Kurt Angle Released From WWE [Updated x 2]

WWE.com has announced that 6-time World Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle has been released from his contract and is no longer with the WWE ending his near 7 year relationship with the company. Very few details have been made public other than that he was released due to 'personal issues'. This is definitely the biggest release by the WWE in the past few years and definitely the biggest story in wrestling this year. I would have to say that this release is bigger than Brock Lesnar's. It should be noted that the official announcement on WWE.com was done in a very respectful way and appears to leave the door open for a possible return sometime down the road. While I am surprised and disappointed at Angle's release I can't help but think that maybe it was for his own good.

While Angle hasn't been very outspoken about his displeasure with being transfered to ECW, it's no secret that he would have preferred to stay on Smackdown or back to RAW. He was however trying to make the best of the situation. Also, Angle has been struggling with an addiction to pain killers. His addiction was bad enough to warrant a suspension within the last month or two. It was during that time that Angle was sent to a rehab program which apparently did not work. I believe that Angle's addiction stems directly from his desire to compete without allowing his body to heal up from the normal nagging injuries that wrestlers go through. This desire to compete also caused problems for him in the past few weeks too. It was after coming back from his suspension that he pulled a groin muscle during a match with RVD and as a result of that injury that he was taken off of the active roster. According to reports Angle was very outspoken when it came to his desire to work through the injury when it was obvious that he was in severe pain. Adding to all this was the fact that Kurt Angle is in the process of a divorce from his wife who is currently pregnant with the couple's second child.

I think that being released will provide Angle with the necessary time that he needs to deal with these issue, the substance abuse, divorce from his wife, and his refusal to allow his deteriorating physical condition to get worsen. I am presuming that a 90-day no-compete clause was part of his contract which prevents him from jumping to TNA or the indies. Hopefully within the next 90 days Kurt Angle will move past these issues and take the needed steps required for him to make a return to the WWE with a clear head. I have very little doubt that we have seen the last of Kurt Angle in the WWE. I am curious to find out whether Angle's release was asked for by him or if it was WWE's idea. I find the latter more believable considering Angle's passion for the business.

[Update]
More details regarding Kurt Angle's sudden release from the WWE have been made public. The former WWE champion has granted an interview with WWE.com regarding the situation. Angle is saying that his body in bad condition and that he needs time to heal both physically and mentally. Angle also acknowledges the addiction to painkillers, but says nothing more than just that he has a 'problem with medication'. It is also revealed that his release was a mutual decision with the WWE (although I find that somewhat hard to believe 100%). As far as Angle's most recent injury, he explains that not only did he pull a groin muscle in that match with RVD, but he pulled in abdominal muscle and hamstring during the same match. While Angle does say that Vince McMahon has left the door open for an Angle return to the WWE, Angle says that he has to heal both physically and mentally before he can even consider a return. Angle says that in the event that he does return to the ring he will be adjusting his in-ring style to more of an amateur style.

Speculation regarding Angle's future is already starting. A lot of people are saying that if he does return to wrestling and it's not WWE, chances are he may try wrestling in Japan.

[Update 2]
Just as I initially suspected, Kurt Angle's release was not a mutual decision and the entire decision was the WWE's. It has come to light that the only reason the interview with WWE.com was done by Angle was to allow him to 'save face' and cover-up the fact that Kurt Angle was basically being fired. It is also being reported now that in addition to the groin, ab, and hamstring injuries, Kurt Angle's neck is once again injured and that by not taking the needed time off to recover he would need another neck surgery similar to the one he had a few years back (as did Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, and Lita). Only this time it will most likely be career ending. While Angle most likely will require the surgery somewhere down the road regardless of whether or not he takes time off from the ring it is believed that by allowing his neck some time to heal some from its current state he woule be able to make somewhat of a return to wrestling before requiring the surgery.


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