As previously reported, Kurt Angle has been released by WWE (for a story on this from SLAM! Wrestling, click here).
Kurt Angle, the multiple-time champion* in World Wrestling Entertainment, has had a history of health problems that has kept him from wrestling consistently. His neck injury in 2003 put the Wrestlemania main event vs. Brock Lesnar in jeopardy, but he wrestled a great match and then had experimental surgery rather than have his neck fused as Steve Austin, Edge, Lita, Rhyno, Chris Benoit, Scotty 2 Hotty and others had to have done, in order to get back into the ring without having to take a year off. (Later on, he had to get a second neck surgery, but was kept on TV as General Manager of Smackdown while he recovered.) He has regularly shown this type of dedication and competitive spirit, which has been both his greatest attribute and his biggest fault.
When WWE announced the institution of drug testing as part of its Wellness Program, Angle was clearly heard on a WWE.com video asking about prescription drugs. He has been in constant pain due to his neck and other nagging injuries (plus normal wrestling-related bumps and bruises), and in a move that was believed to be for his own good, he was suspended due to health reasons from WWE just after moving from the Smackdown to the ECW roster a few months ago. Upon his return to ECW, he injured his groin, tearing the muscle in a match with Rob Van Dam at an ECW house show, and was suspended for 30 days in for storyline purposes by Paul Heyman. Kurt’s injury and his release from WWE contract severely weakens the ECW roster.
While it is not yet known if this played a part in his release, this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information) reported that “there is a noticeable difference in Angle’s dressing room respect level” in ECW. A locker room leader in WWE, particularly when on Smackdown, Angle has been known to go to road agent Dean Malenko with ideas for himself and others. Whereas nobody complained openly about it on SD, in ECW people have been talking negatively about Angle doing this, and it got to the point where Angle was asked to keep a lower profile “for his own political good.”
Since Eddy Guerrero died last year, the Internet Wrestling Community seemed to have come to a consensus that many wrestlers need time off – forced if necessary – simply to recover from everyday wear-and-tear. Kurt Angle has long been subject of Internet and dirtsheet rumors, with many speculating that his dedication to his art was a factor in his brief separation from his wife, and that it was taking a toll on him in and out of the ring. Whatever the case may be, this surely isn’t the last of this story, and Pulse Wrestling will stay up-to-date with the latest news as it is available.
*According to Wikipedia and ObsessedWithWrestling.com, here is a list of Kurt’s amateur and professional wrestling championships/major accomplishments:
– 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion
– 1988 USA FILA Junior World Freestyle champion
– 1990 NCAA Division I champion
– 1992 NCAA Division I champion
– 3-time NCAA Division I All-American (Clarion University of Pennsylvania)
– 2-time USA Senior Freestyle champion
– 1995 Gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the World Championship
– 1996 Gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the Summer Olympics (90-100 kg /198-220 pound weight class)
– WWF European title defeating Val Venis (February 10, 2000 – Smackdown!)
– WWF Intercontinental title defeating Chris Jericho (February 27, 2000 – No Way Out)
– WWF King of The Ring 2000 defeating Rikishi in the finals (June 25, 2000 – King of the Ring)
– WWF Heavyweight title defeating The Rock (October 22, 2000 – No Mercy)
– WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Booker T (July 2001)
– WWF Hardcore title defeating Rob Van Dam (September 2001)
– WWF Heavyweight title defeating Steve Austin (September 23, 2001 – Unforgiven)
– WCW United States title defeating Rhyno (October 22, 2001 – RAW)
– WWE Tag Team titles w/Chris Benoit defeated Edge & Rey Mysterio in a Tournament (October 20, 2002 – No Mercy)
– WWE Undisputed title defeating The Big Show (December 15, 2002 – Armageddon)
– WWE title defeating Brock Lesnar and The Big Show (July 27, 2003 – Vengeance)
– (WWE) World Heavyweight title by winning a 20-Man Battle Royal (January 13, 2006)
