Kurt Angle Says Roman Reigns Is Talented

– The Statement Show recently interviewed WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Kurt Angle. Below are some highlights (transcript via WrestlingInc.com).

Angle on performers having more freedom during the Attitude Era: “We had a lot more leeway back then. I wish it were the same way today. Today, they gear more towards kids. Back then, we were trying to zone in on the young adults and it worked extremely well.” Angle added, “I haven’t seen a roster like [the Attitude Era], even though I think the talent today is pretty damn close, so it’s just a different time.”

Angle’s thoughts on Roman Reigns: “Roman Reigns is talented. I don’t care what anyone says. You can’t deny that the kid knows how to work. I believe what happened to him was that they didn’t have him go through the ringer. They didn’t have him win the European title, or I should say, the Intercontinental title, U.S. title, King Of The Ring [tournament]. They just threw him up there right away and the fans don’t like that. They want you to earn your keep. If any wrestler has ever done that, I don’t know of one. It seemed like they were really trying to push Roman faster than he should have been pushed. I think he will earn the respect of fans, but it’s going to take a little bit more time.”

Angle’s thoughts on Goldberg vs. Lesnar at Survivor Series:“It could have been a 12, 15-minute match, but I think that they also have to understand, and I think the fans have to understand this, Goldberg hasn’t been around for what, 12, 13, 14 years? They don’t know if he’s capable of 15 minutes. And not that Goldberg can’t. I’m sure he can, but they weren’t sure and the biggest bang for their buck is to go with what the old Goldberg used to do. And what did the old Goldberg used to do? Two minutes every match. So I get why they did it, but I think that maybe Brock wasn’t the right person, but it was a shocker and that’s a good thing. I just don’t think anybody could do that to Brock, especially a healthy Brock Lesnar. But I can see both sides. I think it was a big letdown that that match was a minute-and-a-half, but it’s Goldberg and that’s what he did and that’s how he became a big name.”