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Our Olympic Hero
August 30, 2006 by James Albano

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Since January of this year I have written columns about Kurt Angle and his run in the WWE. In my last column I mentioned what Kurt could still achieve despite already being one of the most decorated champions in sports-entertainment history. Unfortunately it does not look like that will be happening anytime soon.

On August 25th WWE.com posted the following 'Due to personal issues, Kurt Angle has been granted an early release from his contract. WWE looks forward to establishing a new relationship with Kurt in the near future.' I and many other fans were shocked at this, it was no secret that Kurt was not happy being on ECW and that he had a number of injuries and was going through a divorce but Kurt had always worked through his problems in the past, so what had happened this time" The following day WWE.com posted an interview with Kurt on the website. Kurt stated his body was in so much pain and he couldn't cope with it anymore, physically and mentally. The doors have been left wide open for a return if and when he is ready.

Within the last year, Kurt has adopted the title of a 'Wrestling Machine', which I feel is the best title for him. For years Kurt has put wrestling before his body, mind and personal life all for his passion of wrestling and the fans. Despite all his neck problems he has been driven to come back and perform in the ring as soon as possible. After Wrestlemania XIX Kurt had the choice of two different neck operations and he opted for the new type of neck surgery that allowed him to return in three months rather than a year despite the risks it had. Kurt's in-ring ability doesn't need to be exaggerated, in my opinion he is one of the best wrestlers ever, in a league with the likes of Bret Hart, Chris Benoit and Bob Backlund to name a few.

He also produced some of the best mic work ever whether it was in his early 'milk and cookie' days or his more recent 'ruthless aggression' days. My favorite promo from Kurt was from earlier this year when Kurt and Daivari were trying to get some heat from the crowd: "I hope the US loses the war in Iraq (Daivari: Me too), and while I'm at it I think the greatest country in the world is France, what do you think" (Daivari: Oui Oui) and and you know truth be told I'm not a very big fan of the black people. And if I would go back in time, the one person in history I'd like to make tap out would have to be... Jesus." Other moments that immediately spring to mind are the rap battle with John Cena, Kurt singing 'Jimmy Crack Corn' to Vince McMahon and when Kurt drank some of the APA's beer and asked when they started making this stuff.

Kurt was involved in many angles (no pun intended) on both RAW and Smackdown! He has been in some the best storylines, such as with Brock Lesnar, and with Stone Cold Steve Austin during the Alliance Invasion period. He has also been in some tasteless and poor stories, i.e with Booker T and Sharmell, and insulting the troops in Iraq. My favourite storyline from Kurt was back in 2000 with the HHH, Kurt and Stephanie love triangle.

Forgive my ranting but my point is that Kurt Angle was one of the best men to ever step foot in a wrestling ring and always put 110% into everything he did for wrestling. He has left fans with many memories and was one of the men who opened the gates between amateur and pro wrestling. Kurt said in the interview "Don't be concerned, this move was for the best. It was a privilege to be able to compete for all of you. I'd like to say thank you." In many interviews with stars past and present I have always heard the words 'never say never in wrestling.' I didn't really appreciate that until recently. 'HBK' Shawn Michaels came back to the WWE after four and half years away from the ring and he is still going right now. That is why I haven't titled this column 'Our Olympic Hero No More' or anything else that suggests an end to Kurt's role in wrestling. I hope Kurt enjoys his time away from the ring but I also hope to see him back in the ring one day, and when that happens he will be ready to put on a five star performance every night but more importantly he will make you tap! Oh it's true, it's true, it's damn true!

by James Albano

James Watts wrote:
I think its good that Kurt has been released from a human point of view. I mean, listen to the injuries that Kurt amassed in his last ECW match: he pulled his groin muscle, he tore his abdominal muscle off the bone and he popped his hamstring and he still finished his match with Rob Van Dam simply because the fans were cheering for him! As a wrestling fan, I am, of course, devastated that one of, if not the greatest pure wrestler alive today is leaving the WWE/ECW, but I think that Kurt Angle is far from done, judging by the passion that he showed in his final ECW match before his release.

Charles Lalonde wrote:
I agree with you 100%, Kurt Angle has been involved with some of the best and comical storylines, I remember one where he was pushing for abstinence and it was a program (I will refrain from saying angle) with The Godfather (and a bit with the Big Show) I would put his mic skills with the cream of the crop like Jake Roberts. It does suck that he was released from his contract, I found that he didn't fit in at ECW, he would have been better suited for Raw or Smackdown not a third rate poser hardcore brand that prides itself on "Firey Tables, Piledriving Women" Which was promised by Joey Styles (Not in that particular order). Anyway I feel that WWE could have had a better program for Angle, I even suggested that he faced UFC'S Ken Shamrock for 1 night only, but that would just be a fantasy match for a true wrestling fan, IT'S TRUE, IT'S DAMN TRUE

Nicholas Johnson wrote:
Very well said, James! Kurt Angle is without a doubt one of the best out there. I have bittersweet views towards his release, but at the same time, I see why it is for the best. Kurt has far too many injuries, and perhaps due to lack of storylines, a release was perhaps the best option. If Kurt were to ever retire from wrestling, then I wouldn't be surprised to see him alongside Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield-- that would be phenomenal.

It's okay to ignore the pain, but sometimes we have to listen to that inner voice that tells us to slow down and take it easy. Kurt may not see it just yet, but he will soon realize that sometimes a little R&R... and R and R and R will rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.

Richard Miller wrote:
Do you remember the interview with Christian when he left the WWE" He made it sound as if he was finished with the wrestling industy - then lo and behold, he's now Christian Cage on TNA.

Kurt Angle wasn't happy with ECW. The fans weren't either. Kurt Angle is one of the greatest wrestlers ever (probably even arguably THE greatest), and he's too good to be on ECW. We all want to see him WRESTLE, not fight people with weapons - it's a WASTE of his talent.

I'll bet we'll see him on TNA. Kurt Angle on TNA" That's all TNA needs in order to start a direct competition.

Jason "Xtremefalls" Simmons wrote:
Kurt Angle leaving is very simple because Kurt Angle is rumored to have a drug problem. Not to mention he has no self control. Kurt in 2003 should of got real neck surgery but didn't and now were seeing the effect from it. Rumor has it Kurt felt ECW couldn't succeed with out him and that just adds to this guys pathetic ego. Kurt Angle needs to go home and get his life, health, and mind back on track. People can bitch about the WWE but the fact of the matter is they did what needed to be done. Just like Jeff Hardy in 2003 Kurt won't admit he has problems and if he kept going without getting help Kurt Angle will die. If TNA signs him they should be ashamed of themselves because its very obvious Kurt Angle is in some serious trouble. Now I have not cared for Kurt Angle since early 2004 because his stint as GM was down right pathetic and hurt Smackdown. Also Kurt since his feud with Michaels and match with Jannetty during Wrestlemania 21 his in ring work has gone downhill. I think Kurt also proved what type of wrestler he was when in 2005 during his feud with Cena he tried hard as hell to put himself over and not Cena. Get Clean, Health, and your head on straight and lets see Kurt get into the ring.

Ike Eisen wrote:
Kurt Angle was packaged as a WRESTLING machine in ECW. He was to carry on the part of ECW that was represented by Benoit, Guerrero and Malenko. As I recall he OUTWRESTLED his opponents in his ECW matches, not one-upped them with table spots.

Anyway, I figured it wouldn't be long before someone posted on OWW about how Kurt may go to TNA. For TNA's sake I hope they DON'T hire him. If Kurt wants to continue wrestling he'll try to find a promotion that will take him in, but I hope TNA will not do that. Because whichever company picks him up runs the risk of having him crippled or die while employed on their roster. TNA or ROH may very well survive such a mess, but do you think they would really want that kind of publicity"

Kurt Angle is very passionate about the wrestling business, but at some point in time that passion became bigger than his health and his family. He has worked through countless injuries since his amateur days, to the point where he needs painkillers to physically function properly; hell, he may be using as much painkillers as some of the ECW veterans. WWE most certainly would know this, and have tried different ways to minimize his wrestling so he can heal up, like making him the Smackdown GM, or suspending him shortly after he joined ECW. Hell, he continued to wrestle one or two houseshows after those multiple injuries in his comeback match vs Van Dam.

The guy wants to wrestle, and his passion is something Vince (or any other promoter) would no doubt want to have in his talent. But Angle refuses to give himself enough time to heal. And at this stage he has become a danger to himself and possibly a danger to other wrestlers - he's willing to wrestle with a torn hamstring, abdominal muscle AND a pulled groin.

After Eddie died, WWE announced a new Wellness Program designed to screen for substances that could affect the health of their performers, and posted a videoclip of Vince telling his roster about it. Kurt was the first person to ask about how extensive the drug screening program would be. He was looking for loopholes, because he wants to continue doing what he loves.

You can say it's cruel of WWE to cut Kurt while he's clearly in need of help and has a messy divorce to deal with, and it is. But on the other hand, they did the same thing to Eddie Guerrero; they cut him loose when they found out about his drug and alcohol addictions, shortly after he got arrested with a DUI and after his marriage fell apart. But Eddie turned it all around and stayed clean. While the abuse did catch up with him last year, his staying clean bought him those precious years. I'm sure Vince hopes Angle too will be "scared straight" now that he's out of a job, and I hope he does.

A good part of the IWC is looking at Kurt Angle as the next Dynamite Kid or Eddie Guerrero: heroes who wrestled until they broke their bodies down, or worse. Kurt has already done everything that could be done in wrestling. His legacy is already secure. Look at his feud with Cena: WWE did everything they could to keep Angle from getting cheered, even going so far as to have him say he hates black people and wants to make Jesus tap. The fans still rooted for him.

The ring will always be there for Kurt Angle. It's not going anywhere. But Kurt has to realize that he does not HAVE to go to the ring every day. No one will condemn him for taking time off. No one will look at him as being less of a man. He has to learn to finally enjoy the fruits of his long, painful labors.

TombstoneCity1387 wrote:
In response to Richard Miller's ignorant (if anything) comments about Kurt Angle's seemingly abrupt release from WWE, I say "do you at all pay attention to WWE.com"" In an interview with Angle himself, he stated that “My body is so beat up and run down, I can’t even think straight.” I personally am glad that he chose this pont in time to hang up his boots (possibly for good). As James Watts stated, Angle, in what would be his final match against Rob Van Dam in White Plains, New York, pulled his groin, tore an abdominal muscle completely off the pelvic bone, and blew out his hamstring IN THAT ORDER! If that was not Kurt's sign to give it up, then he would probably have amassed far more injuries than what you have read about thus far. To say that he was unhappy with ECW is where the ignorance lies. In Joey Styles' weekly online column, "Joey Styles' Most Extreme Player of the week", Mr. Styles says that ECW is notorious for appreciating THREE distinct styles of wrestling: *Hardcore bloodbath-style wrestling (Cactus Jack, Terry Funk, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman), *Lucha-libre/high-flying wrestling (Rey Mysterio, Psicosis, Juvetud Guerrera, Super Crazy, Kid Kash, Rob Van Dam), and of course, *Japanese-style and amateur mat wrestling (Eddie Guerrero [R.I.P], Tazz, Dean Malenko, Chris Beniot, CM Punk, aaaannnd -drum roll, please-.....KURT ANGLE!!!) The fact is that Angle was able to wrestle HIS way in an ECW ring and be SHOWERED with cheers from (as RVD put it) an EXTREMELY (pardon the pun) judgemental crowd. They say that if you can win over fans in an ECW arena ("THE ECW Arena" in South Philly, The Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, etc.), you can win fans over anywhere. An example of this is Ric Flair, one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time, who (in a losing effort) put on a show against ECW Champion Big Show that was so incredible, it had the fans cheering "Thank You, Flair!" by the closing of the show. My point is, now that I'm done wit h that tangent, Kurt Angle had no reason to be displeased with ECW and the fact that he finished his match with RVD dispite his body breaking down on him is evidence. He finished his match because the fans were cheering for him so intensely, and knowing how intense the man himself is, that's just the way he would want to go out.

Ryan from Vegas wrote:
Kurt Angle is most definitely one of the best that ever graced the square circle. His character is one of the greatest and his skills are unmatched. It was a total shock to me that he wanted release on his contract. True, he wasn't doing much while on ECW, but the WWE had to grant him this if they want any chance in reclaiming him. If he does end up on TNA, I will be so ticked off. I just wish Kurt a speedy recovery and hope to see him in a WWE ring very soon.

Shaggydog wrote:
I'm only 11 and i know that this is a crap excuse becuz when he says that his body is beat up..... well then why is ric flair still wrestling""" Look i love Kurt angle without a doubt the best wrestler but thats an idiotic excuse.

Patrick wrote:
I could not agree with you more I know the world was shocked and dissipointed when they recieved the news. But bottom line call me what ever you like kurt was the greatest wrestler in the entertainment era. in my opinion . If hes not in the hall of fame by wrestlemania 25 I will personally riot

Joe Snurkowski wrote:
To Shaggydog, you say you're only 11, and it shows. Putting it bluntly, you're an idiot. Kurt Angle WAS hurting, his body was falling apart on him, and you have got some nerve calling Kurt's legitimate reason for leaving a "dumb excuse". Why don't you show a little more respect for the decisions of a professional wrestler that you claim to be such a big fan of.

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