Armchair Booking: Kurt Angle vs Triple H

Wrestlemania is the perfect time for a corny nostalgia run – just take a look back at Sting and Goldberg’s Wrestlemania moments from the past few years – and everyone has been waiting on the eventual in-ring return of the Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle. The trend of becoming general manager of Raw seems to be that you’ll find yourself butting heads with Stephanie McMahon and thus her husband Triple H, so assuming that this will happen at some point, let’s do some armchair booking for this coming Mania and the Kurt Angle/Triple H match that’s heavily suspected to take place.

Angle is currently wrapped up in an on-and-off storyline with his (ahem) son, Jason Jordan. So finding the perfect time to start sowing the seeds for the remaining members of The Authority to come in and take umbrage is quite difficult.

Let’s say that Jason Jordan finds himself as the number one contender for The Miz’s Intercontinental Championship, which I’m surprised hasn’t already happened leading up to No Mercy. Jordan dethrones Miz at the next Raw PPV and celebrates with his (ahem) Dad the next night on Raw, where the two break down into tears of joy looking back on how great the past few months have been getting to know each other. At this point, The Miz and his cronies enter scene citing nepotism within the red brand. The Miz rightfully calls himself one of the most highly regarded acts on Raw, and if he and his fellow roster members don’t receive equal treatment to Jason Jordan, then they shall walk out on Angle and head to Smackdown.

The feud between Jordan and Miz becomes more of a feud between The Miz and Kurt Angle heading into Survivor Series, where Miz will captain a team of 5 against a team headlined by Jason Jordan. Miz goads Angle into taking part in the match, but he outright refuses claiming that it wouldn’t set a good example of authority if he’s taking on current superstars (a subtle jab at Triple H). For the sake of fantasy, lets say that it’s The Miz, Miztourage, Elias and Neville against Jason Jordan, The Hardys, Finn Balor and Enzo Amore. Team Jordan take this win, with Miz and his team seeming like they’re just walking out of the show. No pandering to the crowd, no theatrics, heading home for good. Angle is frantically on the phone the next episode of Raw trying to get a hold of Miz (or his agent, for the sake of kayfabe) and also several other members of the Raw locker room that had decided to follow suit. Angle takes to the ring and says that this form of striking won’t be tolerated, thus they are all suspended without pay. Cue Stephanie McMahon.

Steph says that she’s been keeping a close eye on Kurt and all the goings-on with his new (ahem) son. She allowed Kurt to take the position of GM as she thought he would be focused on creating an exciting show all-round, rather than handing championship opportunities and supporting one single talent that hasn’t really broken out just yet. Jason Jordan, looking like a bit of a tool at this point, states that he won the IC title through his own merit and earned his opportunity rather than having Kurt just hand it to him. Stephanie says that she’s been given co-GM responsibilities once more and puts Jordan through several challenges to test his mettle as champion, including a gauntlet match against the entire heel mid-card scene, whoever ends up pinning Jordan would become the new IC champion. Jordan manages to fend off most of the competitors but ends up falling prey to the Cocquina clutch and drops the title to Samoa Joe.

Kurt immediately sets up a fair rematch between the two at the December Raw PPV, but Stephanie demands that Kurt adds a stipulation to ensure that he doesn’t somehow tip the balance in Jordan’s favour. The rematch, deemed a Falls Count Anywhere match, ends up spilling backstage and into the office of the general managers. Both Kurt and Stephanie are there observing the show, while Joe and Jordan are tussling, Jordan ends up shoving Joe into Stephanie, knocking her out completely. The match effectively comes to an end as Kurt and co hurry to find help. Stephanie is taken away in an ambulance and isn’t seen the next night on Raw. Kurt claims that they must look forward now and focus on the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV instead of dwelling on past accidents. At this point, Triple H makes his triumphant on-screen return. He gets in Angle’s face and tells him that if there isn’t repercussions on Jason Jordan for his insolence, then he will fire both him and his (ahem) father.

Later that night, Angle invites Jordan to the ring. After deliberation, Angle strips him of the Intercontinental Championship rematch and informs him that he will be entering this year’s Rumble at the number one spot. A few weeks pass, with Kurt pumping Jordan up and attempting to put him over as a potential winner and we make it to the Rumble. As scheduled, Jordan enters at the number one spot as penance for inadvertently injuring Stephanie, his first opponent, his former partner Chad Gable. What begins as a fun joust between the two eventually turns into them reuniting as a team to add to their chances of surviving the other 28 entries. All is going well, with a couple of eliminations here and there, until the Intercontinental Champion Samoa Joe enters. Joe makes quick work of Chad Gable and stares down Jordan, seemingly fixated on eliminating him and only him. He eventually manages this feat, with a smirk on his face while Jordan walks away defeated.

The next evening, Jordan and Joe end up brawling with one another backstage, having to be split by Kurt Angle and some others from the locker room. A match between the two is set up for the next Raw PPV in February for the Intercontinental Championship, with Angle stating that he will be in his (ahem) son’s corner to ensure that nothing gets out of hand, yet Jordan refuses his (ahem) Dad’s aid. Jason delivers a passionate promo describing his feelings of being held back from having a successful career by Triple H, his mercenary champion Samoa Joe and all these accusations of nepotism. He is determined to prove that he is capable of being talented of his own accord and doesn’t need Kurt Angle to help him do that. Triple H retorts by stating that if Jordan loses, then he will be moved back to Smackdown Live.

The match takes place and results in Jordan submitting Joe with the ankle lock, keeping his place on Raw and winning back the Intercontinental Championship. The match ends with Angle celebrating with Jordan, but a frustrated Joe spoils the (AHEM) Father-Son moment by attacking Jordan from behind. While Joe is literally pummelling a defenceless Jordan, the fans urge Angle to get involved. Kurt, having seen and heard enough, tears his suit jacket and shirt off and getting all hyped up as he would have with his singlet, and hits Joe with a plethora of German Suplexes. Angle and Jordan end the night intense and full of integrity.

Triple H opens the next Raw by calling out Kurt Angle, who enters the ring with a face like he knows what he’s in for. Triple H informs him that by laying his hands on a superstar, he is forfeiting his duties as general manager. Angle knows that it’s pointless arguing against a tyrant like Triple H, so simply waves farewell to the fans and sheepishly walks up the ramp. Before he manages to make it backstage, Samoa Joe runs out and attacks Kurt from behind, laying him out on the ramp. Triple H looks on approvingly. Angle (in a Facebook video or something) proclaims that now that he’s no longer a GM, he has the right to kick anyone’s ass he pleases. Next week, he’s calling out Samoa Joe. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what he does. Samoa Joe teases meeting Angle in the ring, but in true heel fashion, he backs off, saying that he fights on his own time. Joe’s attempt to retreat is thwarted by the IC champ who launches him into the ring and into an Angle Slam. Triple H calls security down to the ring to stop the two (ahem) Angles.

Kurt and Jordan know that they’re never going to be able to shake The Authority off their backs anytime soon, so they challenge both Joe and Hunter to a tag match at Wrestlemania 34. In H’s office, an enraged Joe jumps the gun and accepts the challenge. Triple H is concerned at the fact he’d have to step into the ring with Angle after so many years, but is confident in his right hand of destruction and confirms the match.

I personally feel that having just Angle and Triple H in a singles match wouldn’t really do this whole Angle/Jordan angle (heh) justice, there needs to be something of a payoff to this big reveal. Considering the fact that Angle hasn’t competed under the WWE style for quite some time, it would be best to have someone younger and more attuned to take the heat throughout the match, giving Angle the chance to hit the hot tag and go nuts to keep the nostalgia alive in most fans. Putting the Intercontinental Championship into the mix is a little bit of a gamble however, not wanting it to be overshadowed by bigger feuds involving part-timers, similar to how it was treated during the whole ‘Battle of the Billionaires’ at Wrestlemania 23. Perhaps Jordan could drop the title heading into Wrestlemania to Finn Balor or Bray Wyatt as per order of Triple H?

But that’s just my opinion. How would you guys book Angle’s return to the ring for this Mania? Comments?