There’s always been a curious relationship between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Over the years, we’ve seen fighters like Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn try their hand in the WWE. We’ve also seen professional wrestlers like Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley go the other way, giving MMA a go.
And Kurt Angle could be the next former WWE superstar to move into the realm of mixed martial arts, with the 1996 Olympic gold medalist revealing that there is a slim chance that he could accept a fight under the Bellator banner.
Angle joined forces with Bellator last year in a commentary capacity but has admitted that a slight possibility exists that he could swap the headset for the 4 oz. gloves.
“We (Angle and Bellator) signed for a few different dates,” Angle told Rodolfo Roman. “My next date is February 19th in Houston, Bellator 149, the main event is Gracie vs. Shamrock. I’ll be commentating some that night. But I think they’re having me get my feet wet, commentate a little bit and maybe more down the road, if I do decide to fight.
“The chances are 1% that I’ll fight, 99% that I won’t. I don’t plan on fighting but if I feel good, my body’s good and the training’s going well then I might consider it down the road. But right now, I’m saying no.
“I do enjoy being a part of Bellator. They have their own theory about what they want to do. They take chances and I love that.”
While Angle has remained non-committal to fighting, he has already decided on the class of opponent that he’d like to take on if he does agree to a professional MMA bout.
“When it comes down to it, I’m 47 years old,” Angle continued. “Kenny (Shamrock) and (Royce) Gracie are probably in their early 50s. (Dan) Severn is in his early to mid-50s.
“Of course I’m not going to fight a guy in their prime. It’s not going to happen. It’s obviously going to be one of the older guys.
“If it does come to fruition, it’ll be a hell of a fight. Whether it’s Kimbo Slice or Ken Shamrock or Dan Severn, whoever it is. Even Royce Gracie, you’ll never know.
“If I do decide, it’ll be with a hall-of-famer. It won’t be somebody in their prime, in their early 30s. No way, not now!”
