and TNA Hall of Fame.