Why did Kurt Angle leave WWE?

KURT Angle is a former wrestler who became a gold medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Here's everything you need to know about his iconic WWE career, and why he ultimately left the ring.

Kurt Steven Angle, 54, is best known for his tenures in both WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

While at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Angle won numerous titles, including being a two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion in the heavyweight division.

After graduating from college, Angle won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1995 World Wrestling Championships.

Angle made his first appearance at a professional wrestling event in 1996 and signed with the WWE later in 1998.

Among a series of other accomplishments, Angle has held the WWE Championship four times, the WCW Championship, and the World Heavyweight Championship.

He is the tenth Triple Crown champion and the fifth winner of the Grand Slam.

But Angle ended his successful career with WWE, for the first time, on August 25, 2006.

He was granted an early release from his WWE contract for health reasons.

What is Kurt Angle's net worth?

According to Sportskeeda, Kurt Angle has a staggering net worth of $5million.

This is thanks to his successful career in wrestling as well as a number of other ventures.

Angle appeared in every WWE/F video game from 2000's WWF Royal Rumble up to WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, released in 2006.

After an eleven-year absence, Angle made his return to WWE video games as a playable character in WWE 2K18, before appearing in WWE 2K19, WWE 2K20, and returning in WWE 2K23.

He also appears in TNA Impact!, TNA Wrestling, and TNA Wrestling Impact!.

The pro wrestler has made a name for himself in the world of acting after making his film debut as a prison deputy in the short film Chains, in 20028.

A year later, he played serial killer Brad Mayfield in the film End Game.

He played Russian MMA champion Koba, in a non-speaking role, in the 2011 film Warrior, and starred as town sheriff Will Logan in the film River of Darkness.

Angle also had a small role in the 2014 cult film Sharknado 2: The Second One and in the 2014 romantic-comedy film Not Cool.

He appeared in the film The Last Witch Hunter and also made a cameo appearance in the movie Pain and Gain, in which he brawls with Dwayne Johnson's character in a prison fight.

Angle also appeared on an episode of Duck Dynasty in February 2016.

Who is Kurt Angle's wife Giovanna Yannotti?

Giovanna Yannotti, 36, and Angle, married on July 20, 2012.

The couple share three children, one of whom is adopted.

Yannotti has a staggering 45.4k followers on her private Instagram account and works as an actress.

She is best known for her roles in Unstoppable, 2010, Death from Above, 2012, and Angle, 2023.

According to Playersaga, Giovanna Yannotti’s net worth is estimated at around $2 million as of 2023.

Her source of earning includes acting, media appearances, and social media.

Yannotti is also a well-known stunt performer and has worked in several recognizable films such as End Game, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, 6 Souls, and Sorority Row.

When did Kurt Angle compete at the Olympics?

Angle claimed his gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

While taking part in the trials, he suffered a severe neck injury, fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae, herniating two disks, and pulling four muscles.

Nevertheless, Angle won the trials and spent five long months resting and rehabilitating.

By the time the Olympics came around, Angle was able to compete – but had to have several pain-reducing injections in his neck.

In the fall of 1996, Angle stated that he temporarily became addicted to the analgesic Vicodin after injuring his neck.

He won his gold medal in the heavyweight – 90–100 kg – weight class despite his injury while defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight-minute, one-one draw.

Where is Kurt Angle now?

Angle released a documentary on his life and wrestling journey earlier this year, titled Angle.

The documentary, which has earned an 8.1/10 IMDb rating, tells the tale of his journey from "humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to Olympic Gold Medalist and WWE Hall of Famer".

Angle, his family, and his friends, all come together to share their thoughts on the WWE Legend's road to success.

The icon also has his own website called Kurt Angle Brand where he has shared his story and sells autographed collectibles, custom-signed birthday cards, and Kurt Angle Pro Wrestling T-shirts.