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 Angle in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1968-12-09)December 9, 1968 (age 56) Mt. Lebanon,Pennsylvania, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Children | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Website | kurtanglebrand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional wrestling career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billed from | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Debut | August 20, 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | April 7, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retiredprofessional wrestler andamateur wrestler. Currently, he is asports analyst forReal American Freestyle. He first earned recognition for winning agold medal infreestyle wrestling at the1996 Summer Olympics despite competing with a broken neck,[2] and achieved wider fame and recognition for his tenures inWWE between 1998 and 2006, and 2017 to 2019 and inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) between 2007 to 2016.
Angle won numerous accolades while atClarion University of Pennsylvania, including being a two-timeNCAA Division I Wrestling Champion in theHeavyweight division. After graduating, he won gold medals in freestyle wrestling at the 1995 World Wrestling Championships and 1996 Summer Olympics. He is one of four people to win the Junior Nationals, NCAA, World Championships, and the Olympics. In 2006, he was named byUSA Wrestling as the greatestshoot wrestler of all time and as one of USA Wrestling's top 15 college wrestlers of all time. In 2016, he was inducted into theInternational Sports Hall of Fame.[3]
Angle made his first appearance at a professional wrestling event in 1996, and signed with the WWF (now WWE) in 1998. Although he was never a fan of professional wrestling and previously had a negative opinion of it due to its scripted nature, he was noted for his natural aptitude for it; after training for only a few days, he had his debut match within the WWF'sdevelopmental system in August 1998 and had his first official WWF match in March 1999. After months ofdark matches, Angle made his televised in-ring debut in November 1999. Within two months, he was holding theEuropean andIntercontinental Championships simultaneously. Four months later, he won the2000King of the Ring tournament and began pursuing theWWF Championship, which he won in October and would go on to win a total offour times. He also became a one-timeWCW Champion and one-timeWorld Heavyweight Champion. He is the tenth professional wrestler to achieve theWWE Triple Crown and the fifth to achieve theWWE Grand Slam. He was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame's class of 2017.
After leaving WWE in 2006, Angle joined TNA, where he became a record six-timeTNA World Heavyweight Champion (and the inaugural) and the secondTNA Triple Crown winner, holding all three TNA championships simultaneously. He is also a two-timeKing of the Mountain. During his tenure with TNA, he also competed forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and theInoki Genome Federation (IGF), winning theIWGP Heavyweight Championship once. In 2013, he was inducted into theTNA Hall of Fame. He is the second wrestler, afterSting, to be inducted into both the WWE and TNA Halls of Fame.
Angle has won over 21professional wrestling championships and is an overall 13-timeworld champion. He is the only wrestler to have won the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, WCW Championship, TNA World Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and an NCAA Wrestling Championship. He is also the first person to hold both the WWE and TNA Triple Crowns. He has headlined numerouspay-per-view events, includingWrestleMania XIX andBound for Glory on three occasions (in2007,2010, and2011), the flagship events of WWE and TNA, respectively. In 2004, theWrestling Observer Newsletter inducted Angle intoits Hall of Fame and later named him "Wrestler of the Decade" for the 2000s.[4] Fellow professional wrestlerJohn Cena called Angle "without question the most gifted all-around performer we have ever had step into a ring" and said "there will never be another like him".[5]
Kurt Steven Angle[6] was born inMt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 1968, the son of Jackie and David Angle.[7] He is of Welsh, German, Irish, Polish and Lithuanian descent.[8] He has four older brothers named David, Mark, John, andEric, the latter of whom is also a wrestler; his older sister, Le'Anne, died at the age of 43 in 2003.[9] He attendedClarion University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in education in 1993.[10] His father was a crane operator who died in a construction accident while working onFifth Avenue Place when Angle was 16.[11] Angle dedicated both his career and his autobiography to his father. He stated in an interview that, following his father's death, he regarded his wrestling coachDavid Schultz as a paternal figure. While training Angle, Schultz was murdered in January 1996 byJohn Eleuthère du Pont, the sponsor of Schultz's team of Olympic prospectives.[12][13][14] Angle's mother died of cancer in 2015.[15]
Kurt Angle started amateur wrestling at the age of seven.[16] He attendedMt. Lebanon High School,[13] where he wonvarsity letters infootball, as an All-Statelinebacker, andwrestling.[13][17][18] He was undefeated on the freshman wrestling team and qualified for the state wrestling tournament his sophomore year.[13] Angle placed third at the state wrestling tournament as a junior and was the 1987 Pennsylvania class AAA wrestling state champion as a senior.[19]
Upon graduating from high school, Angle attendedClarion University of Pennsylvania, where he continued towrestle at the amateur level.[20] He was a two-timeNational Collegiate Athletic AssociationDivision I champion,[21] national runner-up in 1991, and a three-timeNCAA Division IAll-American. In addition, Angle was the 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion, a two-time USA Senior Freestyle champion, and the 1988 USAInternational Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles Junior World Freestyle champion.[22]
After graduating from college, Angle continued to wrestle, though he did have an unsuccessful tryout with thePittsburgh Steelers atrunning back, despite not playingfootball in college.[23] In 1995, he won a gold medal at theFILA Wrestling World Championships inAtlanta, Georgia.[21] Following this victory, Angle began preparing for the1996 Summer Olympics (also in Atlanta) underDave Schultz at the Pennsylvanian Foxcatcher Club,[24] training between eight and ten hours a day.[25] In January 1996, not long after Angle began training at the club, Schultz was murdered byJohn Eleuthère du Pont, the sponsor of Schultz's team of Olympic prospectives.[12][26][14] As a result, Angle quit du Pont's team, searched for new sponsors, and joined the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club in Schultz's memory.[27]
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials, when he suffered a severe neck injury, fracturing two of hiscervical vertebrae,[28]herniating twodiscs, and pulling four muscles. Nonetheless, Angle won the trials and then spent the subsequent five months resting and rehabilitating. By the Olympics, Angle was able to compete, albeit with several pain-reducing injections in his neck.[21] In the fall of 1996, Angle stated that he temporarily became addicted to theanalgesicVicodin after injuring his neck.[29] He won his gold medal in the heavyweight (90–100 kg; 198–220 lb) weight class despite his injury,[22] defeating several competitors includingMongolianDolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar,CubanWilfredo Morales,UkrainianSagid Murtazaliev, and others.[30] Angle won four close matches to earn his spot in the gold-medal finals.[31]
In 2006, Angle was named the greatestshoot wrestler of all time byUSA Wrestling,[32] as well as one of the top 15 college wrestlers.[32] In April 2011, Angle revealed that he was planning a comeback to amateur wrestling for the2012 Summer Olympics in London.[33][34] He later announced he was unable to make the trials for the national team due to a knee injury, though he held an honorary title as team manager.[35] In 2016, Angle was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame for his amateur wrestling accomplishments.[36]
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On October 26, 1996, Angle was convinced by fellowPittsburgh nativeShane Douglas to attend theExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) eventHigh Incident.[22] He gave an in-ring interview and provided guest commentary during a match betweenTaz andLittle Guido, but left the building afterRaven attachedSandman to across usingbarbed wire.[37] Angle, shocked by the controversial imagery and afraid that his career prospects were going to be damaged if he was associated with the incident, threatened to sue ECW ownerPaul Heyman if he was shown on television in the same broadcast as the stunt.[22]
Despite achieving success in amateur wrestling, Angle initially held professional wrestling in low regard.[38] He rejected a decade-long contract with theWWF due to his unwillingness to accept scripted losses.[39][40] His opinion of professional wrestling changed when he began watchingWWF Raw is War in 1998 and developed an admiration forStone Cold Steve Austin's talents as an entertainer.[39] He later conceded that his negative attitude toward the industry was misguided and "stupid".[38]
In 1998, Angle had a tryout with the WWF after the rescindment of the WWF's original 1996 offer.[40] He was subsequently signed to a five-year deal in August 1998,[41] just three days after his tryout.[40] Angle trained underDory Funk Jr. at theFunkin' Dojo training camp inStamford, Connecticut. Within a week, he started wrestling in front of a live audience.[38] His debut match occurred in the WWF's then-developmental territoryWWA on August 20, where he faced his trainerTom Prichard.[42]
Angle continued to wrestle for the WWA in August and September. Additionally, he sought bookings outside of the WWF, participating in abattle royal won bySteve Williams at theNational Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) 50th Anniversary Show on October 24. Angle also performed for Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling (PCW) defeatingSteve Bradley and theEast Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) in February 1999 defeating Cyborg.[42]
In March, Angle began wrestling regularly for the WWF'sPower Pro Wrestling (PPW) developmental league inMemphis, Tennessee.[42] He appeared on WWF television onSunday Night Heat, where he took part in anangle withTiger Ali Singh. He won overBrian Christopher on April 11. In the following months, Angle wrestled onhouse shows and in other dark matches, in preparation for his televised debut. He faced againstOwen Hart in a dark match onShotgun Saturday Night just two weeks before Owen died.[43] He also continued to wrestle for PPW through October and on July 24 won the PPW Championship. Angle then lost the championship toSteve Bradley on August 7. He is noted for learning the art of pro wrestling quicker than almost anyone else;[40] WWE executive and former opponentTriple H described Angle as "probably the fastest guy I've ever seen pick this business up", owing to "phenomenal" athleticism and an "aptitude" for the industry.[44]
Angle made his televised WWF debut on November 14, 1999, atSurvivor Series, where he defeated Shawn Stasiak.[45] He remained undefeated in singles competition until losing to the debutingTazz at theRoyal Rumble on January 23, 2000.[46]
In the months that followed, Angle captured both theEuropean Championship (on the February 10 episode of SmackDown!) and theIntercontinental Championship (atNo Way Out on February 27), holding both titles simultaneously.[47] He lost both championships in a triple threat match atWrestleMania 2000 without being pinned.[48]
Throughout mid-2000, Angle aligned himself withEdge & Christian andfeuded withToo Cool andRikishi, with Angle defeating Rikishi in the finals of theKing of the Ring tournament on June 25.[49] Later he feuded with Triple H andStephanie McMahon,[50][49] which culminated in a triple threat main event atSummerSlam for the WWF Championship also involvingThe Rock, who retained his championship.[51]
On October 22, 2000, Angle defeated The Rock atNo Mercy to win theWWF Championship for the first time.[49][52] Angle's first year on the main roster is widely regarded as the most impressive rookie year in professional wrestling history. In under 12 months, he won multiple championships, headlined pay-per-view events, and quickly established himself as a main-event-level talent. Wrestling publications and analysts have often cited his 1999–2000 run as one of the most accomplished debut years ever seen in the industry.
Angle retained the WWF Championship for the rest of the year in matches withThe Undertaker atSurvivor Series on November 19 and in a six-manHell in a Cell match against The Undertaker,Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, and Rikishi atArmageddon on December 10.[53] After beating Triple H at theRoyal Rumble on January 21, 2001,[54] Angle eventually lost the title to The Rock atNo Way Out on February 25.[55] Angle then feuded with Chris Benoit, whom he defeated atWrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, but lost to him atBacklash on April 29 in anUltimate Submission match. Continuing the feud, Angle again defeated Benoit in atwo-out-of-three-falls match atJudgment Day on May 20.[56]
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WhenWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) and ECW were purchased by the WWF in 2001, wrestlers from WCW and ECW formedThe Alliance. Angle and WWF ChampionStone Cold Steve Austin joined forces to repel them, turning Angleface in the process. At theInvasion event on July 22, Angle and Austin captained a team of five WWF superstars against members of the Alliance. Team WWF lost to Team Alliance when Austin turned on Team WWF to join the Alliance.[57] Angle then began feuding with Austin over the WWF Championship and challenged him for the title atSummerSlam on August 19, and defeated Austin by disqualification.[58] After winning and losing theWCW Championship,WCW United States Championship, and theWWF Hardcore Championship in matches with Alliance members, Angle defeated Austin to win his second WWF Championship atUnforgiven on September 23.[59][60] Angle lost the title to Austin on the October 8 episode ofRaw.[61] Angle later turnedheel again and joined the Alliance himself. Angle ultimately returned to the WWF side by enabling The Rock to defeat Austin in a "Winner Takes All" match between the WWF and The Alliance at theSurvivor Series on November 18.[59]
In his firstRoyal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble on January 20, 2002, Angle lasted until the final two before being eliminated by eventual winner Triple H. Angle briefly feuded withKane, defeating him atWrestleMania X8 on March 17.[62] Angle was drafted to theSmackDown! brand and then reignited his feud with Edge, defeating him atBacklash on April 21. Thenaturally balding Angle lost a "hair versus hair" match to Edge atJudgment Day on May 19, having his head shaved bald, which he would retain for the rest of his career.[63][64] During mid-2002,John Cena made his WWE televised debut, losing to Angle after a roll-up pin on the June 27 episode ofSmackDown!.[65]
In September 2002, Angle started to feud withChris Benoit, losing to him atUnforgiven on September 22. Angle and Benoit were teamed together to participate in a tournament to crown the firstWWE Tag Team Champions. They won the tournament finals atNo Mercy on October 20 making Angle the fifth WWEGrand Slam Champion.[citation needed] The match at No Mercy was named the2002 Match of the Year byWrestling Observer Newsletter.[66] They made their first successful title defense by defeatingLos Guerreros (Eddie Guerrero andChavo Guerrero) atRebellion on October 26.[67] Their reign ended after they lost the title to Edge and Mysterio on the November 7 episode ofSmackDown! in atwo-out-of-three-falls match. Angle and Benoit would receive another shot at the WWE Tag Team Championship in atriple threat elimination match against Edge and Mysterio and Los Guerreros atSurvivor Series on November 17, but failed after they were the first team eliminated; Los Guerreros eventually won.[68]
Angle won his third WWE Championship atArmageddon on December 15 by defeatingBig Show.[69] During this reign, he aligned withmanagerPaul Heyman and recently-formed "Team Angle" (Charlie Haas andShelton Benjamin). He began a rivalry with Brock Lesnar, who had won the2003 Royal Rumble.[70] Angle lost the title to Lesnar atWrestleMania XIX,[71] needing time off for neck surgery. Rather than a traditionalspinal fusion, he underwent a less invasive procedure where only the spurs and selected portions of the discs were removed, reducing his recovery time from one year to three months.[citation needed]
Angle returned on the June 5 episode ofSmackDown! and a month later won his fourth WWE Championship atVengeance in a triple threat match against Lesnar and Big Show.[72] He successfully defended the title at SummerSlam but lost it back to Lesnar in a 60-Minute Iron Man match on the September 18 episode ofSmackDown!.[73] AtSurvivor Series, Angle led a five-man team against Lesnar’s, winning the match despite being eliminated.[74]
In early 2004, Angle began feuding withEddie Guerrero. After becoming number one contender atNo Way Out by defeatingJohn Cena and Big Show, he turned heel by attacking Guerrero during a title defense onSmackDown!.[75] Angle lost to Guerrero atWrestleMania XX and later took time off for another neck surgery.[76] He returned as SmackDown's on-screen General Manager on March 25,[77] continuing his feud with Guerrero. AtThe Great American Bash, Angle helped JBL defeat Guerrero for the WWE Championship. He was later fired as GM by Vince McMahon after faking an injury, leading to a rematch with Guerrero atSummerSlam, which Angle won.[78]
Angle's feud with Guerrero continued into the fall, culminating in a match atNo Mercy, where Angle lost to Big Show.[79] On the November 4 episode ofSmackDown!, during a segment ofTough Enough, Angle challenged contestants to physical competitions, where Chris Nawrocki won an opportunity to have a match against Angle.[80] During this match, Angle wouldlegitimately break Nawrocki's ribs whilst performing adouble leg takedown.[80] Angle then faced Daniel Puder, a professionalMMA fighter. Puder locked in akimura lock during their unscripted exchange, but refereeJim Korderas quickly counted a pinfall on Puder despite his shoulders not being down to protect Angle from injury and having to submit.[81][80] Puder later claimed he would have broken Angle's arm had the match continued,[80] whilst Angle was reported to have been "less than happy backstage"[81] over the whole incident.
At the2005 Royal Rumble, Angle failed to win the WWE Championship in a triple threat match against JBL and Big Show. He later entered theRoyal Rumble match but was quickly eliminated by Shawn Michaels. In retaliation, Angle returned to eliminate Michaels,[82] beginning a heated rivalry. After mocking Michaels by defeating Michaels' formertag team partnerMarty Jannetty, and attacking Michaels' former managerSherri Martel, Angle defeated Michaels atWrestleMania 21 in a match which wonPro Wrestling Illustrated'sMatch of the Year award.[82]
Later in mid-April Angle entered atournament to determine the number-one contender for theWWE Championship, defeatingEddie Guerrero and starting a feud with fellow tournament entrantBooker T. Over the following weeks, in a controversial storyline Angle began sexually harassing Booker’s wife,Sharmell.[83][84] Booker defeated Angle atJudgment Day, but Angle won a mixed handicap against Booker and Sharmell match onSmackDown![85] before losing the feud in a final singles match on June 9.[86] A few days later, Angle also appeared atECW One Night Stand on June 12 as an anti-ECW “crusader” and was involved in a brawl with ECW alumni led byStone Cold Steve Austin.[87]
Following the2005 WWE draft in June, Angle was moved to theRaw brand and resumed his feud with Michaels, losing to him atVengeance.[88] In July he began a brief rivalry withEugene, who won Angle’sOlympic gold medal after Angle was unable to make him submit in a match within three minutes.[89] Angle regained the medal atSummerSlam.[90] Angle then entered a feud with WWE Champion John Cena, facing him atUnforgiven,Taboo Tuesday, andSurvivor Series, each time failing to win the title.[91][92][93] He continued the rivalry into 2006, defeating Cena in a non-titlefirst blood match onRaw,[94] but again failed to capture the championship atNew Year’s Revolution in the annualElimination Chamber match.[95]
Angle returned to theSmackDown! brand on January 13, 2006, winning a 20-man battle royal as a surprise entrant to claim the vacantWorld Heavyweight Championship, becoming aface in the process.[96][97] He retained the title againstMark Henry at theRoyal Rumble, after which The Undertaker challenged him.[98] AtNo Way Out Angle defeated The Undertaker in a critically acclaimed title match.[99][100][101] A rematch on the March 3 episode ofSmackDown! ended in disqualification, allowing Angle to retain the title heading intoWrestleMania 22.[102] However, at WrestleMania Angle lost the title toRey Mysterio in a triple threat match, which also involvedRandy Orton.[103] In the2006 brand draft Angle was moved to the newECW brand,[104] adopting the nickname "The Wrestling Machine," wearing amouth guard and quicklysquashing opponents.
Angle made sporadic appearances through mid-2006, inlucluding unsuccessfully challengingRob Van Dam for theECW World Heavyweight Championship on June 27.[105] On August 25, WWE granted his release due to health concerns.[106][107] In theKurt Angle: Champion documentary DVD, Angle stated he had been working through serious injuries and needed time off. His final WWE match was at an ECW house show on August 14, where he defeatedDanny Doring.[108]
Angle debuted inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on October 19, 2006, shortly after signing with the company, making an immediate impact by confrontingSamoa Joe, who had refused to return theNWA World Heavyweight Championship belt he had stolen fromJeff Jarrett. The confrontation sparked a heated feud between Angle and Joe, culminating in Angle defeating Joe atGenesis in November 19, ending Joe's undefeated streak in the company.[109] Angle then lost to Joe in a rematch on December 10 atTurning Point.
Angle and Joe fought again atFinal Resolution on January 14, 2007, with Angle winning once more and earning a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He faced the champion,Christian Cage, atAgainst All Odds, but lost due to interference fromTomko andScott Steiner. This led to a brief feud with Steiner, whom Angle defeated atDestination X. Angle then captained a team against Cage's in aLethal Lockdown match atLockdown, where the man who gained the winning pinfall would earn a title shot for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Angle's team emerged victorious, withSting being awarded the title shot. However, on the day of theSacrifice PPV, where Angle, Sting and Cage would face each other for the championship,[110] theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) severed ties with TNA and stripped its champions of their titles.[111] Despite this, the triple threat match between Angle, Sting, and Cage still took place, with Angle declared the unofficial winner of the new "World Heavyweight Champion" after making Sting submit whilst Sting simultaneously pinned Cage.[112]
In the aftermath, Angle unveiled the newly createdTNA World Heavyweight Championship, though the title was later vacated later that night due to the controversial finish at Sacrifice. A tournament for the championship culminated atSlammiversary 2007, where Angle won theKing of the Mountain match match, officially becoming the inaugural TNA World Heavyweight Champion.[113] He soon entered into a heated program with Samoa Joe once again, this time playing the role of heel. AtHard Justice, the two faced off in a tag team match where all championships the two held were on the line at the time; Angle held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship andIWGP Heavyweight Championship, while Joe held theX Division andTag Team titles. With help from his then-wifeKaren Angle, Angle won the bout, becoming TNA’s secondTriple Crown champion, as well as the first to hold all eligible titles simultaneously.[114] A month later Angle dropped both the X Division and Tag Team Championships toJay Lethal andTeam Pacman respectively, atNo Surrender on September 9.
Angle was more successful on holding on to the World Championship. While he briefly lost the title to Sting atBound for Glory in October,[115] he won it back on the October 25 episode ofImpact!.[116] He then formed an alliance withA.J. Styles and Tomko, known asThe Angle Alliance, and entered another feud with Christian Cage. He successfully defended the title against Cage atFinal Resolution andAgainst All Odds in early 2008 with help from his Alliance. However atLockdown on April 13, despite interference from the Alliance Angle lost the championship to Samoa Joe.
Later that year, Angle returned from neck injury[citation needed] and attacked A.J. Styles, kicking off another feud which lead to Angle andJeff Jarrett's paths crossing. After feuding with Styles and Jeff Jarrett throughout the summer, Angle aligned with Jarrett’s enemies (Booker T,Kevin Nash, Sting andScott Steiner) to form the Main Event Mafia, a stable of established wrestling veterans positioned against younger talent. The stable would dominate TNA for much of late 2008 and early 2009. During this time, Angle had multiple main-event matches withAbyss,Rhino, and continued to feud with Jarrett, culminating in a loss to him atBound for Glory IV in a match featuringMick Foley as the enforcer.
In 2009, Angle lost control of the Main Event Mafia to Sting after a match atSacrifice, but regained leadership after winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a fourth time atSlammiversary via assistance from Samoa Joe. On the following episode ofImpact!, Angle and the rest of the Mafia attacked Sting while introducing Joe as their newest member. Angle held the title untilNo Surrender, losing the belt to A.J. Styles captured the belt in a five-way match. Angle turned face a month later, praising TNA’s younger talent and leaving the Mafia on the October 22 episode ofImpact!.[117]
Following his departure from the Main Event Mafia, Angle began feuding withDesmond Wolfe, trading wins in late 2009[118][119][120] before ultimately defeating him in a "Three Degrees of Pain" match atFinal Resolution. In early 2010, he entered a title feud with A.J. Styles, now aligned withRic Flair, losing multiple championship matches against Styles due to murky finishes and interference. Frustrated, Angle teased leaving the company[121] but ultimately stayed and feuded withMr. Anderson after losing in the8 Card Stud Tournament atAgainst All Odds.[122] The feud saw both men trading victories through early 2010, ending with asteel cage match atLockdown, which Angle won.[123] which Angle won. Angle then took a brief hiatus but returned in May, vowing to climb the new TNA Top 10 Rankings on merit and earn another title shot.[124] Over the next few episodes ofImpact! and TNA PPVs, Angle defeated several of the other "Top 10" ranked wrestlers, (Kazarian,[125] Desmond Wolfe,[126]D’Angelo Dinero,[127]Hernandez,[128] and A.J. Styles[129]), boldly claiming that he would retire if he lost during this climb.[130]
Angle would not get the opportunity to rise any higher in the ranks. In August the TNA World Heavyweight Championship was vacated, with an eight-man tournament created to crown anew champion.[131][132] While Angle was victorious in his first-round match,[133] atNo Surrender Angle faced Jeff Hardy in the semi-finals. The match first ended in a time-limit draw and later, after the match was restarted, a no-contest due to Angle accidentallyblading his forehead too deeply.[134] Both men were added to the finals atBound for Glory, where Angle was pinned by Hardy after interference fromEric Bischoff andHulk Hogan, who turned heel and formedImmortal with Hardy, Jarrett, and Abyss.[135]
Following the loss, on the next episode ofImpact! Angle teased making good on his vow and retiring, but was attacked by Jarett and TNA's security officersGunner andMurphy,[136] with Jarett revealing he was involved with ensuring Angle lost at Bound for Glory. Throughout the spring of 2011 the two would bitterly feud over a series of personal and intense matches, which often featured Jarret's wife (and Angle's ex-wife) Karen, playing upon the real-life tension between the trio.[137] Eventually, the feud ended with Angle defeating Jarrett in aloser-leavesParking Lot Brawl on the June 16 episode ofImpact Wrestling, forcing Jarett to leave TNA.[138]
The month prior, Angle signed a new three-year contract with TNA, stating he was "here for the long haul."[139]
After ending his feud with Jeff Jarrett, Angle allied with Sting to oppose the Immortal stable, including TNA World Heavyweight Champion Mr. Anderson.[140] On the July 14 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Angle helped Sting reclaim the title from Anderson.[141] AtHardcore Justice on August 7, Angle defeated Sting to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a record fifth time, turning heel in the process after hitting him with a chair.[142]
Angle later revealed he opposed Sting’s plan to return control of TNA toDixie Carter, claiming Carter had lied to him about her knowledge of the Jarretts’ relationship. He aligned with Hulk Hogan and Immortal, vowing to dismantle TNA’s younger talent, starting with attackingCrimson that night.[143] Angle successfully defended the title against Sting,[144] Mr. Anderson,[145][146] andBobby Roode[147] in the following months. However, on October 20, he lost the championship toJames Storm.[148][149]
Angle returned in November, attacking Storm and revealing himself as the person who had cost him a title match the previous week.[150] Their feud continued through the end of 2011, with both men trading wins and Storm ultimately coming out on top.[151][152][153] In early 2012, Angle returned to begin a rivalry withJeff Hardy, defeating him atVictory Road but losing a steel cage rematch atLockdown.[154][155] Angle then feuded with A.J. Styles and defeated him atSacrifice, turning face by saving Styles from an attack by Daniels and Kazarian.[156][157][158] AtSlammiversary, Angle and Styles defeated the duo to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship,[159] although they lost the titles back to them weeks later.[160] Angle participated in the 2012 Bound for Glory Series but was eliminated by Jeff Hardy. He and Styles unsuccessfully challenged for the tag titles atNo Surrender[161] andBound for Glory.[162]
On May 13 atSacrifice, Angle defeated Styles in a rematch, following another interference from Daniels and Kazarian. After the match, Angle made the save for Styles, chasing Daniels and Kazarian out of the ring. This turned Angle face once again.On June 10 atSlammiversary, Angle and Styles defeated Daniels and Kazarian to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship.On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Angle entered the2012 Bound for Glory Series, taking part in the openinggauntlet match, from which he was eliminated by Daniels.[163] Two weeks later, Angle and Styles lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship back to Daniels and Kazarian.[160] Angle wrestled his final match in the 2012 Bound for Glory Series on the August 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, losing to Jeff Hardy, which resulted in him being eliminated from the tournament.[164] On September 9 atNo Surrender[161] andBound for Glory[162] On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Angle defeated Daniels and Styles in a three-way match to become one of four wrestlers in consideration for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[165]
In late 2012, Angle began feuding with theAces & Eights stable after being attacked by them on the October 25 episode ofImpact Wrestling.[166] He defeated stable memberDevon atTurning Point[167] An and continued battling the group with other wrestlers such as Samoa Joe and Wes Brisco. He later unmasked D'Lo Brown as the group's vice president and continued feuding with Aces & Eights through early 2013.[168][169][170][171]
By May, Angle had entered a feud with A.J. Styles, who had refused to answer whether was associated with Aces & Eights on the May 9, 2013, episode ofImpact Wrestling.[172] This resulted in a match atSlammiversary XI, where Angle won.[173] That same night, he was announced as the second inductee into theTNA Hall of Fame.[174] Shortly after, Angle began a storyline with the debutingRampage Jackson and later joined Sting in reforming the Main Event Mafia.[175] The new faction would soon recruit Samoa Joe,Magnus, and Jackson.[176][177][178] Angle's association with the storyline would be cut short, following when in August he went on hiatus after entering rehab for drug and alcohol use.[179]
Angle returned on the October 10, 2013, episode ofImpact Wrestling, attackingEGO and challenging Bobby Roode to a match atBound For Glory. In the lead-up, Roode mocked Angle’s Hall of Fame induction, provoking a feud. At the pay-per-view, Angle declined to accept the Hall of Fame honor, stating he hadn't earned it and wanted to achieve more in TNA. Later that night, he was defeated by Roode after a rough landing during a suplex.[180] Their rivalry continued, with Angle suffering (kayfabe) injuries, including concussions,[181] amnesia[182] and issues with his knee.[183] Despite being cleared later, Angle was attacked again by Roode and lost further matches in the ongoing TNA World Title tournament due to Roode's interference. AtGenesis, Angle defeated Roode in a steel cage match to end their feud.
In early 2014, Angle began a feud with Ethan Carter III (EC3), who injured his knee during an attack. Angle officially accepted his Hall of Fame induction on February 27, but the ceremony was interrupted by EC3. AtSacrifice, Angle teamed withWillow to defeat EC3 andRockstar Spud. In May, Angle underwent ACL surgery and was sidelined.[citation needed]
While still not medically cleared to wrestle, on June 20, 2014, Angle was appointed (kayfabe) Executive Director of Wrestling Operations by TNA's board. During this time, he reinstated Bobby Roode, who had been indefinitely suspended byMVP, and officially retired the inactiveTNA Television Championship. On October 29 (taped September 18), he served as special referee for the TNA World Championship match between Roode and Lashley.
Around the expiration of his TNA contract in September 2014, Angle reached out to WWE about a return, but was reportedly turned down.[citation needed] He later re-signed with TNA on a part-time deal, before being offered and signing a full-time contract.[184]
 | This section of abiography of a living personneeds additionalcitations forverification. Please help by addingreliable sources.Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced orpoorly sourcedmust be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentiallylibelous. Find sources: "Kurt Angle" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(September 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Angle returned to in-ring action on January 7, 2015, during TNA’s debut onDestination America. On March 20 (taped January 31), he defeatedLashley to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a record sixth time. He successfully defended the title against Eric Young, Lashley, Rockstar Spud, and Austin Aries, before losing it to EC3 on the July 1 episode (taped June 25) ofImpact Wrestling. He failed to regain the title in a rematch on the July 8 ofImpact Wrestling.
AtBound for Glory on October 4, Angle defeated Eric Young. The following month, he announced his departure from TNA after the upcoming UK tour in early 2016. Angle’s "Farewell Tour" included matches against TNA 's top stars. He defeatedDrew Galloway on January 12, 2016, but lost toMatt Hardy in a title match on February 2 and to Galloway in a rematch on February 9. After defeating Bobby Roode on March 1, Angle wrestled his final TNA match on March 8, 2016, losing to Lashley.
On February 18, 2007, Angle made his debut inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), teaming with formerIWGP Heavyweight ChampionYuji Nagata to defeat fellow TNA wrestlerTravis Tomko and fellowWWE alumnusGiant Bernard.
Angle was booked to faceBrock Lesnar in a champion-versus-champion match for theInoki Genome Federation (IGF) on June 29, 2007, and defeated him by submission to win theIWGP Heavyweight Championship.[185] Angle then challenged Lesnar to anMMA fight.[186] On December 19, 2007, Angle defended the IWGP title successfully againstKendo Kashin.[187]
On January 4, 2008, Angle made his third successful IWGP Heavyweight Championship defense when he defeated Yuji Nagata at theNJPW supershowWrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome by forcing Nagata to submit to the ankle lock.[188] On February 17, 2008, Angle lost the IWGP title to the NJPW-recognized championShinsuke Nakamura in a unification match.[189] He returned in August during theG1 Climax, in two special tag matches with A.J. Styles as his main opponent. In those matches Shinsuke Nakamura andMasahiro Chono became Angle's partners whileHiroshi Tanahashi andShinjiro Otani became Styles' partners. Angle's team won both matches.[190]
He returned on January 4, 2009, atWrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome in a special eight-man tag match, where he, Kevin Nash, Chono, andRiki Choshu facedGreat Bash Heel (Giant Bernard,Karl Anderson,Takashi Iizuka, andTomohiro Ishii), with Angle getting the win for his team.[191] Angle then went on to defeat Bernard in a singles match at New Japan's ISM tour on February 15.[192] After Hiroshi Tanahashi retained theIWGP Heavyweight Championship against Nakamura in the main event, Angle challenged him for the title, which Tanahashi accepted.[192] Tanahashi defeated Angle on April 5 at New Japan'sResolution '09 to retain the title.[193]
Angle made his debut for Mexican promotion companyAAA on August 5, 2012, atTriplemanía XX, where he teamed up with Jeff Jarrett as Team Dorian Roldán in a hair-vs.-hair match, where they faced Team Joaquín Roldán (Electroshock andL.A. Park), with the Roldáns' hairs on the line. Electroshock won the match for his team by pinning Angle, forcing Dorian to have his head shaved bald. However, after the match, Angle, Jarrett, and Dorian overpowered the winners and shaved Joaquín bald.[194]
On March 20, 2016, Angle competed for URFight, going against former rival and fellow WWE alumnusRey Mysterio in a losing effort in a two-falls match that saw Angle as aheel. Angle wrestled forRevolution Pro Wrestling on June 12, where he defeatedZack Sabre Jr. On August 27, Angle lost toCody Rhodes at Northeast Wrestling's Wrestling Under the Stars in Wappingers Falls, New York.[195] Angle defeatedJoe Hendry at the October 6 What Culture Pro Wrestling video tapings.[196] On November 20, 2016, Angle lost toJoe Coffey atInsane Championship Wrestling'sFear & Loathing IX. On February 12, 2017, Angle defeatedAlberto el Patrón at WCPW True Destiny in his final match in the United Kingdom.
On March 3, 2017, Angle appeared forNortheast Wrestling in Connecticut, where he was defeated by Cody Rhodes in a steel cage match. This was his last match on the independent circuit.[197]
On January 16, 2017, WWE announced that Angle would be inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame.[198] On March 16, WWE revealed that his long-time rivalJohn Cena would induct Angle at the Hall of Fame ceremony.[199] On the April 3 episode ofRaw afterWrestleMania 33, Angle made his first WWE appearance in nearly 11 years, afterMr. McMahon appointed Angle as the new general manager of Raw.[200] He was included into a storyline whereJason Jordan was his son.[201]
AtTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Angle has his first match with WWE in 11 years when he teamed with The Shield (Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins) to defeat the team of Braun Strowman, Kane, The Miz, Sheamus, and Cesaro in a TLC match.[202] On the October 30 episode ofRaw, while addressing the fans, commissionerStephanie McMahon confronted Angle, announcing that Angle would be the team captain of Team Raw atSurvivor Series, adding that if Team Raw would lose, Angle would be fired. At the event, Angle's teammateTriple H attacked him, leading to his elimination byShane McMahon; however, Team Raw still went on to win the match. At theElimination Chamber, Angle, along with Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, was present whenRonda Rousey signed herRaw contract, where Angle brought up the confrontation that Stephanie McMahon and Triple H had with Rousey andThe Rock atWrestleMania 31 and that they both want to manipulate her. This caused Rousey to put Triple H through a table and be slapped by Stephanie McMahon before signing her contract. The following night onRaw, Angle claimed the allegations he made were false, to keep his job, before being attacked by Triple H. As a result, the following week, Angle scheduled himself to team with Rousey against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a mixed tag team match atWrestleMania 34, which Angle and Rousey won.[203] Angle participated in the 50-man Royal Rumble match at theGreatest Royal Rumble event later that month. He entered at number 16 and eliminatedBo Dallas,Primo Colón, andDolph Ziggler before being eliminated byElias. Following WrestleMania, Angle found himself in a power struggle over control ofRaw, when the McMahon family appointedBaron Corbin as the constable ofMonday Nights on the June 4 episode ofRaw. This continued until the August 20 episode, when Stephanie McMahon sent Angle on "vacation" before announcing that Corbin would be acting general manager in Angle's absence.[204]
On the October 8, 2018, episode ofRaw, Angle made a surprise return, disguised as "The Conquistador", winning a battle royal after last eliminating Baron Corbin to qualify for theWWE World Cup atCrown Jewel.[205] At the event, Angle was defeated by Dolph Ziggler in the first round of the WWE World Cup Tournament.[206] On November 5, Angle competed in his first match onRaw since 2006, for a spot in theSurvivor Series men's tag team match, losing toDrew McIntyre, with McIntyre using Angle's own ankle lock finishing maneuver to make him submit.[207] Angle returned atTLC on December 16 to help Braun Strowman, along withApollo Crews,Finn Bálor,Bobby Roode,Chad Gable, defeat Baron Corbin to strip him of authoritative power.[208] The next night onRaw, Angle, along with Crews, Roode, and Gable, easily defeated Corbin in a no-disqualification handicap match to prevent him from being the permanent general manager of Raw.[209] At the2019 Royal Rumble on January 27, 2019, Angle entered the match at number four but was eliminated byShinsuke Nakamura.[210]
On the March 11, 2019, episode ofRaw, Angle announced he would retire atWrestleMania 35 and chose Baron Corbin as his final opponent at the event.[211] Over the following weeks, Angle embarked on a "Farewell Tour", facing several handpicked opponents, including Apollo Crews,[211] Chad Gable,[212]Samoa Joe,[213] andAJ Styles.[214] At WrestleMania 35, Angle lost to Corbin in his final match.[215] Afterwards, Angle transitioned to a backstage role as a producer.[216] Despite working with Corbin, Angle asked Vince McMahon to wrestle John Cena in his retirement match, but McMahon declined his petition.[217]Angle also pointed that he decided to stay retired after he watched his last matches with WWE and saw his decreasing mobility and athleticism.[218]
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Since 2019, Angle has made appearances on WWE programs, likeRaw Reunion[219] or the August 5 episode ofRaw in his hometown of Pittsburgh, where he was the special guest referee for a match between Drew McIntyre andCedric Alexander.[220] On April 15, 2020, Angle was released from his WWE contract as part of budget cuts stemming from theCOVID-19 pandemic.[221][222]
On the May 27, 2020, episode ofNXT, Angle served as the special guest referee in a steel cage match betweenMatt Riddle andTimothy Thatcher.[223] He appeared again two days later on the May 29 episode ofSmackDown to announce the arrival of Matt Riddle to the brand.[224][225] In an interview with CBR.com, Angle revealed that WWE offered him a new deal to come back under the role of Matt Riddle's manager, but he turned it down in order to focus on his health and his nutrition business.[226]
Angle would appear on the August 29, 2022 episode ofRaw, which took place in his hometown of Pittsburgh,[227] on the December 9 episode ofSmackDown, where he celebrated his 54th birthday,[228] After the show went off the air, Rey Mysterio led the superstars and audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to Angle.[229] or theRaw is XXX on January 23, 2023, in a segment withD-Generation X.[230]
When Angle began to train as a professional wrestler, he was asked to not watch old tapes, since the style had changed during theAttitude Era and the matches were more aggressive. Instead, he learned by watching then-current wrestlers such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, or The Rock.[231] Angle said his match against The Rock at No Way Out 2001 was the transition between the "funny, goofy Kurt Angle to a more serious competitor", including more offense.[232]
Angle's Olympic gold medal has frequently been incorporated into his professional wrestling persona. His personality varies depending on his alignment as aface orheel. As a face, Angle usually performs as a role model; but as a heel arrogantly uses his achievements to insult other people. He mixes aspects from his amateur wrestling background with his in-ring work, performing varioussuplexes, including the belly-to-back, German,[120] and belly-to-belly, as well as submissions, such as therear naked choke[233] or thetriangle choke.[120] He primarily performs two finishing maneuvers to end his matches: anOlympic slam, dubbed "Angle Slam", and anankle lock.[1]
During Angle's entrances in WWE, it is common for fans to chant "you suck!" to the tune of his entrance music. The chants originated during Angle's feud with The Rock in February 2001, but gained popularity during his feud with Edge in 2002. The chants have become a trademark of Angle's persona, regardless if he is a face or heel.[234] The theme song was later adopted by UFC fighterColby Covington.
Angle appeared in every WWE/F video game from 2000'sWWF Royal Rumble up toWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, released in 2006. After an eleven-year absence, Angle made his return to WWE video games as a playable character inWWE 2K18 (asdownloadable content), before subsequently appearing inWWE 2K19,WWE 2K20, and returning inWWE 2K23,WWE 2K24 andWWE 2K25. He also appears inTNA Impact!,TNA Wrestling, andTNA Wrestling Impact!.[235]
Angle expressed interest in pursuing an acting career after retiring from professional wrestling. In 2008, he made his film debut as a racist prison deputy in theshort filmChains.[236] In 2009, he playedserial killer Brad Mayfield in the filmEnd Game. On a third-season episode ofPros vs. Joes, he was teamed up with Jimmy Smith and Kendall Gill against the Joes. Angle appeared in the "Car Wreck Vanish" episode ofCriss Angel Mindfreak. He playedRussian MMA champion Koba (in a non-speaking role) in the 2011 filmWarrior, and starred as town sheriff Will Logan in the filmRiver of Darkness.[237][238]
On theRight After Wrestling program onSirius Satellite Radio, Angle revealed he would become a part-time wrestler after his contract expired in 2011 to focus on Angle Foods and his acting career.[239] In the 2013 filmPro Wrestlers vs Zombies, he plays himself as both a human and a zombie.[240] Angle also had a small role in the 2014 cult-filmSharknado 2: The Second One and in the 2014 romantic-comedy filmNot Cool. He appeared in the filmThe Last Witch Hunter.[241] He also made a cameo appearance in the moviePain and Gain, in which he brawls withDwayne Johnson's character in a prison fight. Angle appeared on an episode ofDuck Dynasty in February 2016.[242]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | End Game | Brad Mayfield | |
| 2009 | Chains | Deputy | Short film |
| 2011 | Dylan Dog: Dead of Night | Wolfgang | |
| 2011 | River of Darkness | Sheriff Will Logan | |
| 2011 | Waking Up | "Crush" Carlisle | Short film |
| 2011 | Warrior | "The Great" Koba | |
| 2012 | Beyond the Mat | Coach Kamen | Still not released |
| 2012 | Death from Above | Thule | |
| 2012 | Drummer for the Mob | FBI Agent | |
| 2012 | Olympic Trials with Kurt Angle | Himself | Funny or Die short |
| 2013 | Pain & Gain | Benjamin Rowe | |
| 2013 | Horse Cops | Eli Paste | |
| 2013 | Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies | Himself | |
| 2014 | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Fire Chief | |
| 2014 | Not Cool | Security Guard | |
| 2015 | The Last Witch Hunter | Bodyguard |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Fox 53 Ten O'Clock News | Himself | Sportscaster: "The Angle on Sports" |
| 2000 | SMTV Live | Himself | |
| 2001 | The Weakest Link | Himself | |
| 2007 | Inside MMA | Himself | Season 1, episodes 10 and 11 |
| 2008 | Pros vs. Joes | Himself | Season 3, episode 1 |
| 2009 | Criss Angel Mindfreak | Himself | Episode: "Car Wreck Vanish" |
| 2011 | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | Himself | Episode: "The Lampe Family" |
| 2013 | Baal Veer | Himself | [243] |
| 2016 | Duck Dynasty | Himself | Episode: "Van He'llsing" |
| 2016 | Those Who Can't | Coach Joe Donnelly[244] | Episode: "A New Dog in the Yard" |
| 2018–2019 | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | Chip Damage | Voice; 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Ryan's Mystery Playdate | Himself | Episode: "Ryan's Super Tough Playdate" |
In 1996, Angle became a marketing representative for Protos Foods, the manufacturers of OSTRIM, anostrich-meat-based foodstuff.[12][245] In 1997, he worked for a year as asportscaster on Pittsburgh's localFox affiliateWPGH-TV.[246][247] He also did a commercial for Pittsburgh-basedpizza chainPizza Outlet. Both Angle's pizza commercial and his time on WPGH-TV would be referenced on WWE television (the latter through theWWE Network showRide Along), and his time with WPGH-TV would also make him an alumnus of WPGH-TV parentSinclair Broadcast Group without having ever appeared for Sinclair-owned wrestling promotionRing of Honor.[248][249]
Angle is a longtime fan ofMMA, and has occasionally talked about his desire to compete.UFC presidentDana White stated that Angle was in talks to appear as a heavyweight contestant on the 10th season ofThe Ultimate Fighter, but did not meet the medical requirements. Angle signed withBellator MMA on October 28, 2015. He attended a fan convention on November 6, the eve ofBellator 145, then joined the commentary booth the next night, during theBobby Lashley vs.James Thompson match, where he teased possibly fighting for the promotion himself.[250]
Angle's book,It's True It's True, was released on September 18, 2001.[251] In 2008, Angle was selected to be featured on the cover for metal bandEmmure's second albumThe Respect Issue, where he is depicted on the front and back covers for the record, as well as on the inlay.[252][unreliable source?]
From January 2021 to January 2024, Angle co-hosted a podcast calledThe Kurt Angle Show withConrad Thompson.[253]
Angle was hired as asports analyst forReal American Freestyle in July 2025.[254] Angle owns part of the company.[255]
Angle marriedKaren Smedley[256] on December 19, 1998.[257] They have two children together.[258] In September 2008, it was reported that Karen had filed for divorce from Kurt.[259] In 2010, it was reported that Angle was engaged to actress Giovanna Yannotti.[260] Angle and Yannotti were married on July 20, 2012.[261] They have three children, one of whom was adopted.[267]
Angle is aChristian.[268][269] He supportedMarco Rubio in the2016 Republican Party presidential primaries.[270] He is a supporter of thePittsburgh Steelers andPittsburgh Penguins[271][non-primary source needed][272] He also enjoys playing thedrums.[273][274] In July 2015, Angle underwent emergency surgery to remove fluid buildup on hisspinal cord after all of hisextremities had become numb.[275] A week before this emergency, he had surgery to remove abenign tumor from his neck.[276]
In 2007,Sports Illustrated reported that Angle's name was found in the client database of a Florida wellness center suspected of being a front for distributingperformance enhancing drugs.[277] The magazine alleged that Angle had received prescriptions fortrenbolone (which is not approved for human use by theFood and Drug Administration) andnandrolone, bothanabolic steroids. Angle denied the allegations, commenting that his neck issues were well documented.[278] Angle only failed a drugs test underWWE's Wellness Policy because his prescription for nandrolone had expired.[279] Angle has been open about struggles with addiction to prescription pain medication. He claims that he developed an addiction to pain killers in 2003, and that his addictions got so out of control that at one point he was taking up to 65 extra-strengthVicodin per day. Angle states that after completing rehabilitation following a 2013 DUI arrest, he has been clean and sober.[280]
In 2003 Angle helped fellow US wrestlerTeague Moore raise funds for his training and bid for the 2004Olympics.[281]
In 2016 Angle launched his own app called the Angle Strong. The app aimed at helping people in recovery of drug addiction, providing check-ins, reminders, care-manager support, and loved-one notifications. The app had a chat room where people could talk to other recovering addicts.[282][283]
In 2024 Angle began a fundraiser to help support the U.S. men's and women's freestyle Olympic wrestling team, and the men's Olympic Greco-Roman. He started the campaign in hopes of making sure the athletes would be able to train full time and not have to worry about working during their training. He also worked with USA Wrestling to raise funds to help give female wrestlers more ability’s to compete at all levels.[284][285]
Angle also does work with the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which helps families of fallen first responders and military serviceman. Angle has stated that it is a personal issue to him as his father who was in the military reserves was killed in a construction accident.[284]
In September 2007, Angle was arrested by theMoon Township Police Department inMoon Township, Pennsylvania, a part of theGreater Pittsburgh area, on a DUI charge, after police received a report of an erratic driver leaving a local bar. Angle was charged with driving under the influence and careless driving after police traced the description of the car to his home. Angle was later found not guilty on those charges when the complaining witness was unable to corroborate her story.[286][287]
On August 15, 2009, Angle was again arrested by the Moon Township Police Department.[288] His girlfriend stated that she had filed a protection from abuse (PFA) order and that he was stalking her in theRobinson area. Angle was charged with "driving while operating privilege is suspended, prohibited acts-possession, harassment and prohibited acts".Hygetropin, ahuman growth hormone, was found in his car; Angle maintained that he had a prescription for the drug.[289] On September 15, a District Court judge dropped the harassment, suspended license, and drug charges against Angle. On November 9, the PFA charges were dropped after he and former girlfriendTrenesha Biggers reached an agreement to avoid contact with each other.[290]
On March 25, 2011, Angle was arrested byNorth Dakota Highway Patrol officers inThompson, North Dakota, and charged with "being in control of a motor vehicle whileintoxicated", after failing a field sobriety test.[291][292][293][294] Angle later pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced on April 20 to one year ofunsupervised probation, achemical dependency evaluation, a $250 fine, $225 in court fees, and a ten-daysuspended sentence.[295][296]
Angle was arrested in the early morning of September 4, 2011, byVirginia State Troopers for allegedly driving under the influence. Angle was placed inWarren County Jail, before posting $2,000 bail and being released.[297][298] State police revealed that Angle's initial breath test at the scene, where he was stopped by police, showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.091 percent, which was above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.[299] The test was later ruled not admissible; and when a second test, taken at the police station, showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.06, the DUI charge was dropped. Angle was still charged with reckless driving.[300] On November 8, 2011, Angle entered a plea ofno contest and was fined $1,500.[301]
On August 2, 2013, Angle was arrested byTexas Highway Patrol officers and charged with driving while intoxicated inDecatur, Texas.[302][303] Later that day, Angle announced he was immediately entering adrug rehabilitation center.[179]
| This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately. Find sources: "Kurt Angle" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 Olympic Games at −100kg | ||||||
| Win | 9–0 |  Abbas Jadidi | 1–1 | July 31, 1996 | 1996 Olympic Games |  Atlanta, Georgia |
| Win | 8–0 |  Konstantin Aleksandrov | 4–1 | |||
| Win | 7–0 |  Sagid Murtazaliev | 4–3 | |||
| Win | 6–0 |  Wilfredo Morales | 2–0 | July 30, 1996 | ||
| Win | 5–0 |  Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar | 4–0 | |||
| 1995 World Championship at −100kg | ||||||
| Win | 4–0 |  Arawat Sabejew | Referee Decision | August 13, 1995 | 1995 World Championships | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Win | 3–0 |  Oleg Ladik | Referee Decision | |||
| Win | 2–0 |  Josef Glazer | 3–0 | |||
| Win | 1–0 |  Kenan Şimşek | 2–0 | |||
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge (hair) | Kurt Angle (hair) | Nashville, Tennessee | Judgment Day | May 19, 2002 | [336] |
Kurt Angle recently signed a five-year deal with the World Wrestling Federation.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)ECW World Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Kurt Angle; Dean Malenko was the guest referee for the bout
The fans chanted for Christian and Angle said he is the new TNA champion.
Giovanna Yanotti, the actress/fiance of Kurt Angle, announced today that the couple is expecting their first child.
Kurt Angle rushed back to Pittsburgh from the European tour last night when he got a phone call that his pregnant fiance, actress Giovanna Yannotti, had been rushed to the hospital with extremely high blood pressure and passed out. The doctors felt it necessary to induce labor and she gave birth to Giuliana Marie Angle, a 5.5 pound 18 inch long baby. The baby is said to be doing well, although she is about three weeks premature. At last word, the mother was still in intensive care with doctors today attempting to get her blood pressure under control.
Just one week after undergoing a successful operation to remove a benign tumor from his neck, TNA star Kurt Angle was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove fluid buildup on his spinal cord.
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