Kurt Angle Believes a Dream Bout with Bret Hart Could Have Been a 5-Star Affair

Considered two of the finest technical wrestlers in WWE history, Kurt Angle and Bret Hart never collided inside a wrestling ring during their prime.

Kurt Angle Believes a Dream Bout with Bret Hart Could Have Been a 5-Star Affair

Kurt Angle and Bret Hart (via WWE)

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Kurt Angle and Bret Hart both shared the ring with countless legends throughout their careers, but the two icons never faced each other one-on-one. In fact, WWE even ranked their clash at No. 4 on its list of the ‘Top 10 Fantasy Matches That Never Happened.’ Timing was the biggest factor. Angle signed with WWE in 1998 and enjoyed a stellar run between 1999 and 2006. 

Meanwhile, Hart was at his peak in the 1990s and became a 5-time World Champion. However, ‘The Hitman’ left for WCW following the infamous Montreal Screwjob in late 1997. And by 2000, Hart’s career was cut short due to concussion issues as a result of an injury suffered at the hands of Goldberg, which forced him into retirement. 

When he eventually returned to WWE in 2010 for a brief run that included a few matches, Angle was already deep into his celebrated run with TNA, making the dream match impossible. But it seems that the urge to wrestle the Canadian legend is still alive in the heart of the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the WWE Hall of Famer weighed in on a potential dream match with Hart. 

Bret Hart, I would have loved to wrestle Bret. I talk about technical matches; he had some of the best, and he’s my kind of style. That’s my kind of guy that I like to work with. I think Bret and I would have had a five-star, incredible match.

Kurt Angle via Sports Illustrated

It is no secret that Bret Hart helped revolutionize WWE’s in-ring style during the New Generation Era of the 1990s. His technical, storytelling-driven approach was a sharp contrast to the more entertainment-based brawling of the previous era, which featured stars like Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and Sycho Sid. 

Hart’s chemistry with rivals such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels produced some of the most memorable matches of all time. Angle, meanwhile, was a former NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist whose mat-based style made him one of the greatest pure wrestlers in WWE history. 

In a past conversation with Chris Van Vliet, Angle explained that Hart’s health issues ultimately stood in the way. Hart himself admitted he didn’t want to wrestle Angle, knowing they couldn’t deliver the kind of technical masterpiece both men envisioned.

Hart’s final in-ring appearance came on the September 12, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, teaming with John Cena to defeat Ricardo Rodriguez and Alberto Del Rio in a tag match. Angle, on the other hand, officially retired at WrestleMania 35 after losing to Baron Corbin.

Kurt Angle names Shawn Michaels as the most complete wrestler in WWE history

For many fans, Kurt Angle represents the perfect blend of in-ring chemistry and promo ability. Over the years, his instant classics with legends like Brock Lesnar, Sting, and Stone Cold Steve Austin have cemented his legacy as one of wrestling’s all-time greats. Recently, however, the Olympic gold medalist revealed who he considers the best overall wrestler in the history of the sport.

Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels
Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels (via WWE)

In the same interview with Sports Illustrated, Angle praised technical masters such as Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Jericho, but ultimately singled out his WrestleMania 21 opponent, Shawn Michaels, as the greatest to ever step inside the ring.

I like technical-style matches the most. I have to say my best matches were with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. Overall, I consider Shawn to be the greatest in the sport. If you’re talking looks, promo skills, and wrestling ability, everything wrapped into one, that guy is perhaps the best of all time.

Kurt Angle via Sports Illustrated

Michaels and Angle shared a memorable rivalry between 2005 and 2006. Their first one-on-one meeting came at WrestleMania 21, where Angle defeated Michaels via The Ankle Lock. Moreover, this encounter was recently listed at #22 for the 50 greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. 

However, many place their outing in Los Angeles as a certified Top 5 of all time in terms of what they achieved in the ring that time. The duo had another banger at Vengeance PPV that same year, where HBK picked up the win. 

The feud culminated on the January 16, 2006, episode of RAW, with Michaels earning the final victory. In total, Michaels won five of their six singles encounters, closing out one of the most celebrated rivalries of that era.

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