Kurt Angle is back with WWE and it’s like he never left in the first place. We really do love having him back, even if he’s just the Raw General Manager because it keeps him on television and as the past has proven it gives him plenty of chances to slide into a wrestling ring as well.
The Olympic Hero recently appeared at iPlay America and The Wrestling State where he took part in a Q&A where he was asked about how he was able to make it back to WWE after being gone for over a decade and Angle wasn’t shy about opening up to tell a very real story.
“I left WWE in 2006 and went to IMPACT Wrestling for about 11 years. I was there until 2016 and then I took off. I did do a few matches on the independent circuit, one was against Rey Mysterio. I wrestled Cody Rhodes three times. I wrestled Del Rio, who I have to tell you, the kid is phenomenal. A great ring general, he’s really good. He’s better than you think. I also wrestled a couple up and comers just to stay fresh for when WWE called me.”
“I was trying to get back since 2013, but Vince McMahon wasn’t real happy with my drug problem. I had to prove to him that I could stay clean for a lengthy period of time. I guess it took four years (laughs) to stay clean. I’m 49 years old (applause) and I’ve had five broken necks, so Vince McMahon wasn’t going to bring me right back to wrestle. He wanted to see if I could pass the drug test, if I could pass the physical, if I could stay clean.”
“He brought me in just for the Hall of Fame. Then a month later, he asked me to be an ambassador for the company and then I started doing appearances. Then a month later he wanted me to be the GM of RAW. I did that for the past six months and then he asked me to wrestle. He wanted to ease me back into the company.”
