When you think of Kurt Angle, you think of dominance—whether it was on the mat as an Olympic gold medalist or in the ring as one of WWE’s most iconic performers. But these days, Angle’s focus has shifted. Now, he’s putting his energy into giving back to the sport that made him a household name.
“Right now, what I’m doing, what’s taking up most of my time, is I’m an ambassador for USA Wrestling,” Angle said. “I’m raising money for them for their athletes.”
Angle’s passion for helping wrestlers stems from an understanding of the challenges they face, particularly in the United States. “I’ll tell you something you probably don’t know,” he explained. “Countries like Russia and China, their governments pay their Olympic athletes to train and compete full time. Our athletes don’t get that kind of treatment.”
To bridge the gap, Angle has launched an initiative through his website, KurtAngle.org, to raise funds. “These guys overseas, they’re getting paid. They don’t have to get a job. They don’t have to make a living. All they have to do is focus on training and competition. Our athletes don’t have that luxury,” he said. “I’m here raising money so our athletes don’t have to get jobs. They can train full time and compete full time for the next four years.”
It’s a mission that hits close to home for Angle, who remembers the struggles he faced as a young wrestler. “In 1995 and 1996, I trained full time because I put on spaghetti dinner fundraisers, I signed autographed photos, I signed autographed t-shirts. I had sponsors that stepped up for me, and the result was an Olympic gold medal,” he said. “I want these athletes to have that same opportunity.”
The Evolution of Training
Reflecting on his own career, Angle marvels at how much sports science has advanced. “I was actually doing core training back in the early ’90s when nobody knew what core training was,” he said. “I made it up because I figured if I could get my core strong, that would help me dramatically in the rest of my matches.”
Today, athletes benefit from cutting-edge technology. “They’re lifting weights while they have stim machines on them,” Angle said, referencing the advanced techniques popularized in sports like boxing. “The facilities are incredible, and the training regimens put these athletes on another level. I’m not going to lie to you—our athletes today are way better than they were back in 1996.”
Angle also pointed out how platforms like social media have revolutionized recruitment and exposure. “They can put videos out there themselves. They can recruit themselves,” he said. “It’s a completely different world compared to when I was coming up.”
Wrestling’s Fight for Mainstream Appeal
Despite wrestling’s rich history and global reach, Angle believes there’s still work to be done to make the sport more mainstream. “Can it get to that level? Yes, but they need to keep the rules consistent,” he said. “They always change the rules every four years. There’s a different point system. So as a fair-weather fan, you’re like, ‘Wait a minute, I thought that was two points last Olympics. It’s now three.’”
He sees this inconsistency as a barrier for casual fans. “The thing is, you want a sport that’s easy to understand. Football—you know what they have to do to get a touchdown. Wrestling? You have to get a pin, but most matches end with points, and the scoring keeps changing.”
Still, he acknowledges that MMA has helped wrestling’s profile. “MMA has done an incredible job of making wrestling more mainstream,” he said.
The Road Not Taken: MMA
Speaking of MMA, Angle admits that he might have ventured into the sport if the timing had been right. “After the Olympics, UFC offered me a deal. It was actually their best, biggest deal at the time. And it wasn’t that great,” he said with a laugh. “It was 10 fights for $150,000. I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s your best deal?’”
By the time MMA gained mainstream popularity, Angle was already a WWE champion. “I was having such a great career that I stuck with it,” he said. However, a string of neck injuries ultimately kept him from stepping into the octagon. “When I broke my neck, I lost feeling in my arms. I lost about 60 percent of my strength. There was no way I was going to compete in UFC at that point.”
From Wrestling to Hollywood
Angle’s post-wrestling career has also included a foray into acting, though he admits the transition wasn’t seamless. “I didn’t have great representation,” he said. “The movies I got, I didn’t have to audition for. They just said, ‘Hey, Kurt, we’re interested in having you.’”
Now, Angle is set to embark on his most personal project yet: a biopic about his life. “We’re going to start filming in late spring,” he revealed. “The directors, Ian and Eshaun Nelms, are very talented. They wrestled in high school and college, so they understand the sport.”
The movie will chronicle Angle’s journey from his upbringing to Olympic glory, and eventually to becoming a WWE icon. “It’s going to capture everything—the ups, the downs, the triumphs, and the struggles,” he said.
Family First
For all his professional accomplishments, Angle’s proudest role is being a dad. “You want your kids to be better than you were,” he said. “I’ve got all my kids in sports. My daughter Juliana is a swimmer. Sophia is a gymnast. Nicolette is a wrestler. Sports build good character and incredible work ethic, and I want that for my kids.”
Angle is deeply involved in their lives, particularly Nicolette’s wrestling journey. “I go to her practices every day. My brother Eric trains her once a week, and he’s the disciplinarian. I get to be the one who kisses her boo-boos when she’s hurt,” he said with a smile.
The Matches That Define Him
Looking back on his legendary career, Angle highlighted a few matches that stand out. “My favorite would be Chris Benoit at the 2003 Royal Rumble for the world title. We didn’t throw one punch in that match. It was all wrestling,” he said. “Chris was one of the most technically sound wrestlers I’ve ever faced. The chemistry we had in that match was unmatched.”
Another standout is his bout with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 21. “Shawn was known as Mr. WrestleMania, and he lived up to that name,” Angle said. “That match had everything—technical wrestling, storytelling, and drama. It’s one of my all-time favorites.”
Finally, Angle spoke emotionally about his Iron Man match with Brock Lesnar on SmackDown. “My sister had passed away the night before, but I wrestled for her,” he shared. “That match was grueling. It was 60 minutes of nonstop action, and Brock was at his peak. Considering everything I was going through, I’m incredibly proud of that match.”
Angle also reflected on working with Rey Mysterio. “We had the opening card match at SummerSlam 2002, and I didn’t realize how important the opening match was,” he said. “Vince told me, ‘The opening match sets the tone for the whole night.’ Ray’s lucha style was something I’d never experienced, but we had incredible chemistry. Ray is an amazing talent and one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”
A Legacy of Resilience
Kurt Angle’s journey is one of triumph, adaptation, and resilience. Whether he’s raising money for future Olympians, cheering on his kids, or reflecting on a storied career, one thing is clear: Angle’s impact extends far beyond the wrestling mat. From gold medals to giving back, he remains a true champion.
r future Olympians, cheering on his kids, or reflecting on a storied career, one thing is clear: Angle’s impact extends far beyond the wrestling mat.
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