Why did Kurt Angle depart WWE for TNA Wrestling in 2006?

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle was a recent guest on Six Feet Under with The Undertaker. While discussing his departure from WWE in 2006, Angle revealed that the schedule was taking a toll on him and led to him taking so many painkillers to get through it; he thought he would end up overdosing on them and killing himself.

“The reason why I left WWE wasn’t because I was unhappy with the way things were going. I left because I knew if I stayed, I was going to kill myself,” Kurt Angle admitted. “I knew I was going to OD on pay killers. So I got out in 2006 and and the thing is, I went out and met with Vince McMahon, and this is what’s gonna kill you, Taker. You’re gonna love this.

“So I’m in his office, and I’m talking to him about my state of mind and everything. And Shane’s in there too. And so Vince hands me five pages of text messages that I texted him and voicemails, and they were brutal. It says, Vince, I’m going to beat the f*ck out of you if you don’t call me. Okay, I’m going to kick your ass if you don’t answer my text.

Vince McMahon agreed to let Kurt Angle out of his contract

“I’m reading them. I’m going, I don’t remember saying this shit because I didn’t know, I was high. So I got up and left, and I went outside. I start crying, and I came back in, and I looked at Vince. I said, ‘Listen, I’m sorry, but if you don’t let me go, I think I’m gonna kill myself.’

“And I didn’t mean I was gonna commit suicide. I’m gonna overdose on pills. And Vince said, ‘You’re released.’ He put his hands up and said, ‘Come back in six months, we’ll give you the same contract.’ I literally flew down to TNA the next day. I already had a contract ready.”

READ MORE: Kurt Angle Is Seeking Footage of Rare Match With Owen Hart

What do you make of Kurt Angle’s comments? Are you surprised that Vince McMahon let him out of his contract at the time? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

If you use any of these quotes, please credit Six Feet Under with a link to this article for the transcription.

The post Kurt Angle Explains Why He Needed To Leave WWE In 2006 appeared first on Wrestlezone.