Kurt Angle interview

[chessarmy]

Kurt Angle recently did an interview with SCNow.com that you can view HERE. The following are a few of his comments regarding TNA compared to the WWE, the politics in each company, his interest in working MMA, and more:

What’s TNA like compared to the WWE?
"There’s no comparison, talent-wise, to WWE. We’ve got much more talented wrestlers. Since I’ve been here, it’s probably progressed 200 percent. It’s not me, though. The folks who started TNA have really built it up. WWE still makes over $100 million a year, but eventually we’ll get there. Now they have a real competitor.

So I take it you believe, wrestling-wise, TNA trumps WWE?
Yes. and I think a lot of it is the athleticism. We recruit the best wrestlers from around the world. TNA doesn’t discriminate. We look for the best athletes. A lot of our guys are under 6-feet (tall).

You don’t think hiring smaller guys may hurt your fan base?
Not at all. Wrestling’s an illusion itself, and fans realize it. We’re coming into a more real world. We have a good mixture of wrestlers. We have (high fliers) like Rey Mysterio Jr., but we also have guys like me and Samoa Joe who are more of a ground-and-pound style, more mixed martial arts oriented.

In 2006, you left WWE for TNA. Why did you leave WWE?
TNA takes better care of me. They don’t want to overwork me. They want to make sure I can stay wrestling for another five to eight years. There’s a lot of politics in wrestling, wanting to be the top guy. There’s no politics here. That was more important than anything. I can’t say the same about WWE. I’ve seen guys who could elevate quicker, but because of politics, didn’t.

You’ve mentioned in other interviews that you would like to try mixed martial arts. Is that still a possibility?
Well, my first priority is TNA. A lot of companies have asked me. In mixed martial arts, the danger is always there. If he puts me in a submission hold and I’m too proud to tap out and he snaps my arm, I’m out for a year or two. If I were to do it, the money would have to be unbelievable because if I get injured and I’m out, I need to provide for my family. If the money I get in mixed martial arts does not exceed the money I make in TNA, it’s not worth it.

Source: 24wrestling.com

 

[Nation]

lol at eventually we'll get there.

 

[chessarmy]

^ What, you don't think so? TNA is bound to grow and it WILL eventually be as big as the WWE. Its going to take decades, but I know that if TNA is financially healthy they can keep growing until they finally start giving the WWE some real competition

 

[JurassicBonez]

yea i mean tna just got a 2 hour show, i give it another year or 2 theyll have another show besides impact televised, maybe explosion or something and if they dont get to caught up on trying to compete with wwe right now theyll be some good comp in 5+ years, but i wouldnt be surprised if it was sooner than that

 

[Christian]

angle wrestling for 5 to 8 more years???????? not.

 

[JurassicBonez]

i think that the condition that angle is at not where hes cont. to push his injured body then yea he wont last 5 to 8 more years, but if he takes some time off of active wreslting then yea, i think after the aj/angle fued is over, angle needs a break, maybe become a manager, or commentator or backstage stuff but active wreslting... he needs to rest up before his career ends early, they got people to cover the ME heel spot while hes gone

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

TNA eventually becoming as big as WWE? No, not if they keep getting those ratings and buyrates.

And Kurt, I am sorry, but having you wrestle and take bumps just one week after your neck injury is not exactly taking good care of you while you know, Vince let you go when you lied and told him that were burnt out

 

[HHHforever]

Kurt Angle should be arrested everytime he attempts to do a public interview because everytime I read these I get dumber. Seriously I just read his interview to laugh. Eventually get there? I don't see that happening. Real competition?? With what ECW? A brand that the WWE doesn't even care about. Gimme a fucking break.

BTW Kurt you usually don't notice or get pissed about politics when you're on top all the time.

 

[The A-man]

It IS possible that TNA can be a big wrestling company in due time, but they need to do way better in the booking department, fire Russo's sorry ass and bring in someone who'll write stories and angles that are serious and that people can get behind.

Spike TV needs to realize that by advertizing TNA OUTSIDE of their network might bring in more viewers as well.

 

[kingovkings]

Typical Angel interview slagging WWE yet AGAIN. But hey whats new every time the guy opens his mouth he talks shit about WWE no surprise there.
LMAO @ Eventually we will get there. Yeah in like a zillion years from now or if WWE stop going which ever comes 1st lol. Oh yeah rest up that neck Kurt if you wanna be wrestling for another 5/8 yrs you might even see the ratings improve a bit by then lmao

 

[THE Renegade Diesel]

Good interview IMO. Thank's Chess...

 

[NinoBrown]

Wasn't Angle moved to ECW (back in 06) so it'll be a better schedule for him? I just don't know what's wrong with him anymore, bout wrestling 5 to 8 more years, now that's some bullshit.

 

[Kaedon]

so much for that "integrity" thing....

 

[Travis40]

he's also lacking in the "intelligence" department lol

 

[Edge+Bret Hart]

Wow Kurt, wake up man. All that bullshit is pretty funny lol...