A part of me wish Kurt stayed in WWE but man, if it wasn't for his run in TNA I wouldn't have started watching it and found out about Samoa Joe, AJ styles and many others at the time. Kurt was a beast in TNA and im glad he had his time there.
@Brent P On one hand he may not be naive, just not bad-mouthing a guy who can keep the $ flowing for him. On the other hand he may just know Vince better than you, he says he always got what he was promised. My guess is Vince is honest about money, bullshits about everything else. When he cuts guys loose and it fucks up their lives he is following the contract. Wrestlers need to read their contracts, not sign shitty deals and get a damn union already
True...when he left wwe at the height of his career. He was white hot!!!! At that time in wwe. His triple threat match with Orton and mysterio was real good.
Angle is one of the greatest of all time, maybe THE greatest ever. Not only could have a great match with anyone, he had charisma, he could legitimately make you laugh with his antics, (something that’s hard to do in wrestling) the fans took him seriously because of his amateur wrestling background, and he went above and beyond to entertain the fans whether is was on TV or not. I mean, having 25 minute matches on house shows with guys like Benoit and Guerrero, he really gave his everything night after night. I just hate that he’s in constant pain nowadays
You're SUPPOSED to take ownership for your mistakes why is this such a huge accomplishment to people when grown ass people have to confess their sins publicly...I will never understand this
@@leviclark3822 Because 99 people out of a 100 nowadays will always have an excuse for their short comings, that it is refreshing to see someone be honest.
Kurt was near death in 2006. More than once Karen Angle (now Karen Jarrett) had to call an ambulance because Kurt wouldn't wake up. Super scary. So thankful Kurt survived!
@@Weirzy Kurt would have been especially bad, public relations wise. "Clean cut Olympic gold winner dies pill addicted and broken under WWE's employment" would have been the headlines, might have killed Vince too just by reading that!
Damn bro, I wasn't aware of Kurt's addiction at all in wwe. He was just so good that you didn't realize. But I stopped watching wrestling for a long time, and saw him on tna poster and seen how small he got, and his eyes showed it. Wasn't sure but then it was confirmed, and even worse than I thought with him saying how many pills he were taking per day. Thank God he survived, and God bless him, and anyone that's in that situation. Never give up
Angle vs Lesnar Ironman Match in 2003 was without a doubt a masterpiece. It was a PPV quality match on Smackdown. Kurt's feuds with Lesnar and Samoa Joe are among the greatest I have ever seen
Considering his sister Le'Anne Angle died of a heroin overdose literally the night before that match, makes Kurt's performance that much more incredible.
DLRX definitely. And let’s not forget about his stupid summerslam angle to wrestle in order to win back his gold medals and how unbelievably incompetent he looked while wrestling Cena over and over yet losing over and over again
ItscrackinTJ he didn’t look limited in his 3 matches vs HBK that year tho Also his match vs Taker the next year was the best match of 2006. I think it was who he was working with that hindered him
I agree with this statement completely. I remember a great quote from Luna where she said something along the lines of, "A great wrestler can have a match with a broom and make it look like the broom kicked their ass." And I think Kurt is one of those people that can exemplify that completely. I think that short list would include Chris Jericho Chris Benoit Mick Foley Kurt Angle Bret Hart and that's pretty much all i can think of off the top of my head.
@@JohnSmith-hv1rm I feel u bro but I'm not gone hold u I'ma big Mick Foley fan and he is a legend the hardcore legend at that but Foley wrestling a broom stick!? C'mon broski that reference don't work for him u know my boi would set that shit on 🔥 and throw a hardcore elbow off the apron to the concrete floor boom end of match😁 And also we gotta put some respect on HBK and Ric Flair too💪🏾
Everyone who watched back then knew Kurt was on the verge of something very very bad happening to him. His eyes were bloodshot 24/7, his aggression was up gimmick or not. He was a walking timebomb. Was plain even for the average viewer that he needed time off, which he wouldn't take. They released him for WWEs and his own good, so he won't die in the ring. That's why people were genuinely concerned when he signed with TNA very shortly afterwards. I'm glad all went down well and he can sit down today and reflect on how things truly were.
As a kid, I couldn't tell much of a difference but had I been in my 20s, watching TNA kurt, it would've been apparent. He had those numb eyes lol. Not red, but blank..
Wow. It’s amazing being a kid growing up admiring these guys. And to be an adult and hear what happened and why things went the way it did is an eye opener to how the business side of things are when the lights are off. Much respect to all the athletes.
For a long time I never understood the Kurt Angle departure and why he wanted to go to TNA but seeing this and the honesty of Kurt changes my opinion of him. I respect him and the deep realization of how wrestling plus how Vince and his sports entertainment worked. But had enough realization that he'd messed up with addiction as well. Glad he powered through it all.
Even though he was unraveling i'm still glad he called out Vince on not using him right. I don't really remember anything from his last year or two in WWE, and this guy was a MACHINE at the time. Glad he's doing better
He would occassionaly job for new guys in SmackDown. He was good at making other wrestlers look threatening. His moments with Cena come to mind first. But Kurt was above jobbing. He's not a punching bag for experimental gimmicks. He was main event material.
Ive come to respect Kurt a whole hell of a lot more in recent years. Not just an Olympian and a World Champion...but his candor and self responsibility
There's a huge amount of respect owed to Kurt here for owning what he feels is on him. But bottom line, it's pathetic that a company like WWE, doesn't employ ANYONE to simply eyeball an employee and go "hey that guy needs some help, take him off the road for a bit so he can get healthy." I'm talking about basic respect and common sense when dealing with an employee. Even if you don't want to pay or lose money from not using a talent, you'll make way more money in the long run by taking care of them along the way... or in this case, letting someone take some fucking time off.
Ironically the SvR video games have a fatigue meter for manager mode. You have you give your roster breaks and limit the amount of dangerous matches like TLC matches and cage matches. You also need to keep matches short if you want your wrestlers to heal faster. If you were reckless your wrestler got injured and couldnt be used anymore. So they acknowledged the concept but didnt apply it in real life
EXACTLY!!! 300 days/year on the road would take the steam out of anyone's sails. Nobody is an actual machine, and "maybe" 30 days of rest and recuperation won't cut it. What Vince McMahon was asking of them should have been balanced out with down time to heal injuries and allow them to return fresh to the fight. Not burn them out, let them become substance abusers, then deny any association with them down the road. Ijs
Out of all the guys that went into the HoF, Kurt's had me nearly balling my eyes out. His induction was one of the last of the Mohicans of guys that I watched and admired as a kid. I remember going to my late uncle's house back in 2000 while he was watching WWE, and Kurt was doing one of his oblivious heel promos, and it always came to my mind when I think of him. Definitely one of the greatest to have ever done it.
I actually liked ECW Kurt Angle. I get why he wasn’t happy about going but he was there to legitimise the brand and I just loved his (pardon the expression) intensity he brought to the table. It’s a shame his run got cut short but at the same time it’s probably good he left when he did.
There's an interview of Benoit a couple of months before the murder-suicide where he said part-timers will become the main issue in WWE or something like that, it gave me chills.
Some more Angle vs Benoit, Angle vs Punk, Bryan, Kofi, Jericho, Cody ect... Hell, Angle and guys like Zack Ryder & Heath Slater would've had some hilarious segments if he stayed on.
I dont believe that, i remember at the time reading an article that Kurt was doing drugs and stuff and WWE would not have it and did not want him in the company until he sorted that stuff out
He's not lying. Super humble guy. I've been addicted and I feel like his outlook about it is how we should all look at addiction. Accountability is the main thing 😂💯💯
I used to be addicted but I thought taking 70 80 pills a month was A TON ! BUT when I heard about kurt and even other wrestlers taking 40 50 pills a day
@@growing.grounds4054 yea man id go threw at least 25 to 30 a day. not too mention the prescriptions were legit and when i didnt have those around, id go for tylonal pm and Motrin
@@growing.grounds4054 yea man I got clean off pills with cbd and thc. It helped take off the edge. When I couldn't smoke anymore I did the cbd drops and it made a big difference.
I love listening to Kurt Angle speak. I relate to him in my experiences of work and having a good boss. We fell out when I hit the rails but reconciled. Kurt was a hard worker - that’s the only thing he ever did wrong was giving too much. Bless you KA
I really love and respect that he took ownership of everything and didn't blame anyone else for anything that happened he truly is the man of integrity we all loved
Crazy this was in 2017 and yet when he returned to wwe he was put in a general manager role even though he still looked like a beast. He even said himself he could still go but yet wwe continued to book him in shitty angles even he came back. I wonder what could have been maybe retirement match against Cena or Lesnar
I never thought I would have the respect for Kurt I do now when I was watching him as a kid. Not like the undertaker who you instantly fear and respect.
Funny he mentioned TNA they always been like thar giving a wrestlers a couple months off bring them back as a shocker. They do that to change the landscape & keep it fresh. WWE don't do that
Unfortunately the lack of genuine competition for so long meant wrestlers had zero bargaining position and were treated like shit. Wwe buying wcw, with ecw collapsing just one week later was by far the worse thing to happen to wrestling.
He never got the push he deserved until ecw but his feuds with rivals was legendary especially Stone cold and his rivalry. His wrestling along with wrestlers such as Chris Benoit was always under rated..... and hes always been a stand up guy
Kurt is being very generous to Vince and the WWE here. They nearly worked him to death and didn't give him enough time off during his run. He had every right to pissed off and demanding to leave.
Legend . i hated him 2nd only to mcmahon growing up , now i love him and am sorry for how underappreciated he was in his prime . Still hate vince though mostly for Dark side of the ring . Thanks for all the awesome memories Kurt !
He won an Olympic gold metal with a broken fricken neck !! One of the greatest if not the greatest wrestler of all time. Best technical wrestlers- Bret hart, Kurt angle, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit.
Joseph Vitielo that was maybe in backlunds era. But the next generation produced a lot more talent then him for sure: no way the names I mentioned aren’t better technically then bob backlund.
@GRap TheGOAT Yeah, Kurt was a beast back then, such a fun, diverse and athletic style of wrestling. By the time he quit, i had stopped watching completely.
Taz wrestling skills have never been disrespected. He gets shit over being a fake tough guy. Win or lose, if RVD (or anyone else) slapped me in my face I would have punched them.
Kurt is one of my top 5 favourite wrestlers. Dudes a genuine Olympian wrestler, what more could you ask for!? Then he fought a midget dress as himself while he was dressed up as John Cena. One of the best skits on there, dudes comedic timing was brilliant in all his other work too! Plus his Sexy Boy rendition.
Kurt Angle and The Undertaker both are probably the only two I can think of to have been known to have a high pain tolerance throughout their career, nothing but respect for them. If you no more leave a comment.
I understand what you're talking about Mr angle because in life you sometimes get demoted by family I had a favorite cousin who I loved so much and when we fell out I now have to deal with her brother rather than deal with her in which it breaks my heart so understandably so I understand that emotion of of love from someone that you once considered a high ranking person in your life
As an addict i feel his sense of reflection i view my past the same way you can only blame yourself for your short comings and when your using you think its everybody else then you go get clean and go through all that self reflection once you accept your the problem everything changes
I get Kurt, I’m the same at work. I may be hurting but keep going. And that no else’s fault but our own. We can talk n say otherwise. But we are those ppl tha think, I won’t be there and someone else will take our place. You get older n learn.
FYI I believe it was either Big Show Paul White, or the Undertaker, perhaps both, who - when asked who they felt was the man they would never want to fight against in real life - quickly named Angle as that man. The real life respect other pros had for Angle was second to none, right up there with Hennig and Taker.
ANGLE COULD HAVE BEEN THE MARINE?!?! Awwww, I would have loved to see that man. Also, idk how this guy couldn't have been seen as a legend at the time. I get he was only there 6 years but 2006 could have been the year of Kurt. Taker and Shawn were the top 2 then Angle was in 3rd place until he left.
i remember when kurt had his last match on smackdown in like 2006 i think it was. it was sad and wierd because he was a heel but then suddenly for that night everyone cheered for him. if i remember right, his last match was againt rey mysterio (a face) but when angle won everyone cheered
dispite all the pain, the injuries and everything else hes been through, I STILL wouldn't want to have a shoot wrestling match with Angle! I bet even at 80 he could still beat your arse
Kurt is a mans man, a lot of people today just don’t know what personal accountability is. For sure he got fucked over and could lean on that if he wanted but he accepts his own failings. No one is perfect, rational people know this so big props to this man!
"Vince took a gun and shot me in the leg for no reason, but that was my fault I deserved it" "Vince stabbed me with a knife in the stomach, but I was my fault, I deserved it" Fair play to Kurt for not burning bridges.
The fact that back then WWE didn't do any part time deals is just...baffling to me. Can you imagine if they still did that...at the time, Brock Lesner would've been on every RAW or SmackDown show