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Tag: Kurt Angle

  • More Reactions To Kurt Angle In WWE Hall Of Fame, HOF Video, More

    More Reactions To Kurt Angle In WWE Hall Of Fame, HOF Video, More

    The WWE Hall of Fame pre-sale is back on for this Wednesday with Kurt Angle being announced as the headliner yesterday. The tickets on-sale had been pushed back twice in the past two weeks but they are now back on for this week. The Ticketmaster pre-sale begins Wednesday and the general public on-sale begins Friday.

    Speaking of the 2017 HOF, below is the official video for Kurt Angle’s induction:

    Here are some more reactions to Kurt Angle joining the Hall of Fame:

    https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/821199024623681536

    https://twitter.com/richardswesley/status/821414812630454272

  • Kurt Angle Entering The WWE Hall Of Fame

    Kurt Angle Entering The WWE Hall Of Fame

    Kurt Angle will be the headline inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017, as first reported by ESPN.com.

    “I was shocked. I’ve been out of WWE for a long time and out of touch with them so I didn’t really expect this,” Angle said to ESPN. “It’s a huge honor. This is the only Hall of Fame that I’m not in and probably [the one] I want to be in the most. This is the one that means the most for me. I had a lot of fun entertaining the fans for seven years with WWE, and I’m glad that my hard work paid off.”

    Angle had been out of the company for over a decade, since the Summer of 2006, when he was released after a meeting where it was demanded that he enter drug rehabilitation for a painkiller addiction. The Olympic Gold medalist soon went to TNA Wrestling, working there for a decade before departing last year.  Angle eventually went to rehab while in TNA, cleaning up and being open about the root of his addiction, which likely helped open the door with WWE.

    Paul “Triple H” Levesque told WWE.com that “Kurt Angle’s accomplishments both in the Olympics and WWE were extraordinary.“ He added that Angle “was one of the most gifted athletes to ever enter the ring, and we are honored to welcome him into the WWE Hall of Fame.”

    In speaking with ESPN, Angle revealed that he has not spoken to WWE about working any matches.

    “We have not talked about any wrestling,” he said. “Whether we do or not, that remains to be seen… There are no guarantees. I think right now the most important thing is the Hall of Fame — and I think both sides feel that way.”

    With so many years having gone by since he was part of the WWE family, Angle wasn’t sure if this day would ever come.

    “I figured they either decided they didn’t want to do anything with me or they forgot,” he told ESPN. “Hunter said they never forgot and he called and told me this is the first thing they want to do. And whether I wrestle or not after this — which is irrelevant right now — I’m just really proud to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. I gave a lot of energy and time to WWE those first seven years, and I’m grateful that they recognized it.”

    WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has a nice ring to it.

  • Report: Kurt Angle Not Booked For The Royal Rumble

    Report: Kurt Angle Not Booked For The Royal Rumble

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruq7YxCTBbY

    With the Royal Rumble around the corner and Kurt Angle reportedly telling promoters he’s returning to WWE, rumors have been circulating about the Olympic gold medalist being a surprise entrant in the 30-man Rumble match. According to a new report, those are just rumors as of right now.

    Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that according to backstage sources in WWE, there have been no talks between the company and Angle regarding the Royal Rumble yet. While WWE could always call someone at the last minute for a surprise appearance, it doesn’t sound like the former WWE Champion will be at the Royal Rumble on 1/29 in San Antonio, TX.

    According to The Observer, it’s more likely that Angle could appear at WrestleMania 33 on 4/2 in Orlando, FL. Meltzer reported in December that Angle was telling independent wrestling promoters he isn’t accepting any bookings in April because he’s returning to WWE.

    If he returns, what would you like to see Kurt Angle do at WrestleMania 33? Comment with your thoughts & predictions!

  • Kurt Angle vs. Cody Rhodes Cage Match Announced

    Kurt Angle vs. Cody Rhodes Cage Match Announced

    Northeast Wrestling has announced Kurt Angle and Cody Rhodes will square off inside a steel cage at the upcoming WrestleFest XXI event. The show takes place on March 3rd from Waterbury, CT.

    https://twitter.com/newwrestling1/status/816099124315615232

  • Kurt Angle Telling Promoters He’s Returning To WWE

    Kurt Angle Telling Promoters He’s Returning To WWE

    Kurt Angle might be returning to WWE at Long last. The Wrestling Observer reports that the Olympic gold medalist has told indy promoters that he is not accepting any dates as he’s returning to WWE in April 2017.

    It should be noted that this is not the first time Angle has told promoters he’s returning to WWE but there are many rumors going around about a return for Angle, according to The Observer.

    Angle has two 2017 indy matches scheduled, against Alberto Del Rio and Cody Rhodes, but has told promoters those will be the last. It will be interesting to see if this is just another WrestleMania season rumor or if Angle is finally making his way back home.

  • Kurt Angle vs. Alberto El Patron Announced for February WCPW Show

    Kurt Angle vs. Alberto El Patron Announced for February WCPW Show

    What Culture Pro Wrestling will be hosting ‘True Destiny’ in Milton Keynes on February 12th and the main event for the show has already been announced.

    Kurt Angle will be returning to the company to face former WWE & Lucha Underground star Alberto El Patron.

    The event will also be host to the second ever WCPW convention and tickets for the event are available to purchase here.

  • Jim Ross Talks About The Possibility Of Kurt Angle Returning To WWE

    Jim Ross Talks About The Possibility Of Kurt Angle Returning To WWE

    Jim Ross recently spoke with TheScore.com about Sunday’s Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg Survivor Series showdown. During the interview, JR said Goldberg is probably the last big legendary name that WWE could reach out to for a big return. “I don’t know who else is out there that hasn’t already been saddled up and ridden to the big dance,” he said.

    When asked about Kurt Angle, Ross said he would certainly endorse WWE doing business with the Olympic gold medalist again.

    “For him to come back for a one-off, a WrestleMania match, coinciding with a Hall of Fame induction, something along those lines – I think would be great promotion, and the fans would probably embrace that idea. He may be the last guy out there we could name that would fit the bill of the returning, conquering hero back in the fold for a one-off.”

    During a recent appearance on the Steve Austin Show podcast, Angle revealed he still has plans to wrestle for WWE at least one more time. “Next year I plan on going back somewhere. I don’t know where yet, but I wanted to keep myself mentally sharp,” Angle said. “I booked my matches this year; one against Rey Mysterio, with Cody Rhodes. I have another one coming up with Alberto Del Rio, and Joe Coffey. I had a match with Zack Sabre Jr, who is in the Cruiserweight tournament. He’s a very talented kid.”

    He finished, “These guys I pretty much picked, knowing I would be able to wrestle these talented kids, before I attempt to most likely come back to WWE,” so Angle is still leaving the door open for a return.

    Discussion: Do you want to see Kurt Angle back in WWE for one more match?

  • Kurt Angle Welcomes 5th Child, Robbie E’s Wife Delivers Twin Sons

    Kurt Angle Welcomes 5th Child, Robbie E’s Wife Delivers Twin Sons

    Both Kurt Angle and Robbie E welcomed new babies into the world this past weekend, as seen in the photos below.

    Robbie and his wife Tara had twin boys named Carter and Cash while Angle welcomed his 5th child, 3rd with current wife Giovanna. The Angles had a baby girl named Nikoletta.

    Congratulations to both families!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BMezEtDBxWg/

  • Kurt Angle Talks WWE Style Getting Too Fast, Creative Control, & More

    Kurt Angle Talks WWE Style Getting Too Fast, Creative Control, & More

    Kurt Angle is Steve Austin’s guest on “The Steve Austin Show” this week, and he had some particularly interesting things to say about the current iteration of the WWE in-ring style. The comments stemmed from a discussion of Cody Rhodes, and if maybe he had issues getting over because the current WWE style and pace may not be for him. Here’s what Angle had to say (credit to WrestleZone for the transcription):

    Well, I have always believed in his talent. I think I understand why he left. I don’t think he’s going to be gone from there forever. I think that he will eventually go back there. I just think he wanted a break, and wanted to do something where he could just find himself. I think that in WWE, he was doing what they wanted him to do, and I know he wanted to elaborate more on the Stardust character. It seemed that watching, he was on TV every week so I give WWE credit for that, but I just didn’t see him progressing in the ranks, I just saw him continue to be where he was. I don’t think they saw him where he thought he should be, and there will be a lot of people that agree with Cody on that, but at the same time, I look at WWE and there are a lot of good talent right now.

    From there, Angle pivoted to the pace/speed of the WWE style in general:

    Their style have picked up the pace more, they need to pull that back a bit. They need to go back to being a little more old school. I think their pace is going really fast, and I think the one thing that they are not doing is selling as much as they should. I think that down the road, if they continue to do that and pick up the pace it could eventually kill the business. You know wrestling works in cycles. There was a time when I was in WWE, I remember were I started 50 straight matches without tying up; it started with punches, but then it slowed down, then came to technical wrestling. I think it’ll come around again, I just think right now they are giving wrestlers less time on TV, so there’s no time to tell that story and show their wrestling ability.

    […]

    I think a lot of these guys believe they have to have a beginning of a match. If their time is being cut from a 10 minute match to a 6, then they have to start with the heat, it’s not a bad thing to start off a match doing that. I think these guys want to tell an entire story so they don’t have time to do it, so they speed it up and just try to get it all in. It doesn’t appear good on TV. As a fan, you see them going around 150 miles per hour, no one sold anything. I think that if they don’t have the time, just start with the heat. It’s probably the best thing you can do.

    On a similar note, Angle addressed how he prefers to use the creative control that working independently gives him:

    They give me creative control. I can do what I want to do. Most matches I have been in this year, I have lost. I don’t see winning these matches on the indy scene being important to me. It’s more about having a great match with the guys. The fact that they are younger, it gives them a great rub with one of the best wrestlers ever. To me, the winning and losing part is not important, it’s just about getting my reps in. Next year I plan on going back somewhere. I don’t know where yet, but I wanted to keep myself mentally sharp. I booked my matches this year; one against Rey Mysterio, with Cody Rhodes. I have another one coming up with Alberto Del Rio, and Joe Coffey. I had a match with Zack Sabre Jr, who is in the Cruiserweight tournament. He’s a very talented kid. These guys I pretty much picked, knowing I would be able to wrestle these talented kids, before I attempt to most likely come back to WWE.

    Analysis: It’s very interesting to hear these comments from Angle specifically. As talented as he is, one of the few criticisms of him as an in-rint wrestler has been that he’s not great at slowing things down when he needs to. Once, when Angle and Luther Reigns were feuding with Eddie Guerrero on SmackDown, they even got into an argument in the locker room over Angle and Reigns feeling that Guerrero was staying down too long for various moves. Now, With Angle’s full-time career over, it looks like he sees things differently and doesn’t want to see wrestlers “going around 150 miles per hour” in every match.

  • WCPW to Make American Debut on WrestleMania Weekend in Orlando

    WCPW to Make American Debut on WrestleMania Weekend in Orlando

    There’s a new promotion in the WrestleMania weekend indie show mix, and it’s a surprising one. WhatCulture Pro Wrestling, the new UK-based promotion, announced on Monday that it will be running a show in Orlando on the afternoon of April 1st.

    That’s the day before WrestleMania 33, and if past years are any indication, WCPW will likely be running shows opposite WrestleCon, WWE Fan Axxess, Shimmer, possibly Evolve, and probably various local promotions. Announce so far are Joseph Conners, Joe Hendry, Martin Kirby, El Ligero, Grado, Primate, Drake and “Many more yet to be confirmed!” In other words, WCPW’s core wrestlers are committed but not any outside talent as of yet.

    WCPW got a lot of attention for an internet pay-per-view a few weeks back that included very expensive fly-ins like Minoru Suzuki, Kurt Angle, Bret Hart as a surprise, and the commentary team of Jim Ross (during college football season, no less) and Jim Cornette (who never flies except for offers he can’t refuse). The response was mixed, in large part due to streaming issues on the WCPW side (FITE TV’s stream was unaffected).

    Analysis: WrestleMania weekend is already a crowded space, to the point that this only makes sense if a lot oft he costs (staff flying in for WrestleMania weekend, the wrestlers working other shows and having promoters split the costs of flights, etc) are already taken care of in large part. Maybe this will have a unique appeal to the throng of British fans in town, but they also could decide they’d rather see different wrestling if they’re traveling abroad.

  • Kurt Angle Opens Up About About Taking 65 Vicodins Daily

    Kurt Angle Opens Up About About Taking 65 Vicodins Daily

    Former WWE and TNA Champion Kurt Angle was a guest on ESPN’s Dan Le Batard Show where he opened up about his well-documented substance abuse issues. Angle revealed that at one point he was taking 65 extra-strength Vicodins daily, due to issues stemming from his broken neck from the 1996 Olympic games.

    “I was on a lot. There was no way I couldn’t get out of it,” Angle recalled. “The only thing I could do was eventually go to rehab and try to fix my life again but I actually beat it on my own. I stayed in my house for about 10 days and didn’t leave, and I was able to get through the withdrawal effects and then I was put on another medication after that — a lower dose and then because I broke my neck multiple times, I went on Xanax too because I was always getting nervous. I was really having a lot of stress.”

    Despite his success as a six-time world champion in WWE, the schedule and injuries took a toll on Angle. When he left WWE and joined TNA in 2006, that’s when Angle says alcohol issues came into the picture for him. Angle was charged with several DUIs during his first years in TNA.

    “I started drinking with my meds. Then I started manipulating my meds,” he said. “I would save all of them for the evening and drink it with alcohol and it got me in a lot of trouble.” Angle was slapped with 4 DUI’s in 5 years during his time in TNA.”

    Angle says he tried tackling the substance issue on his own, but it wasn’t until he went to a rehab facility that he got things under control.

    “I tried to do it myself, but when you’re that deep into that stuff, you can’t do it on your own,” Angle said. “You need somebody else’s help, and I finally reached out and I did what I had to do to get it done.

    “It was the worst seven days of my life as well. I went through detox again. That time it stuck. You can’t do anything; you can’t think; you’re in constant pain; your body’s shaking. You don’t wanna eat; you don’t wanna do anything; you feel like you’re gonna die. It’s the worst pain you’ve ever had in your life. And I went through it twice.”

    Angle has been working select independent matches since leaving TNA in January, and there have been several rumors about the Olympic gold medalist returning to WWE next year.

  • Cody Rhodes vs. Kurt Angle Results & Video

    Cody Rhodes vs. Kurt Angle Results & Video

    Former WWE Superstars Cody Rhodes and Kurt Angle squared off at Sunday night’s NEW “Wrestling Under The Stars” event in Wappingers Falls, New York. Rhodes defeated Angle via pinfall after blocking an Olympic Slam and hitting his Crossrhodes finisher. Here’s the video of the final moments:

    https://twitter.com/ProWrestlingEsp/status/769906553138864128

    Rhodes and Angle are scheduled to wrestle each other once against at WCPW’s October 8th event from Manchester, England.

    Other notable matches at last night’s show included Jerry Lawler defeating the Brooklyn Brawler, Matt Hardy (with Reby Sky, Baby Maxell and Senor Benjamin) defeating Sami Callihan and Jeff Hardy defeating Jushin Liger with a swanton in the match of the night. Former WWE Superstar Ryback also did a run-in during a match between Vik Dalishus and Hale Collins.

  • Kurt Angle On Lesnar-Orton Finish At SummerSlam, Lesnar’s Drug Test Issues

    As noted, Kurt Angle appeared as a guest on Ric Flair’s new podcast, available now at RicFlairShow.com. In addition to the highlights we posted regarding AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes, the Olympic gold medalist also shared his thoughts on the controversial finish to Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton at WWE SummerSlam.

    As Angle explained, Lesnar is a “one in a trillion” type of athlete and is a businessman who wouldn’t go against orders given to him by the company.

    “The thing is with Brock, he’s always going to excel at whatever he does. The thing that happened with Randy Orton at SummerSlam, Brock’s a pro. He follows orders. He’s not the kind of guy to take things into his own hands. I really believe that that was set up. Whether it was or not, I don’t see Brock just going outside of a parameter and saying, ‘you know what? I’m going to open this son of a b—h up and beat the hell out of him. Screw Vince McMahon. Screw WWE. Screw the fans.’ Brock’s not like that. He [has] always been a pro, so I find that very hard to believe that wasn’t planned.”

    Regarding Lesnar’s positive drug tests stemming from his Octagon comeback against Mark Hunt at last month’s historic UFC 200 pay-per-view, Angle mentioned that he has been around “The Beast Incarnate” when he was not on any prohibited substances and he was just as impressive then.

    “I’ve never talked to Brock about it. I never knew that he did it. I know in college he looked like that and he wrestled like that. He was a badass then and they were getting drug tested every other week in the NCAA.”

    As far as the recent talk about Lesnar potentially making another UFC comeback in the future, Angle said he doesn’t think it’s going to happen, for a number of reasons.

    “I don’t think so. I think Brock, I think, he did what he wanted to do. He wanted to prove that after getting hit with diverticulitis, he wanted to get back in there and show people he was dominant and he did that. I don’t see why he’d want to go back, except to make another million-dollar payday. Brock doesn’t need the money. He doesn’t need to fight again to prove himself, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t go back. But I see Brock finishing his career in WWE. I don’t see it any other way.”

  • Kurt Angle Speaks On Cody Rhodes’ Stardust Gimmick, His Experiences With AJ Styles

    Kurt Angle Speaks On Cody Rhodes’ Stardust Gimmick, His Experiences With AJ Styles

    Ric Flair had a conversation with former WWE and TNA Champion Kurt Angle on the latest edition of his podcast. One topic of discussion was now-former WWE star Cody Rhodes, who has a match on Saturday against the Olympic gold medalist that Flair says will be the biggest match of Cody’s career. Angle indicated that he felt WWE should have pushed Cody to the main event level and says he’s a valuable talent.

    “[Cody] is so talented, I picked him out a long time ago. There are times when you really need to push somebody hard. I didn’t realize how entertaining outside of wrestling he could be until he did Stardust,” Angle said. “I don’t know if Stardust was the right character for him, I was just impressed that he could do it.”

    Flair indicated that he expects to see Rhodes back in WWE in a year or two, and echoed Angle’s sentiments that the Stardust character took a lot of talent to pull off.

    Angle also talked about his former TNA colleague AJ Styles arriving in WWE, saying that Styles is a “one of a kind” talent and compared him to Shawn Michaels. Flair put over Styles’ interview skills, and says he’s improved since The Nature Boy saw him back in TNA. Angle said that Styles reminds him of Flair in the sense that he does most of the work in the ring and makes it easy for his opponents.

    “He has it all,” Kurt said of AJ. “Psychology, technique, he knows when to fire up, he knows when to sell. The kid is just phenomenal at what he does. […] With AJ I just can’t believe it took him this long to get to WWE.”

    Angle ended the interview on a complimentary note towards The Nature Boy: “Make no mistake about it, Ric Flair is a real badass.” Flair predicted that Kurt will be a future WWE Hall of Famer, despite any issues he had in the past with company management.

    You can listen to the entire podcast here.

  • Kurt Angle Issues Challenge To Conor McGregor

    Kurt Angle Issues Challenge To Conor McGregor

    Kurt Angle was among the wrestlers who took issue with Conor McGregor calling most WWE stars “p*ssies.” Angle recently spoke with Sports Illustrated to issue a challenge to McGregor, but not to a fight.

    “Take five bumps with me in the ring. Just five bumps,” Angle challenged McGregor. “When I did that for the first time, I took three and said, ‘F— this, I’m quitting.’ I quit for a couple days and my manager talked me into going back. I know how Dana White and Conor continue to bash the business, but I challenge either of them to get in the ring with me and take five bumps.”

    McGregor said during a recent UFC media call that he’d “slap the head off your [WWE] entire roster. And twice on Sunday’s.” Angle mentioned Dolph Ziggler as one WWE star who could “give Conor a good run for his money” if he had the right training camp. The Olympic gold medalist vouched for Ziggler’s amateur wrestling abilities, and thinks Ziggler would need six months of preparation to compete with McGregor.

    Another name that came up was John Cena. Angle feels that Cena would “tap in twenty seconds” in MMA, but that he’s still the “biggest badass” he knows for his professional accomplishments.

    “[Cena] has been on top for thirteen years. No one has ever done that,” Angle said. “He’s now in his fourteenth year on top. I couldn’t do it. Hulk Hogan didn’t do that, Stone Cold had four or five years tops, and it was the same with The Rock before he went to Hollywood. From a toughness standpoint, there is nobody tougher than John Cena. I would love to see Conor McGregor try to be on top of WWE for thirteen years. He wouldn’t make it.”

    You can read Angle’s entire interview on SI.com.

  • Kurt Angle Talks WWE-Olympics, UK Reality Star Has WWE Aspirations, More

    Kurt Angle Talks WWE-Olympics, UK Reality Star Has WWE Aspirations, More

    – TMZ caught up with Kurt Angle this past week to discuss the Olympic games. When asked if any current WWE Superstars could compete at the Olympic level, Angle said no, because WWE is entertainment.

    – British reality television star Adam Maxted, who currently stars on the dating show Love Island, says his dream is to become a WWE Superstar. During an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Maxted was asked why he ‘behaves’ on the show. He replied:

    “I said to myself that there was no way I was going to risk my future and my dream – no matter how good looking the girl was or how much there was a connection or how much I wanted to do it. My dream is to be in the WWE [the world’s biggest wrestling entertainment company] and it’s such a child-based market so I wasn’t ever going to ruin my chances of getting onto that because I’d had sex on TV.”

    – The Rock’s next item in his Under Armour series will be a training shoe, due out in early 2017. Rock noted that he’s been wearing the unreleased shoe for about a year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BIvutPkDkd5/

  • Sasha Banks, Roman Reigns & Kurt Angle Respond To Conor McGregor Trashing WWE

    Sasha Banks, Roman Reigns & Kurt Angle Respond To Conor McGregor Trashing WWE

    McGregor comments on WWE at the 17:30 mark

    During Friday’s UFC 202 media conference call, Conor McGregor trashed WWE Superstars, saying most of them are messed up p*ssies. He respected that Brock Lesnar got back in the Octagon, but slammed him for being “juiced up to the eyeballs.” He respects The McMahons, Triple H and The Rock, but “the rest of them are “f*cking p*ssies.”

    As you can imagine, McGregor was met with a strong backlash on social media from WWE’s rabid fanbase. “The Notorious” clarified that he wasn’t insulting WWE fans, but doubled down on his position regarding WWE Superstars.

    Several current and past WWE Superstars have since responded, including Sasha Banks, Roman Reigns, Big E, Kurt Angle and MVP.

  • Roman Reigns Reacts To Battleground Loss, Kurt Angle Working With The Rock

    Roman Reigns Reacts To Battleground Loss, Kurt Angle Working With The Rock

    – After coming up short last night at WWE Battleground and getting booed during his WWE television return, Roman Reigns is keeping a positive attitude headed into tonight’s RAW. Reigns tweeted on Monday afternoon:

    WWE’s official preview for tonight’s RAW stated that Reigns’ feud with Seth Rollins will continue.

    – Kurt Angle has been announced as a judge for The Rock’s new pro wrestling promo contest on YouTube. Angle was announced in the video below, which also shows some of the contestants. The first episode premieres this coming Friday.

     

  • More On WWE Scouting Talent For RAW & SmackDown

    More On WWE Scouting Talent For RAW & SmackDown

    – WWE continues to aggressively scout the indies and are also targeting wrestlers that are contractually able leave Lucha Underground. They are looking for wrestlers who they see as “coachable” and they are going to be very strict when it comes to background checks.

    – On a related note, the background checks may be due to officials being “extremely squeamish” about bringing in anyone who may cause even a bit of controversy, due to recent incidents with Roman Reigns, Jerry Lawler and Adam Rose. This is part of the reason why are not bringing Kurt Angle back.

    – Several former WWE Superstars have been rumored to be in talks with the company about returning for the upcoming brand split. The Observer confirms that there has been no talk with Rey Mysterio or Jeff Hardy.

    Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • WWE Kinesiology Tape Video, Cody Rhodes And Kurt Angle Call On Fans, R-Truth’s Next Single

    WWE Kinesiology Tape Video, Cody Rhodes And Kurt Angle Call On Fans, R-Truth’s Next Single

    – R-Truth’s next hip-hop single is titled “I Be Like” and the artwork can be seen below:

    – As noted, Cody Rhodes vs. Kurt Angle will take place for the first time on 8/27 for the Northeast Wrestling group. They are calling on fans to help create a custom t-shirt for the match, which will benefit a charity to be named. Cody tweeted these details:

    – In the video below, WWE looks at the kinesiology tape worn by Cesaro, John Cena and others lately:

  • Angle On WWE Return Timeframe, Vince Caring About Him, Everyone In TNA Drinking

    Angle On WWE Return Timeframe, Vince Caring About Him, Everyone In TNA Drinking

    In an interview with Sports Illustrated this week, Kurt Angle reiterated that he won’t be returning to WWE for their upcoming draft. Angle says he’s spoken with Triple H, and that you might see the Olympic gold medalist back on either RAW or SmackDown sometime in 2017.

    “I had a talk with WWE,” said Angle. “It’s confidential. I will not be returning for the draft. Possibly in the future, most likely next year, but that is not a guarantee. It was a loose conversation but I will be in touch with Triple H [Paul Levesque] in the future.”

    Angle left WWE in 2006 for competitor TNA, but says Vince McMahon still cares about him and he admires the WWE Chairman’s work ethic.

    “Vince always cared about me. He’s a good guy, and he felt like he was my father figure. I admired Vince’s work ethic and drive,” Angle said. “He was a machine. He was willing to sacrifice so much to be a success, and he was one of those guys who I feared and looked up to. I feared him the same way I feared my father. I was right – he was a good guy. He would tell me when I screwed up, and he’d tell me how to fix it.”

    While he credits TNA owner Dixie Carter with making him go to rehab, he says McMahon had also tried to talk to him about his battle with painkiller addiction.

    “[Vince] basically said, ‘Listen, you won an Olympic gold medal. Very few people on this planet have ever done that. You’re special, you can kick this thing.’ But I fell back into it,” Angle recalled.

    Despite his numerous career highlights, Angle remembers the low points in both WWE and TNA. He recalls breaking his neck four times in two years with WWE due to rushing himself to return each time, and says the atmosphere in TNA wasn’t conducive to his fight with alcohol and painkillers.

    “I was at a company where everybody was drinking, and you were encouraged to drink with them,” Angle said of TNA. “That’s where the alcohol came in. I didn’t go crazy with it, but when you mix it with pills, it can make you do some really crazy things. It can make you careless.”

    Kurt says he’s now been clean and sober for three years. You can read the entire article about him here.

  • Kurt Angle Speaks On WWE Rumors & His Discussion With Triple H

    Kurt Angle took to Facebook on Friday night in response to Dave Meltzer’s report that he won’t be returning to WWE. Angle had claimed on a Pittsburgh radio station that he had struck a deal with Triple H.

    Angle says his discussion with Tripl H didn’t include the brand split, and that his words from the radio interview were twisted. Angle says he’s excited about his future, but not sure how much longer he’ll be in the wrestling game.

    Here’s the Olympic gold medalist’s statement in it’s entirety:

    In response to some of your questions today regarding the WWE, and all of the media fanfare about it the last few days, I want to, once again, say that our confidential conversation never discussed the brand split. A few wrestling sites seem to have put a spin on this by twisting some words around to fit their agenda, something that I have no control over. What I CAN control is my own life, and my life isn’t only wrestling. I do not expect to be in wrestling much longer. I AM excited about my future. Thank you.

    Angle last appeared for RPW in the UK on June 12th when he defeated Zack Sabre Jr, and his next scheduled match is against Cody Rhodes on August 27th for Northeast Wrestling in Wappingers Falls, NY.

  • Report: Kurt Angle Not Returning To WWE

    Despite rumors of his return, it sounds like Kurt Angle will not be coming back to WWE. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter claims that the Olympic gold medalist won’t be working for WWE again any time soon.

    Meltzer says that WWE officials confirmed on Thursday that Angle will not be joining the company for their upcoming brand split.

    Angle stirred up the rumors on Monday on Mark Madden’s Pittsburgh radio show, saying that he had talked to Triple H and a deal was in place. The story grew to the point where there were even rumored start dates for Angle.

    Angle, 47, finished up his TNA contract in March of this year, and hasn’t worked with WWE since August of 2006. Despite announcing he would retire for a year, he’s been working select indy dates with the likes of Rey Mysterio Jr.

  • Kurt Angle Says He’s Returning To WWE, Update On Brock Lesnar’s USADA Drug Testing

    Kurt Angle Says He’s Returning To WWE, Update On Brock Lesnar’s USADA Drug Testing

    – Brock Lesnar has been drug tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) five times in the past two weeks, according to the USADA website. As of this writing, no results from those tests have been made public. Lesnar returns to UFC for the first time since 2011 on Saturday, July 9th at UFC 200.

    – Wrestling legend Kurt Angle called into Mark Madden’s Pittsburg-based radio show this afternoon on 105.9 The X. According to several fans tweeting about the appearances, Angle was quoted saying, “I am coming back, I just don’t know when.” Angle added that he spoke to Triple H 6 weeks ago regarding a possible return.

    – WWE referee Charles Robinson noted on Twitter that he’s off to Orlando to work with WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic participants. The first taping takes place this Thursday from Full Sail University.

  • Rev Pro: Angle vs. Sabre Jr Now Available On Demand

    Rev Pro: Angle vs. Sabre Jr Now Available On Demand

    The highly anticipated dream match between Kurt Angle and Zack Sabre Jr is now available to view on demand at rpwondemand.com, other bouts available on the show include:

    • Chris Hero vs Josh Bodom
    • Will Ospreay vs Mike Bailey
    • Marty Scurll vs Noam Dar