3. The Handling Of The Kurt Angle Situation
Kurt Angle's relationship with WWE came to an end on August 25th 2006, when he was released. Or did he quit? Or was it mutual? Who knows? Both sides have claimed different things and it's clear that someone is telling porkies here. What is known, however, is that Kurt was a physical and emotional wreck at the time he was let go/parted ways/handed in his notice (delete as applicable) and left WWE for good. He was while working seriously banged-up, with a host of muscle-related injuries plaguing the Olympic gold medalist, as well as the gradual deterioration of his notoriously brittle neck. He was still going a hundred miles per hour in the ring, but when he got through the curtain, he would ache all over. It was obvious that he needed either time off or a reduced schedule. Neither was forthcoming, and Angle has since claimed that the reason he left WWE was because Vince McMahon was adamant that he go full-time, working all house shows, TV tapings and pay-per-view events, whereas Kurt felt he had earned the right to work a limited dates schedule for top pay. Then, of course, there was the rumoured 'personal' problems and whispers of a Wellness Policy violation. Did Kurt have a pill problem? Was rehab offered/ordered for the Wrestling Machine? WWE were never up front about what the deal with Kurt was, and his release came as a shock. Speaking to WWE.com three days after Angle left, Vince McMahon had this to say:
WWE would certainly welcome Kurt back with open arms. I think Kurt has some issues he has to face, as we all do from time to time. We all have our demons, and as human beings, it is important for us to overcome them and become better human beings, athletes and business people.
Kurt wouldn't come back to the company, instead opting to sign with TNA soon after. WWE (and Kurt) didn't exactly handle this situation well, and the murky nature of the release just created confusion and caused people to ask unwanted questions.