TNA Signs Kurt Angle

[-Wolverine]

TNA = Total Nonstop Action, and is another type of wrestling brand, alternative to WWE.

http://www.tnawrestling.com/images/angle/images/splash_01.gif

Nashville, TN, September 24, 2006 – Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling announced today that Olympic gold medalist and pro wrestling megastar Kurt Angle has signed exclusively with the company. It was also announced that TNA iMPACT! will move to 9:00 PM ET/PT Thursdays on Spike TV starting November 16.

“This has been a huge week in our company’s history,” said Dixie Carter, president of TNA Entertainment, LLC. “The signing of Kurt Angle and the move of iMPACT! to 9 PM are both significant benchmarks in the growth of TNA. The history of pro wrestling is marked with events that change the landscape of the industry and I believe that this week will be viewed in that context.”

Angle, a 2-time NCAA Division I champion and a 3-time NCAA Division I All-American, capped off his illustrious amateur career by winning a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympics, competing with two cracked vertebrae, two herniated disks and four pulled muscles.

On November 14, 1999, Angle made his on-screen debut with the World Wrestling Federation. Since then, this 5-time WWE World Champion has held every major championship belt in WWF/E. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.

“Kurt is considered the greatest wrestler in professional wrestling,” added Carter. “His in-ring ability is matched only by his leadership and attitude. We are thrilled Kurt is joining the TNA family and we look forward to a long, successful relationship.”

“Being with TNA feels like I found my home,” Kurt Angle commented. “TNA will be the most watched show on cable TV – it’s just a matter of time. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love.”

TNA also announced it will premiere in primetime on Spike TV starting Thursday, November 16, kicking-off with a two-hour extravaganza from 9:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT to celebrate the move. The following Thursday, TNA can be seen in its regularly scheduled timeslot (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), with encores continuing to telecast on Saturdays (11:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT).

“We’ve been impressed by TNA’s growth and the acquisition of Kurt Angle today continues to show us that wrestling fans, as well as professional wrestlers, know that TNA is the place to be and now primetime on Spike TV is the place for them to be,” says Kevin Kay, General Manager of Spike TV.

credit: tnawrestling.com

So yeah, this really will suck for WWE. :(

[Machine Head]

I though he wanted to leave to del with personal issues?

[GoldenMerc]

Good find +rep

[arouse]

Sorry, but what an idiot.

[Acidulantes]

What an absolute idiot... what the hell was wrong with smackdown!? he was awesome... until now.

[YellowParasol]

What an absolute idiot... what the hell was wrong with smackdown!? he was awesome... until now.


I agree, should of stayed with WWE..

[Wayne]

That's a stupid decision. TNA are rumoured to be bust by the end of the year, nevermind it being a rubbish federation. He should of stuck with WWE.

[-mark74-]

wwe made him who he is today :(
bad decision

[Acidulantes]

He didnt join wwe, wwf as it was then, when he was approached first time because he thought wrestling as entertainment was silly compaired to pro wrestling he'd done in the olympics and whatnot... now who looks silly... he was one of the best if not the best in wwe...

[Muniflex]

Didnt he go 2 ECW anyway? I havnt seen Wrestling in a few weeks.

[-Wolverine]

Didnt he go 2 ECW anyway? I havnt seen Wrestling in a few weeks.
Yeah he went to ECW, and got injured, so WWE released him for his own good, and said they'd hire him back in a few months after his body was healed, and everything seemed fine, but then he backstabbed WWE and joined TNA. :/

[arouse]

Yeah he went to ECW, and got injured, so WWE released him for his own good, and said they'd hire him back in a few months after his body was healed, and everything seemed fine, but then he backstabbed WWE and joined TNA. :/

He didn't back stab them.
~ The whole point in a release is that they're in no way associated with the company. Vince clearly stated that he was welcome to sign a new contract once he was fully healed. Nobody know's if he's going to be wrestling in TNA (atleast I don't think).

Urgh, I'm still unhappy with him.

[-Wolverine]

He didn't back stab them.
~ The whole point in a release is that they're in no way associated with the company. Vince clearly stated that he was welcome to sign a new contract once he was fully healed. Nobody know's if he's going to be wrestling in TNA (atleast I don't think).

Urgh, I'm still unhappy with him.
Of course he's going to be wrestling in TNA, why would he be management or something? :s

[Misawa]

Kurt signed a one-year contract with TNA and he'll most likely wrestle once in a TV month and at every PPV event.

If Angle so called wants to 'wrestle' in TNA, then seriously, what the hell is he talking about? He has a great match against RVD and then injures himself multiple times. What does he expect from TNA?

Seriously, Angle's just dug himself a hole.

And also, I thought TNA was meant to be the 'hottest thing in professional wrestling'? I've never believed it TNA, and I've tried to turn everyone I know away from the product since June 2002. I knew it would never last. So what, they got a three-hour PPV deal in late 2004? They get a two-hour primetime slot on Spike TV? Do you know how low the morale is backstage in TNA at the moment, and how creative can't think of anything to do but act out what the WWE did years and years ago? Wasn't TNA supposed to be 'non-stop wrestling'? Oh wait, they're turning into what they were created to avoid, 'sports-entertainment'.

Goodbye TNA - you're dying.

Don't fire Eric, fire Jarrett.

[Slash]

Wow.
Never thought he'd move there.
Isn't he meant to be taking a break from wrestling, for "personal reasons" ?

[arouse]

Of course he's going to be wrestling in TNA, why would he be management or something? :s

He's a big name in the wrestling industry, they could give him announcing jobs, lots of things at TNA - he's not fit to wrestle.

[Misawa]

Well he's been signed as a wrestler. He'll make his TNA in-ring debut at either Bound For Glory or the first TNA 'primetime' two-hour show.

[arouse]

I retract my comments about him not turning on WWE, this is a disgrace - it he's not in character (probably isn't) then he's so disrespectful.

From TNAwrestling.com

“Being with TNA feels like I have finally found my home. I had fun in WWE at certain times, but I was never really happy. Now being a part of TNA, I know I have a purpose. I feel like I am part of history, part of a company that is not only on the rise – not only going to be the number-one watched wrestling show in the world within a short period of time – but TNA gives me an opportunity to spread my wings. This company has no limits to where it can go. The sky is the limit and the main reason is because they brought the “real” back into wrestling and that is a perfect fit for the greatest wrestler in USA Olympic history. I have room to grow here and to help TNA grow. Working for these caring and very giving employers of TNA makes me feel like I have a purpose and that the sky is the limit. I don’t feel trapped or held back like I did the first six years in my tenure with the other company. They held me back. Now, our wonderful audience will see the real Kurt Angle doing what I love to do – real wrestling – and that’s what puts a smile on my face each time I come to work. I even smile when I think about it. TNA will be the most watched television show on cable television. It’s only a matter of time. Now, I get the opportunity and privilege of being a part of it. Thank you TNA for saving my career, my life and my desire to do what I love. I will be here in some capacity for the rest of my life. That’s real…that’s damn real.” – Kurt Angle

UCH.

[-Wolverine]

Well he's been signed as a wrestler. He'll make his TNA in-ring debut at either Bound For Glory or the first TNA 'primetime' two-hour show.
Yeah, he says he's completely ready for wrestling, which I 100% doubt, he gets injured too much lately, i wouldn't be surprised if he got even more injured once in TNA.

I think he'll debut on the TNA Primetime thing since they'll get major ratings cause of that.

I am super mad at Kurt Angle, he's going to ruin his career in TNA, TNA is going nowhere, while WWE is going places. Sure TNA's match quality and stuff are better than WWE, but WWE has all the superstars and capability of being a lot better than TNA, but they aren't trying very hard since they have no competetion. Once TNA steps up it's game, im sure WWE will put them out of business very easily.

[Misawa]

TNA will never be competition to the WWE. I'm sure Vince is anxiously waiting for TNA to try and raise the bar so he can cut their throats.

His comments on TNA's website are so fake it's untrue. That's not Kurt speaking from his heart, that's Kurt with TNA stuffed in his face telling him how to go about saying or writing that text.

Angle is going to appear at Bound For Glory but not as a wrestler. He'll make his in-ring debut on the first TNA primetime show.

Cancer is spreading throughout TNA. It's coming to an end and god I am happy.

What I hate about many TNA 'fans' is that they praise TNA because they're following a long with a fad, which is thankfully on its way out.

Also, another thing which ticks me off is how people say how, 'oh, WWE SUCKS, TNA is where it's at'. Okay, that started in what, 2004? I admit, throughout some of 2004 and most of 2005, the WWE was lacking. But what about this year? Stuff TNA fans, anyone else noticed how god damn brilliant WWE TV has been this year?

[sl4rt]

TNA completey sucks imo 6 sides wtf up wid that

and he got released didnt backstab wwe guys who said that :p

[ebay]

tna = sucks