Kurt Angle Reflects on His Wrestling Career in TNA and WWE

Kurt Angle, a notable figure in professional wrestling, earned fame through his successful WWE career, securing six world titles and becoming the fifth Grand Slam champion. His Olympic gold medal further contributed to his impressive resume. However, wrestling enthusiasts familiar with Angle’s journey recognize his remarkable achievements in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as well.

In TNA, Angle emerged as a dominant force, acquiring six world championships, two tag team titles, and an X Division championship during his nearly ten-year tenure. He recently shared insights about his career on OutKick Dropkick, expressing his belief that his time in TNA surpassed his WWE accomplishments.

“To be honest, I had an incredible career in both WWE and TNA. I believe my time in TNA was better, and unfortunately, many WWE fans didn’t witness it. Now, we have a strong TNA fan base worldwide, yet in the United States, it ranked second to WWE,” Angle stated.

Angle’s TNA tenure boasted memorable matches with opponents such as Abyss, Samoa Joe, and A.J. Styles. For fans who missed his TNA performances, Angle recommends watching his bouts against Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles.

“Any match with Samoa Joe or AJ Styles,” Angle mentioned to Gambling.com, a source for top online sportsbooks. “The debut match against Samoa Joe at the pay-per-view was a standout. I enjoyed working with both—Joe for his physicality and AJ for his athleticism.”

The synergy between Joe’s ground-and-pound style and Angle’s freestyle wrestling resulted in compelling matchups. Despite Styles’ aerial abilities, Angle felt their collaboration was seamless.

During his TNA era, Angle won two King of the Mountain matches, a unique contest where competitors aim to hang a title belt on a hook above a cage, resembling a reverse ladder match. This creativity was emblematic of TNA’s approach.

Reflecting on WWE’s innovation, Angle expressed surprise that such distinctive matches haven’t been adapted. He believes WWE could benefit from incorporating similar ideas.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t happened. WWE’s creativity was notable during certain periods, and adopting TNA’s innovative matches could be beneficial. Changing names and adding uniqueness might be the key,” Angle remarked.

Inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013, Angle joined esteemed colleagues such as Sting, Jeff Jarrett, and Mickie James. TNA will honor new members at Bound for Glory pay-per-view in October, welcoming ODB, Amazing Red, and Konnan to the Hall of Fame.

Kurt Angle’s wrestling prowess transcends both TNA and WWE, leaving a lasting impact on the industry through dynamic performances and memorable moments.