The Undertaker and Kurt Angle no longer appearing at Starrcast II

The Undertaker and Kurt Angle have both been pulled from Starrcast II.

The news was revealed in an interview that Sports Illustrated did with Starrcast’s Conrad Thompson. The article stated that Undertaker and Angle not appearing at the event is “due to the burgeoning war between All Elite Wrestling and WWE, with the first battle centered around Starrcast.”

Undertaker was announced for Starrcast on February 14, while Angle was added on April 1. Starrcast and AEW Double or Nothing are taking place in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend. Starrcast isn’t officially an AEW event, but it will feature AEW wrestlers and events related to Double or Nothing.

“The announcement went wide and viral. I was told it had gotten WWE’s attention and that Vince McMahon texted The Undertaker about the appearance,” Thompson told Sports Illustrated. “’Taker’s representation, which is a company called Get Engaged, called to tell me, ‘WWE says he can’t do it.’”

The deposit that Thompson paid for Undertaker’s appearance was returned to him by Get Engaged.

“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,” Thompson said. “I was assured that damages would be covered, a suitable replacement offered, or some sort of compromise to make everyone happy.”

Thompson said he suggested Vince McMahon, Triple H, or Stephanie McMahon as Undertaker’s replacement, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Connor’s Cure and Thompson matching that with a personal donation.

Thompson was told that WWE wouldn’t allow any replacements from the main roster. The article states that Thompson then set his sights on Shawn Michaels, who was “originally set to be booked for the event, but backed out before signing because of the close proximity of Starrcast and AEW.”

“I asked to keep Kurt Angle and announce Shawn Michaels as the replacement for The Undertaker,” Thompson said. “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.”

It was noted that Undertaker and Angle signed new WWE contracts, with WWE exercising its right to withhold talent from events that aren’t deemed to be in the company’s best interest.

Inside the Ropes announced earlier this month that Undertaker won’t be able to participate in the Q&A portion of their Rise of the Taker tour shows on April 29, April 30, and May 1. Undertaker will still be appearing at the meet and greet portion of the events, and Mick Foley will be doing the Q&A and talking about Undertaker’s career and their rivalry.

Undertaker made a surprise appearance on Raw the night after WrestleMania 35 and interrupted Elias.

Angle had his farewell match at WrestleMania 35, losing to Baron Corbin. On the Raw after WrestleMania, there was an angle where Angle put Corbin in the ankle lock but was laid out by Lars Sullivan.