Kurt Angle Talks TNA Impact Wrestling, Contract Status, WWE, Injury and More

TNA Superstar Kurt Angle is already widely regarded as one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, but he is also one of the most underappreciated talents on the mic and behind the scenes.

Whether it was winning a gold medal for the United States in the 1996 Olympics, dominating the WWE for eight years or the success he has found with Impact Wrestling, Angle has been the top star everywhere he has gone in his illustrious career.    

Angle is currently filling the role of TNA’s Director of Wrestling Operations while he recovers from ACL surgery, and can be seen on Impact Wrestling every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV.

The former TNA and WWE world heavyweight champion spoke candidly with Ring Rust Radio, courtesy of News of Delaware County's Joe Arcidiacono. He discussed the company moving its flagship show to Wednesdays, his current contract status and the timetable for a decision, his ties with WWE, the slow recovery from knee surgery and so much more.

Impact Wrestling’s Move to Wednesday Nights

There have been rumors and speculation about the long-term future of Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV, but the transition from Thursday nights to Wednesday was the smart decision by all parties involved, regardless of the contract situation.

When asked about the move in an interview with Ring Rust Radio, Angle talked about the lack of competition and what it means for TNA’s future, via Arcidiacono:

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Well I believe it’s a positive step both for TNA and for Spike. You obviously want to keep ratings higher or get a high rating, so Wednesday is always a good night. Thursdays, you're obviously up against football. Also, I believe WWE SmackDown might be moving to Thursday. There are a lot of people that like to watch both programs. I think it was a smart move both on Spike’s part and TNA.

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Angle is correct when he talks about the lack of competition on Wednesdays. Thursday nights during the fall and winter are devoted to football, and moving away from competition is the right way to further build a fanbase. There are few big events on Wednesdays, and Impact Wrestling fills the void to perfection.

Whether WWE’s SmackDown eventually moves to Thursdays or not, via Raj Giri of WrestlingInc.com, TNA is already building a bigger audience on its new night. According to Giri, the ratings for the company’s flagship show have steadily increased each week.

Impact Wrestling was stagnant at its spot on Thursday nights. Regardless of who made the choice to switch to Wednesdays, the transition has breathed a new life into the product and a hope into TNA fans that want the product to thrive for the foreseeable future.

Angle’s Contract Situation and His Upcoming Announcement

One of the biggest revelations in Angle’s interview was the talk about his contract status with TNA and when he will be making his next career decision.

According to his conversation with Jim Ross on the former WWE announcer’s podcast, his current contract with TNA is up on Sept. 21. Whether he re-signs with his current employer or goes elsewhere, all eyes will be on Angle as he teases a big announcement. 

When asked about his contract situation, Angle would not reveal the details of his next deal, but revealed an announcement will be coming before his current contract expires, via Arcidiacono:

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Well right now I’m not at liberty to say where I’m going, but I will tell you I’m going to do the right thing for me and my family. I am in the process of structuring a deal and I do have a company in mind. I haven’t said yes because I want to make it a public thing with the company and myself.

I can’t really say who it is or where I’m going, but I can tell you it’s going to happen in the next two weeks before my contract is even up. I won’t be wrestling until January, but there will be a signing in the next couple of weeks.

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This will create a real buzz with wrestling fans as there are only two viable possibilities: Angle re-signs with TNA or he joins the WWE roster again.

On one hand, staying with Impact Wrestling makes the most sense. He has become one of the top faces in the company and a leader on and off camera. With his genuine excitement about playing an authority figure and working behind the scenes also revealed in the interview, TNA would offer him much more creative control.

Angle did tease that he could be turning around January, and that would be the perfect timing for a surprise entry into the Royal Rumble. Finishing up his career with marquee programs in the WWE would likely be an option Angle would have a hard time passing on, but he must do what’s right for his family first and foremost.

With eight years in the WWE and another eight years in TNA, his loyalty is split both ways.

The Slow Recovery from Knee Surgery

As great as it is to see Angle in an authoritative role with Impact Wrestling, many fans miss the former world champion tearing the house down in the ring. Even at 45 years old, there are few men in the business who can match the skill and intensity of Angle.

Unfortunately for the fans, Angle has been out of action since May with a knee injury and is still several months away from an eventual return to competition. Angle spoke about his ACL surgery, the slow recovery process and when he expects to be back, via Arcidiacono:

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When I had the surgery I knew I had a torn ACL but the doctors told me I didn’t really have to have surgery. I’ve been wrestling on it for five years without an ACL so I might as well keep going. At this particular time last year it started limiting me and I can’t be a limited wrestler when I’m in the ring, I have to be able to go 110%. So because of the shifting in my knee it made me nervous and made me feel like my knee was going to blow out at any time. So I opted to have the ACL surgery so I could go back to the way I was.

The recovery process was longer than I expected. I was expecting to be back in the ring by October which would have been five and a half months. That’s not possible. This is a very, very slow and steady process. I’d say I’ll be back in the ring by December or January and that’s rushing it. I want to be ready. I don’t want to just go in there and have to nurse my knee I want to be a 110 % so I can do what I do.

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In a different time, Angle would have worked through the injury and still been one of the top stars in the industry. Instead of pushing his body beyond repair, he understands that it’s better to get the damage fixed now than have it get even worse in the future.

For those looking to watch Angle for another five-or-more years, this surgery was a necessary evil.

The hope is that Angle’s recovery continues to show progress and he will eventually be able to return to the ring at full strength. Even at an age where most wrestlers are contemplating retirement, Angle is still one of the top names in all of wrestling.

As long as Angle doesn’t rush back from the injury, there are still several years of wrestling left in the tank.

No matter where Angle ends up wrestling next or how much longer he has left as an active wrestler, fans appreciate the hard work and passion he shows each time he steps in the ring.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW).