WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has said that Vince McMahon turned down his proposed match against John Cena at WrestleMania 35, in favor of Baron Corbin.

Angle, 50, competed in his farewell match at this year's WrestleMania, and despite speculation that he would face Cena (who debuted in 2002 against the Olympian), Angle instead came up short against Baron Corbin.

Speaking to Collider Live, the former World Champion said it was his choice alone to retire from the ring. 

He said: "I decided to retire at Mania. Vince didn't tell me 'Listen you're done after Mania.' I went to him and said 'Listen I want to retire. I'm not able to do what I used to, and if I can't be the old Kurt Angle I want to get done now."

Despite pitching Cena as his opponent for his final match, the idea was rejected, as Angle had been feuding with Baron Corbin over the past year, even losing to role of RAW GM to the Constable in 2018. 

"I threw Cena out at Vince and Vince said 'Listen you have a program that you've been doing for a year...I'm not throwing it away...it's with Baron Corbin," he said.

"So whether you want to retire here or whenever...you're going to wrestle Baron at WrestleMania.' I said 'You know what that's fair." 

Instead of facing Angle, Cena instead returned under his Doctor of Thuganomics character, attacking Elias during the show of shows.