WWE legend Kurt Angle reveals Shaquille O’Neal text him begging retired star to join AEW
KURT ANGLE has revealed Shaquille O'Neal has asked him to join All Elite Wrestling.
The new promotion wants to challenge WWE by attracting the biggest names in wrestling - but Angle isn't interested.
"Shaquille O’Neal just texted me today and said, 'You need to come to AEW'. I was like, 'I’m not going to do that'.
"Actually, if I did wrestle again, it would be most likely for WWE, but I’m not going to do that.
"AEW was always an option, I just never really considered it because I’m retired.
"I’ve heard the rumors. That’s what they are. They’re just rumors.
"People like to talk. They like to get excited about things, and, unfortunately, that’s not going to happen."
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Angle is a legend of the sport, winning an Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta games in 1996 and entertaining WWE fans for many years, retiring from the company in 2020.
But his legacy could be very different today had he accepted a 10-fight contract offer from UFC in 1997, revealing the shock proposal earlier this year.
And Angle has hinted at a return to wrestling in recent months - but it's now clear any potential comeback won't be with AEW.
The new promotion, founded by Fulham owner Tony Khan in 2019, has already made a huge impression on the sport.
AEW's YouTube channel has more than 2.15million subscribers and is a real threat to WWE's dominance.
NBA legend and wrestling hopeful Shaq, one of AEW's biggest names, had to be rushed to hospital in March after a table bump with Cody Rhodes.