At the 1996 Olympic Games, Kurt Angle won a Gold Medal. Wrestling with a genuine fracture in his neck, Angle would later join the World Wrestling Federation and embark on a pro career. Rising up through the ranks quickly, Kurt forced his way into the main event mix. His in-ring style was physical, but his neck was weakened due to the previous injury. By the time 2003 rolled around, Angle was working under intense pain every night. Doctors recommended surgery which would end his wrestling career, but the grappler was having none of it. At WrestleMania XIX, Brock Lesnar suffered a concussion when he botched a Shooting Star Press. He wasn't the only one under duress, Angle worked the bout in severe physical discomfort. The pain led to Angle self-medicating with pain pills and alcohol. By 2006, Vince McMahon and WWE wanted him to stop wrestling, but Kurt continues in TNA to this day. By his own admission, he's still in a lot of pain when working, which is often noticeable. During various podcast interviews, Angle has admitted that he can barely get out of bed some mornings, which is a depressing thought.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.