10 Wrestlers Who Blamed Themselves For Failing In WWE

8. Kurt Angle

Zack Ryder
WWE.com

The first separation of Kurt Angle and WWE wasn't a pretty one. Vince McMahon reportedly cut his former Olympian loose for health reasons, with Kurt later claiming that he was working hurt and the promotion had refused to grant him time off in order to heal. Wrestling through a "broken freakin' neck" for years had taken a toll, it seemed, but Angle had signed for rivals TNA just one month later - wrestling his first match that November.

Angle would on to become the guy for Impact for a long, long time, not walking back into WWE until 2017, when a Hall of Fame induction turned into a stint as Raw General Manager and a farewell tour between the ropes. It was after re-signing that Kurt's tune on his 2006 departure changed.

The Kurt Angle: Homecoming Network special saw the gold medalist blame himself, not WWE, for developing a crippling painkiller addiction and effectively driving himself out of the company, no longer pointing his finger at the brutal road schedule and lack of time off. A new perspective born of maturity and self-reflection or a bootlicking move to placate Vince and co.? That depends on your cynicism, though Angle still owned it.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.