Baron Corbin: I Wish WWE Did More With Me Retiring Kurt Angle

When Baron Corbin unceremoniously retired Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 35 it caused widespread anger amongst fans who felt the Olympic Hero deserved better. However, instead of using this heat to push Corbin as a monster heel, WWE did very little with the occasion, and Corbin himself wishes they’d done more.

Speaking to TalkSport's Alex McCarthy, Corbin said the following about his Mania clash with Angle:

“I wish we would have [done more], I wish we would have really capitalised on the momentum that gave me, because that’s an incredible opportunity," he said. “When you look at the guy, and not just what he’s accomplished in WWE, but what he’s accomplished in life, for him to step out… Yeah, everyone is going to have a dream match for their final match and I can’t ever imagine Kurt Angle was like ‘I want to wrestle Baron Corbin for my last match in WWE!’ He had history, he was Cena’s first match in WWE and I understand that completely. Who wouldn’t want to go out wrestling John Cena as their last match? It’s a phenomenal thing to do if you’re in the ring with him or Kurt - doesn’t matter. To me, it was more than I could have ever wished for to be in that position with Kurt, because he’s a living legend, Hall of Famer, gold medallist; you can list his accolades all day long and that’s who I got to share the ring with at WrestleMania, one-on-one.”

Corbin continued "Most people fight their whole career for a one-on-one, singles matches on the card at WrestleMania because it’s hard. It’s really hard to get on that show and be in a prominent spot, and I think I was. To go out with a victory was something that surprised me. I would never have thought… I would have thought that Kurt was going to go out on a golden horse in front of everybody and give his salute. But I got the opportunity to get that victory and his kids were giving me the finger from the audience. It was amazing. I have the poster on my wall in the gym at home of everything. It’s a special thing I’ll always appreciate because I love Kurt as a person and a performer. He helped me immensely with what I do. And he enjoyed working with me, I think – at least that’s what he tells me, or he’s a really good liar! – but it was awesome. It was really cool. I wish, looking back, we always wish we could change or do more with something. But I would have loved to have gotten six months out of wearing a gold medal and just rubbing it in everyone’s face, but it was not the direction they had and we went a different way. I’m OK with it, we always find something else that works that’s good and fun and I love where I’m at now.”