Most people are at least aware of pro wrestler Kurt Angle...

Kurt is an Olympic gold medal winner... 1996 in Atlanta in heavyweight freestyle wrestling... and was on the radar of the "pro wrestling" circuit out of the gate... something Angle was very interested interested in.

He signed on with the (then) World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) and was working in ring by 1999.

Kurt is/was considered the best worker in the industry... winning acclaim and genuine admiration from most of the old guard (like Hulk Hogan amongst others,) and new guard alike.

Kurt is/was one of the best heels (bad guys) in the industry... and even did good runs as a face with the company.

To seemingly go off topic, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has had a string of young athletes associated with the company die prematurely... Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Brian Pillman, Michael Hegstrand, Chris Candido, Davey Boy Smith, Mike Lockwood, Ms. Elizabeth, Owen Hart, Ray Traylor, and most recently and tragically, the great Eddy Guerrero... a personal favourite.

These deaths were pretty much caused by the profession these folks were in... be it through pain killers, steroids, and general physical self-abuse in the ring... these things helped hasten their demise.

Enter "Wellness"... or the WWE Wellness Policy...

Shortly after Eddy's death, WWE owner and chairman, Vince Macmahon introduced a shoot (not worked) policy with strict third-party drug testing and harsh penalties for those who failed... with a three-strikes and you're out rule.

For the record, Kurt failed... three times.

"Insiders" at WWE have said that Kurt was "the worst" they'd ever seen... and in a form of athletic entertainment like pro wrestling, that's saying a HUGE mouthful... think about someone like Jake "The Snake" Roberts... and Kurt is worse according to these fellas?

WWE even had to hire "handlers" to ensure that Kurt made his commitments and was "okay"...

In essence, he had to take some time and get "well"...

While going through the failed drug tests, Kurt's pregnant wife filed for divorce (although, again "good sources" say it's over his demons and she's "hanging in" and trying to be supportive and not totally far-gone on the idea that their marriage is over)... and he was working through being badly hurt (truly a bad bump away from a wheelchair or worse...)

So, they fired him... but they tried to leave the door open... and everyone I've heard from was hoping that Kurt would get his life organized, fight his demons, get healthy, and return...

It doesn't look like Kurt's going to do that...

Nope...

Sunday night, it was announced that Kurt had signed with Total Non-Stop Wrestling (TNA)... which is great for TNA... not-so-good for Kurt... and, trust me on this one, bad for the fans... (and not just because Vince Russo is also back with TNA which is a recipe for disaster...)

I am NOT kidding when I say that the scuttlebutt with those "in the know" is that Kurt's in BAD shape... in fact, Bryan Alvarez of Figure Four Online is predicting Angle's doom... as, to a lesser degree, is Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer... in fact, I've not heard of anyone who thinks Angle's return is a "good thing" except for Angle and the fine management of TNA.

The TNA schedule isn't as grueling as WWE's... but one bad bump... and the damage from Kurt's other issues will play a role, no doubt.

So, for you casual fans, don't be too pleased at Kurt's return... and wish him beyond well... wish him to be well in all aspects... and consider a company that would hire someone so well known to be a bit of a walking time bomb... a father, a husband, a human being...

Kurt is one year younger than Sue and myself... and I hope he get's to see his mid-forties... if not more...

...but hey, it's all about ratings, right TNA? You'd be goofy NOT to sign Kurt!

...just think of the memorial show possibilities if things go wrong.

I hope to God that I'm being dramatic... but I'm not sure.

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