Kurt Angle interview

[Guest Rob Edwards]

From WWE.com

 

 

 

HELSINKI, Finland - With his wife, Karen, almost eight months pregnant with the couple’s first child, Kurt Angle is spending more than an entire week away from home. Backstage, Angle is constantly talking on his international cell phone, getting updates from home. In this interview, Angle discusses the challenges of balancing work and family, injuries, wrestling with Chris Benoit, the Olympics and WrestleMania.

 

WWE.com: Have you ever been here before?

 

Angle: I’ve never been to Finland. I’ve been all around Finland. I’ve been to Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, all of Eastern Europe and Western Europe, but never here.

 

WWE.com: Did you get a chance to take a look around?

 

Angle: No. Actually, I stayed in my hotel room. I was completely spent from doing SmackDown! and then flying over here. I didn’t get much sleep on the plane. It was a 12-hour flight. So when I got here I basically slept. I didn’t even work out yet.

 

WWE.com: Have you been to Ireland?

 

Angle: I’ve been to Ireland briefly. Never to compete. The only thing I’ve ever done is, when I was at the airport, I had a seven-hour layover. So I took a taxi to a restaurant, sat and relaxed and I just kind of checked out the place. But I stayed near the airport. So technically I’ve never been to Ireland either. So I’m really looking forward to that.

 

WWE.com: Are you over your jetlag yet?

 

Angle: No. I don’t think anybody’s over their jetlag. We’ve only been here for probably 12 hours. I’d say by the time we get to Belfast we’ll be OK.

 

WWE.com: Do you like going these tours?

 

Angle: I don’t mind them. I like the fans. I like the way that we’re treated here. But as far as leaving the United States, you really appreciate your country, because that’s where you grew up. You’re used to living that way. But right now, it’s a great opportunity for our company to grow internationally, and it’s working really well. So I’m happy to be here for that reason.

 

WWE.com: How hard is it to be thousands of miles away from a wife who is seven or eight months pregnant?

 

Angle: She’s five and a half weeks away. I just found out today that the baby’s already six pounds. So this baby could be over nine pounds by the time she’s born. Yeah, it’s hard being away from my wife, Karen, and the baby. At any minute, I know that things could change, and she could end up having the baby. So to be over here right now, I’m kind of walking on glass. I know that Undertaker is home with his wife right now. At least he can be there. So that’s really the only thing that runs across my mind when I leave the country right now.

 

WWE.com: What about the challenge of trying to be a dad and a WWE Superstar at the same time?

 

Angle: Karen and I have a very good relationship to where she understands what I need to do to make a living, and understands that this is what I love to do, and I love to entertain the fans. We have decided that we have a certain schedule: I will do whatever I can for the company four days a week. The days that I (already) work, and I’m on the road, if I do have appearances, they’ll be on those particular days, unless there are exceptions. So I will be home every week for three days a week, to be with my wife and baby. The last year, I’ve been having five or six days a week away from home due to appearances and representing the company. That’ll change because I know as a father I have to be there, and as a husband to help support my wife. I’m going to have to start easing back on my schedule and making my first priority my family, which I’m excited to do.

 

WWE.com: It seems like the first few years you were here, that you’d get banged up quite a bit. But over the last year, you’ve seemingly remained injury free. Is that just good luck? Is that something you’ve learned?

 

Angle: I think what’s happening - knock on wood - is that I’m having the same injuries, and I’ve kind of gotten used to it. So I work around it. In this business, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt 100 percent. Something has always bothered me, whether it is my back, my neck, my shoulder (or) my knee. The great thing about this business is you can work around it and still make the match as good as it can be. I’ve learned to adapt to that, and I think that’s why you’re hearing me quote-unquote complain less.

 

WWE.com: So that’s definitely something you have to learn - how to not hurt yourself any further.

 

Angle: Yeah. That’s probably the most important thing. I think what you need to do as a wrestler in WWE to climb to the top is you have to consistently be in there. The only to do that is to stay injury free, but that’s not going to happen. So you have to learn how to work around it.

 

WWE.com: How do you feel about working with Chris Benoit?

 

Angle: I love working with Chris Benoit. I think he’s definitely one of the best technicians in the business. I love to work against him rather than with him, but no matter what, when you’re out there with him, he always raises the bar. He makes you compete or perform at a more intense rate than you normally would because in order to stay there with Chris, whether you’re competing against him or tagging with him, you have to raise your intensity. You have to be just as intense as Chris is, or else you’re going to get lost in the shuffle. So whenever I do compete against him or tag with him, I know that my work’s cut out for me more than usual. To me, it’s just an honor to be out there with him.

 

WWE.com: Over the last month or two on SmackDown!, it seems like there are four, five or six guys who are just having outstanding matches with one another - you, Edge, Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, and I’m probably leaving one or two guys out. What’s the secret to that?

 

Angle: And Rey Mysterio also. I think a lot of people in the company might say that we have the best chemistry with one another. And they’d be right. And I think it’s the ability of all six of us of being able to adapt to one another. Honestly, when you put those six guys together, you’re getting six of the most talented individuals in wrestling, in the whole world. When you put those guys together, they’re going to learn how to adapt with one another. I’d love to have the same match with Eddie Guerrero that I would a Big Show. Is it going to happen? I hope it does. It probably won’t. But that’s one thing about a wrestler in this business - you have to learn how to adapt to different styles. And when you have those six guys in there, they adapt better than anybody. And that’s what you’re seeing is a more versatile wrestler. And that’s why SmackDown!, I believe, is a tad bit better than RAW right now - because of the skill and the adaptability of those six wrestlers.

 

WWE.com: What do you want to say about the Olympics?

 

Angle: I promised myself eight months ago that I wouldn’t think about it until the end of this year, but we’re getting close now. I’m still not going to make my final decision until January 2003. So right now I would still say there’s a chance, but right now I’m also thinking about what I need to do in this business to become better. I promised I wouldn’t stress out about it (or) think about it too much until that time comes. I think my focus right now is having a baby - my wife having a baby - and what I have to do in this business to become better. So really I don’t have any comment besides to say that I will decide in January 2003.

 

WWE.com: If you do decide to compete in the Olympics, have you thought about how much pressure there would be to win another Gold? Because some people would say that if you win the silver, the bronze or nothing, that it would be a letdown.

 

Angle: I know that that’s the case. To me, to make it to the Olympics would be another dream come true, whether I win a gold, silver, bronze, or not even place or medal. It’d be another dream come true. Would it be a letdown to me (if I didn’t win a gold)? No. Not necessarily. Would it be a letdown to my peers? Probably. But have they ever been there? No. Do they know how hard it is to compete to get there? No. Do they know how competitive the Olympics are? No. So, to me, making the Olympic team again would be another huge feat, especially after being off for over eight years. I did this in 1996. Even though I won the Worlds in 1995, and obviously I was in medal contention for the Olympics, I took it one step at a time. The tournaments at the beginning of the year - just winning those. Going to the Nationals, and just worrying about being a national champion. Then going to the tryouts, just worrying about winning them. And then when I got in the Olympics, I worried about the gold. That’s the process I have to go through again. I’m going to have to start from the beginning, start from scratch, and set my goals that way. I can’t be thinking about a gold medal now when I don’t even know how I’d do in my first tournament. So I’m going to take that one step at a time.

 

WWE.com: Are you excited about WrestleMania?

Angle: I’m always excited about WrestleMania. I think that no matter what I do, it’ll be special. It always is. I’ve been fortunate enough, in my first three WrestleManias, to compete Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit the first time, Chris Benoit the second time and Kane the third time. So I’ve always been able to perform with incredible wrestlers. This time, I don’t expect any different. It doesn’t matter who I wrestle. I’m not sure who it’s going to be, but rumor has it it’s probably going to be a Brock Lesnar-Kurt Angle showdown. If that happens, I just hope that I can live up to the expectations. I hope it does happen because I think that’s the right time. But we’re not going to know until that does happen.

 

WWE.com: Is this going to be your daughter’s first WrestleMania?

 

Angle: I hope so. She’s only going to be about three and half or four months ago. I don’t even know if my wife’s going to go. It’s all the way in Seattle. If it were in Toronto, definitely. It’s only a 40-minute flight from Pittsburgh. But to Seattle, you’re talking about a four or five hour flight. I don’t know if my wife can handle that. We’re going to play it by ear. Maybe she will be. But I would bet against it. She may have to wait one more year.

[Guest HartFan86]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

[Guest AndrewTS]

Heheh...Angle so rules.

 

Especially liked the part where they mentioned the good matches they've been having on SD!

 

Although again, the Olympics come up... =/ Still, if there's still a WWE to come back to if he'd go, then it would do a hell of a lot of good for the WWE and Angle's career.

[Guest AndrewTS]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

Now now...Kurt doesn't have to badmouth his peers just because we do.

[Guest Anglesault]

So Karen is pregnant. That kind of explains it.

 

Angle: I’m always excited about WrestleMania. I think that no matter what I do, it’ll be special. It always is.

 

Yeah, That Kane feud had me on the edge of my seat.

 

I’ve been fortunate enough, in my first three WrestleManias, to compete Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit the first time, Chris Benoit the second time and Kane the third time.

 

WWE.com: Is that gun that JR has to your head a Smith and Wesson?

 

 

 

I’m not sure who it’s going to be, but rumor has it it’s probably going to be a Brock Lesnar-Kurt Angle showdown. If that happens, I just hope that I can live up to the expectations.

 

What expectations.

[Guest Rob Edwards]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

Yeah I got a little perplexed by that but then Kurt isn't one to go around making negative comments about people

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

8 months pregnant...

 

meaning the kid was concieved in February.

 

Was this due to Kurt thinking he'd go over HHH and it'd mean something a week later?

[Guest CanadianChris]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

Hey, if Kurt says he is, that's good enough for me.

[Guest Anglesault]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

Hey, if Kurt says he is, that's good enough for me.

It's been established many, many times that Kurt isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Since when is Kane an incredible wrestler?

Hey, if Kurt says he is, that's good enough for me.

It's been established many, many times that Kurt isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Kurt's just being a nice guy. Plus I've heard Kane's pretty easy to work with.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Seriously, there were worse people he could have been saddled with at Wrestlemania XVIII. Big Show, Nash, and Rikishi spring to mind immediately.

 

I can't say I'm surprised that Anglesault is tripping off of his idol.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest kane3212321]

I’m not sure who it’s going to be, but rumor has it it’s probably going to be a Brock Lesnar-Kurt Angle showdown. If that happens, I just hope that I can live up to the expectations.  

 

 

What expectations.

 

I think he means the expectations that Brock will be in hte ring with another wrestler and they will have a good wrestling match instead of the brawls we are used to.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I can't say I'm surprised that Anglesault is tripping off of his idol.

I have to say that even though I knew AS would react like that, its still somewhat of a surprise to me that he'd bring the cynicism to the man, the myth, the REAL ATHLETE Kurt Angle!

 

By the way, this is only sort of related, but on the topic of Angle and Benoit teaming, was it Angle or Benoit who said during their last feud that the other man was a brilliant worker and that one of the only things he definitely wanted to accomplish in his career now was tag with him?

[Guest Anglesault]

Evenflow, I'd assume it was Angle who said that, just because Benoit wouldn't really need it.

 

By the way, it's true. Any man with half a brain and stroke with Vince and Shane (That he apparnently has) would have nixed about 75% of that Edge feud.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

so.. how long until Angle turns face?

[Guest Brian]

A month. They teased Benoit and pulled back.

 

Anyways, they pulled that feud because they thought that they could make Edge look good. Not for Angle. They already think highly enough of him to make a lower mid-card talent who had failed in an earlier push look good. Edge was their pet project, and Angle was the type of guy they thought could handle getting him over.

 

It's sorta odd it ended up being Eddie who got the job done.