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The Undertaker & Kurt Angle Are Off Starrcast II, Conrad Thompson Explains What Happened Between Him and WWE
– The Undertaker and Kurt Angle will no longer appear at Starrcast II according to Conrad Thompson.
“The announcement went wide and viral,” Thompson told Sports Illustrated. “I was told it had gotten WWE’s attention and that Vince McMahon texted The Undertaker about the appearance. ’Taker’s representation, which is a company called Get Engaged, called to tell me, ‘WWE says he can’t do it.’”
Get Engaged ended up returning the deposit that Starrcast paid to Undertaker.
“I had an agreement in place with the talent. Without exception, I dealt directly with the talent or their management, they set their terms, and I complied. First class travel accommodations were made and marketing was done. Now, thanks to the influence of WWE, the performers are missing out on substantial income and the fans are being punished.”
“I had a friend discuss the situation with Vince McMahon, and I was assured the ‘heat’ wasn’t on me or my event but rather that The Undertaker shouldn’t be doing personal appearances outside of WWE,” said Thompson. “I was assured that damages would be covered, a suitable replacement offered, or some sort of compromise to make everyone happy.”
In looking for a replacement for Undertaker, Thompson stated, “I suggested Vince McMahon, Hunter, or Stephanie McMahon. And I said I would donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Conor’s Cure and match the donation personally, which would turn a negative into a positive for everyone involved.”
Thompson was told by WWE that nobody from the main active roster could be at Starrcast, so he then set his sights on Shawn Michaels.
“I asked to keep Kurt Angle and announce Shawn Michaels as the replacement for The Undertaker,” said Thompson. “I offered to book everyone ‘through the office.’. I wanted to play by the rules but I felt like I already had, since each of these guys were actively marketing themselves for outside appearances via booking agents or their own social media. I have checked in daily for a week now and nothing is changing.”
Thompson went on to say that he was hoping to have Shawn Michaels as the replacement for Undertaker, but that fell through as well.
This all follows news that the Undertaker signed a new contract with WWE that prohibits outside appearances like this.
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