Kurt Angle: "Way too many gimmicks"

[chessarmy]

On gimmick matches in TNA: Way too many gimmick matches. There are some people in TNA who think all these gimmick matches is what makes TNA innovative. Wrestling 101 is what makes TNA innovative, though, because of the innovative styles they naturally have. They do stuff that I didn't think was possible. Let them do that. They don't need a chair or a ladder to do that, they can do that on their own. I've struggled a little bit due to the fact that we've had too many gimmick matches. We need to go back to the roots of TNA and have straight up, traditional one-on-one matches, no gimmicks, and I guarantee we'll get more viewers and the crowd will like the matches better.

On painkillers: I went through a very difficult time for painkillers and now it's behind me three and a half years and I'll never touch them again. But I had a hard time with that. It was a very difficult time for me. I was taking so many and the thing is, it didn't hurt my performance in the ring and I was making money for the company, but it hurt my marriage and I wasn't really there for my kids. I was always sleeping, passed out or on the road traveling taking painkillers to keep myself going. I backed myself into a corner and it's something I'll never do again. Then finally, when I got over it, about a year later I realized this schedule was just too hard for me. Vince couldn't book me part time, he wished he could and he really wanted to. Vince has a good heart, but he thought when he released me that I was just going to take six months off and come back. But I knew I just couldn't go back there and work that schedule.

On what he does when wrestlers hit him too stiff: I just tell them to ease up. If they do it a second time, there is no third time. I don't care what we're doing, if we're in the middle of a spot, they hit me stiff again, double leg takedown and put them in a choke hold. That's my way of letting them know they need to ease up. Then we slowly work our way out, hit the ropes, and get back to the spot. I can stop a match that quick and I will to let them know that ain't happening again. I'm alright to the guys. I don't want to be a jerk. I want them all to succeed and I want to do my best to make them all look good out there, but I'm in it for the long haul and want these guys to learn. Hopefully I can teach them.

Source: 24wrestling

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I have to agree with him about the gimmick part. I like gimmick matches but when they are overdone they start to mean less and I think that is the problem that TNA is having atm. Since Kurt is..well, Kurt, hopefully the higher ups in TNA will listen to him and things will start to change

 

[World Champ]

hopefully things will change because they have lots of talent and they cant realy show it because of all the weapons they use or multiple people in one match. They might listen to kurt

 

[1chiban]

Wow first time I've heard him talk sense in a while. I guess he can get away with saying this seeing he's one of the company's most important (at least perceived by them) assets.

 

[gashface]

To be honest gimmick matches don't make them stand out, to me TNA is getting moire and more like WCW. Everything is gimmicked up to hell. They have like at least five chair shots on each impact. Weapons, interfearence and gimmicks. They are so far gone each week I wonder if they're going to go a show without having any of these things, but for the past four or five months it's been nonstop. To be honest it needs to be stopped, I hope Angle has the power to stop this.

 

[Acideyez]

I definetly think getting back to square 1 with the company would help alot. I kept tuning into TNA back in the day, because they had great matches. I could honestly care less about gimmick matches. My theory is, you can throw all the extra things into a match, but it's still going to suck if the wrestlers don't wrestle. Hopefully they will learn this, and see what Angle said.

 

[Great One]

There's too many GIMMICKS period, you can tell they try way too damn hard.

 

[MikeRaw]

It's true, and it's good that even Kurt can stand up and say it. Hopefully tna realises, cause it get's painful to watch.

 

[C4]

He isn't bragging about himself here and I do agree with him. What I don't understand is that why does TNA have to try so many gimmick matches on PPV's? I know they're equally annoying on Impact! but atleast try and take them off PPV's.

I suggest they cut off the loose gimmicks and go with the solid ones.

 

[Moonlight Drive]

The first time in a while I've agreed with what Kurt Angle has said. And they could at least do some half decent gimmick matches