Kurt Angle Comments on Drug Addiction, Rehabilitation

Former WWE superstar and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle stated Friday he was taking 65 extra-strength Vicodin every day while battling drug addiction issues during his wrestling career.

Nicolas Atkin of ESPN UK passed along comments Angle made about that dark period of his life during an appearance on ESPN Radio's The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. The 47-year-old Pennsylvania native talked about first trying to solve the problem on his own.

"I was on a lot—there was no way I couldn't get out of it," he said. "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."

Angle told Le Batard he suffered a setback after joining TNA in 2006. He started "manipulating" his medications while also getting caught up in a culture of heavy drinking, which he admitted caused him to get four DUIs in a five-year span.

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

He called the rehabilitation process, which included constant pain and involuntary body shaking, the "worst seven days of my life." Angle, who left TNA earlier this year, went on to tell Le Batard he's remained sober for three years.

In June, the longtime fan favorite confirmed there were discussions about a possible WWE return, per Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated.

"I had a talk with WWE," Angle said. "It's confidential. I will not be returning for the [brand extension] 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 won the WWE Championship four times and World Heavyweight Championship once during his first stint with the company, which lasted from 1998 through 2006. A return next year would make a lot of sense with the promotion seeking more star power to fill out its current split-brand structure.