Breaking Down Odds of Kurt Angle Making WWE Return

Both the desire and the demand are there for Kurt Angle's WWE return. And when a man with the drive to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling with a broken neck says he will do something, it's best not to doubt him. 

Angle believes another WWE run is in his future. Despite his age and shaky history with the company, chances are he will be right.

Talk of him coming back to the company has accelerated of late thanks to an interview with World According to Wrestling (NSFW language). In it, Angle said on the subject of a possible return to WWE, "Being clean now for three years and abiding by what I have to, I know that there will come a time where I will go back."

Angle's recent sobriety certainly increases the possibility of his wrestling for WWE again. That had to be the biggest roadblock to a return. The company has less to worry about now in terms of a PR nightmare or about Angle adhering to the Talent Wellness Program.

If Las Vegas were to post odds of Angle's return coming to fruition now, they would likely sit at 2-3. In non-numerical terms, the chances of seeing Angle compete with WWE again are excellent.

For one, he clearly wants to come back.

He has mentioned re-signing with his old company on several occasions. Before Daniel Bryan retired due to injury, Angle told Digital Spy that he would love to face Bryan. In a video interview with the Sun, he was asked about whether he could see himself back in a WWE ring. Angle said, "Yeah, there is that desire to go back."

And even after talking so much about talking a sabbatical after leaving TNA, Angle was back in the ring just this past weekend, going up against Rey Mysterio as part of a UR Fight pay-per-view.

Fans weren't sure what to expect at this stage in Angle's career, but the Olympian looked solid in the bout. 

F4WOnline's Josh Nason wrote, "Big surprise: this match was fun until Riff Raff got involved." Scott Fishman of the Miami Herald remarked on the quality of the performance:

Angle certainly isn't what he was years ago, but there appears to be some quality matches left in him. WWE has to be tempted to see what he can pull off in the twilight of his career, especially with how much anticipation his decade away has generated.

For those with doubts about WWE wanting to showcase an older, beat-up wrestler, look back at the company's history. If the situation is right and the star power is plentiful enough, age won't get in the way of a marquee matchup.

A 56-year-old Sting battled Seth Rollins in the main event of Night of Champions last year. Bret Hart took on Vince McMahon at age 52, eight years removed from a stroke.

Angle won't ever be a full-time member of the roster again. His farewell run with WWE won't be a lengthy one, either. Too many surgeries and too many miles on Angle's wheels will make sure of that.

Still, as Justin LaBar wrote for TribLive, "There is money to be made, and neither Angle nor Vince McMahon is going to leave money on the table."

The appeal of Angle working another WrestleMania is too great for WWE to pass up. The numerous dream matches available to the company should it reunite with Angle are too tempting not to explore.

Angle will keep tapping his knuckle on the door, and WWE will be smart enough to answer it.