TNA star Kurt Angle recently spoke with In Ring Pop to promote his UK tour, and below are some highlights. The full interview can be found on iTunes podcasts under ‘In Ring Pop’:
On TNA’s upcoming UK Tour:
Talk about destiny! My contract literally expires on the last day of the U.K. Tour. God did that for a reason. Our biggest and best fans are from the UK and we only come once a year and these happen to be my final matches, it’s my retirement from TNA, it’s a great feeling to know it’s going to be here and in front of thousands of fans instead of hundreds it’s a big deal for me.
It’s nice to be able to leave but I’m gonna miss these guys, been with them for 9 years and they’ve treated me extremely well, I was in WWE for 7 years, had a great run there, unfortunately due to health, I just couldn’t keep up with the 300 days a year. I didn’t have the option of a lesser schedule they wanted me to continue full time. I just couldn’t do it. So I had to ask for release and thank god Vince gave me that option, I came to TNA and I’ve enjoyed my career there just as much as I did WWE. I’ve had some of best matches here, last year against Bobby Lashley, validated for me that I could do as much at 46 as I could at 32 it was a good feeling.
On Manchester:
The best city is always between Manchester and London, it all depends on how your booked. Like last year my main event wasn’t in Manchester, it was in London but if it were the opposite then Manchester would be the city. Those 2 cities are the best cities, Manchester is every bit as good as London as far as the fans and the excitement we get from the crowd even when I was in WWE, it was the same.
I always remember the arena because we can park our bus in the gates and the catering is the greatest out of any city or country! We always look forward to the catering in Manchester, it’s crazy!
On Manchester spoken word appearance next week:
This is new to me, I’m kinda nervous I don’t know what people are gonna ask me. Manchester United asked me to come visit and I said yeah, I get to meet some of the players, they gave me the option and any time I can do that, the success you guys have had in football here is as popular as US football and I always want to meet the guys who make it so successful so it will be fun. They are also welcome on the tour! I would love that, can you tell them?!
It is a Q and A show, are there any questions you get bored of?
It’s not boring but it’s hard, what is my favourite match? It changes and I would have said my first world title against The Rock but then last year I wrestled Bobby Lashley and I validated that I was just as good now and so that became my favourite, so it does change quite a bit. You can’t deny the Wrestlemania moments, knowing that 2 million people are watching worldwide. It’s the most special moments wether it be Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero or Chris Benoit.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
