Triple H Says He Wouldn't Say 'Never' to Kurt Angle Wrestling in WWE

Kurt Angle is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, but Triple H didn't shoot down the idea of the Olympic gold medalist returning to in-ring action when asked about it Tuesday.

During an interview with Peter Rosenberg on ESPN's Cheap Heat (h/t William Windsor of WrestlingInc.com), The Game kept hope alive for another Angle match in WWE, but made it clear that getting to that point will require a process:

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Yeah, but I think that we were very clear with Kurt, I've been very clear with Kurt in every conversation on this topic, it's a proving ground, right? So he did a lot of great things and there's a lot of time under the table, a lot of baggage, all those things. It just comes back down to, "let's get together—let's see how it goes. If it goes well for you and it goes well for us, and everything is great, then, we see where it goes from there."

We're not going to say, "never." Kurt would have to go through a lot of physical requirements to be able to be allowed to return to the ring. And I know that angers fans, but that's us looking after the well-being of talent in general whether they like that or dislike that. That's the facts.

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Angle hasn't competed in a WWE match since 2006.

Angle has expressed interest in wrestling for WWE, and during a recent appearance at Wizard World Cleveland (h/t Frank Palmer of ScreenGeek.net), the 48-year-old veteran shared his belief that an in-ring return is likely to happen:

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I was just surprised that I got this induction before I retired. I think it's a great idea, a great concept on WWE's part. They haven't told me if I'm going to wrestle again, but, you know, never say never in WWE. I'm pretty sure that I will. It's kind of rare to be inducted first and then possibly wrestle afterward, but I get it. You have to remember—I've been gone 11 years. I kind of missed a generation of people that don't know who I am. This is a better way for them to get to know who Kurt Angle is—before Kurt Angle could possibly get in the ring. I haven't talked to Triple H or Vince McMahon about wrestling, that will occur after the Hall of Fame, and we'll see what happens.

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The six-time WWE world champion is widely considered to be among the best all-around talents and performers in professional wrestling history, but there could be some factors working against him.

His age is among them, as is the fact that Angle has undergone myriad surgeries over the course of his career, specifically on his neck and knees.

Goldberg is the current WWE Universal champion at age 50, however, which lends credence to the idea that the company could be interested in using a legendary star like Angle in a wrestling role.

Regardless of whether there is physicality in Angle's future, he will take center stage March 31 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, when he headlines the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.

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