Vince McMahon doesn’t seem like a man who lives with much regret. Sure, there are likely certain decisions the WWE Chairman probably wishes he didn’t make, but he probably doesn’t sit around thinking about the past for very long.
So when McMahon opens admits regrettable decisions, people around him are likely to take notice.
Former WWE Champion Kurt Angle discussed one of Vince’s more recent regrets on an episode of his new podcast, The Kurt Angle Show.
Angle and co-host Conrad Thompson were discussing Angle’s return to the company back in 2016. That same year, AJ Styles made his WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble.
Angle and Styles worked together for years in TNA, so the Olympic gold medalist knew full well that Styles is one of the most talented performers to ever step foot in a wrestling ring.
Angle discusses Styles’ being a surprise entry into the Royal Rumble that year and how the former TNA and NJPW champion was immediately over with the crowd.
Angle opened up about McMahon’s response to the WWE crowd losing their mind over Styles’ debut.
“The gauge was when he came out at the Royal Rumble, and the fans were so excited it was AJ Styles.
You know, a lot of WWE fans feel like, or a lot of WWE personalities don’t think that WWE fans watch TNA Wrestling.
I think they do because they knew exactly who AJ was, and I think Vince saw the reactions and went, ‘Wow, this guy is a star already.’
He hasn’t even been here, you know, this is his first day, and he’s a star. I think that he had to build a name for himself, and he did it right. It’s a shame that AJ ends up in the WWE when he is in his 40s.”
Angle then shared what Vince told Styles after the Rumble appearance.
“You know Vince, I was told, Vince, when he met up with AJ after AJ won the World Title, Vince went to him and said, ‘I wish I would have hired you ten years ago,’ and that is that.
That tells you exactly how Vince feels about AJ. AJ is a star. He is, you know, when he came in the WWE, at that particular time, he was the #1 top best wrestler in the world.
The best performer. Just from a wrestling standpoint, he was the top guy.”
Since his debut, Styles has done on to hold several WWE titles including a year-long run with the WWE Championship.
[via WrestleTalk]
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