WWE News: Hall Of Famer Reveals Motivation For Leaving In 2006

Famed wrestling personality Kurt Angle revealed why he decided to leave WWE in 2006 and move to then-burgeoning rival TNA Wrestling (known today as Impact Wrestling).

Speaking with another wrestling legend in Chris Jericho on his Talk is Jericho podcast, Angle disclosed that he had never wanted to leave the company but cited health concerns as his main motivator to change sceneries.

“I was getting injured all the time, I had a painkiller addiction and nobody wanted to do anything for me and I had to do something for myself and what I did was I left the company in 2006 and decided I was gonna start new somewhere else. I didn’t wanna go. I loved the WWE but I really didn’t have a choice. I really believe if I didn’t leave, I might have been dead by now and I didn’t want that to happen,” a somber Angle told Jericho on the podcast.

The Olympic gold medalist was originally offered a 10-year contract to join the then-WWF in the late 90s but felt that it was beneath him.

His opinion turned around soon after and developed an admiration for performers like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and then decided to join the promotion.

Angle became one of wrestling’s biggest stars, and his dedication to the sport overtook his focus on his health to the point that he would work through injuries, relying heavily on painkillers to get him through shows.

His 2006 departure to TNA was a surprising move for the fans as very few were aware of his developing addiction.

In February of this year, Angle revealed that his addiction started in 2006 after Brock Lesnar fractured his neck in February 2003, even taking 65 Vicodin tablets a day to use them as a crutch instead of seeking the right treatment.

Angle made a successful return to WWE in 2017 as the General Manager of Monday Night Raw and as an in-ring competitor for a while in 2018 before transitioning to a producer role.

He was among WWE’s first batch of releases in the summer of 2020 due to budget concerns.

Nowadays, the 52-year-old Hall of Famer is enjoying a peaceful life in retirement with his podcast, far from his painkiller addiction days in the wrestling business.