Angle interview from "Off The Record"

Tyler Durden

Good interview, hopefully his last answer was a joke

From TSN's "Off The Record" show -

Michael Landsberg says guys like Kurt Angle have been great to OTR and wrestlers put them on the map. Vince gave them his roster and said ask them whatever you want. Landsberg says Angle is one of his favourite guys and thanks him for being on the show. Angle is glad to be here.

Landsberg asks if the business needs to do a better job taking care of guys like him. Angle says wrestling is taking the precautions now to protect the wrestlers, but the nature of the business is a beast. In TNA he is wrestling less, but every year his schedule is busier. The business will never tone down - as long as fans want to see it and wrestlers can fill the schedule, they’ll do it.

Landsberg says that mentality is why guys wrestle hurt and use pain killers. Angle says when you sign a contract you know what you’re getting into and it’s up to you whether you use pain killers or not. Guys are scared to go to the boss and say they can’t do 22 dates a month. Angle said that’s where he had enough and asked Vince to be part-time, but Vince wouldn’t give it to him because they needed him. Landsberg says Angle could afford to do that but other guys can’t which is why they use pain killers. Kurt goes on to say if you’re depending on pain killers, you’re doing the wrong thing. If you can’t take the schedule, then don’t do it.

Landsberg asks if the business has learned anything from the death of Chris Benoit. Angle says they’ve made a better drug policy and even hired Angle’s doctor, which he took personally. He says they can’t wrestle everyday and it’s up McMahon and Dixie Carter to give them a little bit of off time to protect the wrestlers and the business.

Angle is joined by the panel - Orlondo Steinauer (CFL player), Joe Motiki, Nic Sulsky.

Landsberg lists a bunch of wrestlers who are now dead but knew the risks and says football is dealing with similar issues. He asks if the industries need to protect their people from themselves. Angle says it’s ultimately up to the individuals and mentions that a lot of the wrestlers who died young were from an era where guys worked hard but also partied hard and relied on drugs. Now guys have cleaned up their acts.

Sulsky says WWF knew what was going on in the late 80s and early 90s. Angle says Vince let it happen years ago but won’t let it happen now. Landsberg asks him if he means now as in 2008 or since 2000. Angle says 2000, but Landsberg wonders why Benoit was allowed to wrestling with multiple concussions and allowed to use the drugs that he did. Angle admits that he came back early from injuries so he wouldn’t lose his spot but he doesn’t blame McMahon, Dixie Carter or any promoter.

Angle says we won’t really know how effective the new Wellness policy is for another 5 or 10 years.

Landsberg asks if Angle worries about himself when he hears about guys he knew passing away. Angle bluntly acknowledged that he was next on the death watch while he was in the WWE and everyone around him thought so too, which is why he quit. He couldn’t handle the schedule and that’s what he told McMahon, while turning down a lot of money.

Quirky Fact: Kurt Angle is one of only five professional wrestlers to hold five separate major wrestling titles. Angle has won the championship belt in the WWE, TNA, Japan’s Inoki Genome Federation, Power Pro Wrestling and also the NCAA.

The next topic is football. If you care, Angle thinks QBs like Tom Brady shouldn’t be playing late in the 4th quarter in a blowout. Angle plugs TNA No Surrender in Oshawa and his match with Samoa Joe, Canadian Christian Cage and Booker T.


“Next Question” with Kurt Angle

Landsberg: You can only choose one Pittsburgh team to cheer for, who would it be?
Angle: The Steelers, because they’re very reliable.

Landsberg: You once said you’d like to pursue an acting career. Who gets the Oscar first, you or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?
Angle: He’s got a head start on me. I’d say Dwayne, The Rock.

Landsberg: Or how about neither?
Angle: (laughs) Yeah.

Landsberg: Is Mick Foley coming to TNA?
Angle: Yes he is and we’re happy.

Landsberg: Are you an Obama or McCain guy?
Angle: McCain.

Landsberg: You won gold in the ’96 Olympics, what were the parties like in the Olympic Village?
Angle: Outrageous, fun, exciting. Every celebrity wanted to be there.

Landsberg: Where do you keep your gold medal?
Angle: My daughter throws it around in her room.

Landsberg: Have you read Chris Jericho’s book?
Angle: No I have not. Sorry, Chris.

Landsberg: Bret Hart’s book?
Angle: Yes I have.

Landsberg: Tito Santana’s book?
Angle: I don’t know - I don’t even know Tito Santana.

Landsberg: What was the best thing about having Vince McMahon as a boss?
Angle: He knows what he’s doing.

Landsberg: What was the worst thing?
Angle: He knows what he’s doing.

Landsberg: Were you appreciated by WWE management the way you should’ve been?
Angle: Yes I was.

Landsberg: Which sport has the best performance enhancing drug policy?
Angle: None of them.

Landsberg: Why did you use your real name for your wrestling career and not assume a nickname?
Angle: Because I had a real Olympic Gold Medal.

Landsberg: What was the best hotel you’ve stayed in?
Angle: The Holliday Inn Express.
Landsberg: That shows me that you’re a Pittsburgh kinda guy.

Landsberg: The worst hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
Angle: Some shack in Boston. It was a motel.

Landsberg: Have you ever had to sit down on a flight next to the Big Show?
Angle: Yes, very scary.

Landsberg: What was that like?
Angle: He knocked the guy out in front of us by punching the back of his seat.

Landsberg: Who looks the worst in tight shorts?
Angle: Big Show.

Landsberg: You’ve wrestled Brock Lesnar. Do you have any tips for Randy Couture?
Angle: Beware.

Landsberg: Who wins, Couture or Lesnar?
Angle: Lesnar.

Landsberg: When will we see you in the UFC octagon?
Angle: Next year.

Swamps

Seemed like a very good interview but, I seriously hope Angle is just blowing smoke about doing MMA.

RaiZ-R

Angle's body could do one MMA fight, but he'd be crushed by anyone with power and ability, and never walk again.

WrestlingN

Angle should stick with what he knows. Being a legend in the squared circle is better that being a flop in the octagon.

RaiZ-R

My thoughts exactly.

Deuce

WC Moderator

Angle needs to get his mind off of UFC. He wants to be a hero at everything it seems. Hey may be training, but if his body can't take wrestling, it will definitely fall apart in UFC. Kurt changes his views so much these days, so it's hard to really tell what he is thinking.

Talking to LashKash on AIM...aka Jeff, about Kimbo and Fedor in a fight: "it would be worth it to see Kimbo rip his head off "


These people who say things like that need to be shot.