Kurt Angle Reflects On His Painkiller Addiction, Says He Took 65 Vicodin A Day
Professional wrestling legend Kurt Angle recently opened up about his addiction issues that have plagued him for the majority of his career on the Dan Le Batard Show. Of course, Angle’s addiction issues became very public, as they led to him receiving multiple DUI charges during his time in TNA/Impact Wrestling.
Angle told Le Batard that at the height of his addiction, he was taking 65 extra-strength Vicodin every single day. On top of taking excessive amounts of painkillers, Angle said that he would drink alcohol, and that he was also abusing Xanax, which is an anti-anxiety medication.
The subject of Angle’s painkiller addiction came up after Le Batard asked the Olympic gold medalist when he realized he was out of control. You can check out Angle’s answer below.
Kurt Angle describes his addiction, says he took 65 Vicodin a day https://t.co/iNTscxW5Ud
— Cageside Seats (@cagesideseats) September 23, 2016
“I’d say when I was taking 65 extra strength Vicodin a day. I was on a lot, and there was no way I could get out of it. The only thing I could do is eventually go to rehab and try to fix my life again, but I actually beat it on my own.
“Because I broke my neck a few times I got put on Xanax, because I was always getting nervous, so they put me on that. And when I went to TNA, everybody drank alcohol down there, so I started drinking with my meds, and then I would manipulate my meds… I would save them to the evening and then take them while drinking alcohol, which got me in a lot of trouble; four DUIs in five years.”
Later in the interview, Angle credited WWE for getting him clean and sober. He said that roughly three years ago, he decided to contact WWE, who will pay for rehab for any of their former or current workers, and they sent him to a rehab center in his home state of Pennsylvania. He stayed there for 30 days, and, according to Angle himself, he hasn’t touched a drug or drank alcohol ever since.
Angle’s painkiller addiction is the biggest reason why WWE hasn’t brought him back since he left the company in 2006. But it’s finally looking like, after 10 full years, that WWE is considering bringing Angle back to the company for a Hall of Fame induction, and they may even let him wrestle a match or two.
One of Angle’s biggest enemies since he parted ways with WWE has been Triple H. But Angle said recently that he’s spoken with WWE’s Chief Operating Officer, and that the two have made amends. He also said that he’s expecting to return to WWE at some point in 2017.
There’s been some talk that 2K Sports, which is the company that produces that annual WWE video game, will put the spotlight on Angle in next year’s game, which may lead to his WWE return. In previous years, 2K has rebuilt relationships between WWE and legends like The Ultimate Warrior and Sting. So they may do the same with Angle in 2017.
While it’s not yet official, there are rumors that WrestleMania 34 will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and, as previously mentioned, Pennsylvania is Angle’s home state, so WWE may be considering him as the headliner for 2018’s Hall of Fame class. He also could have his retirement match the very same weekend.
During his time away from WWE, Angle has said that he’d like to wrestle Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, and Brock Lesnar if he ever returns to the company. Of course, as of right now, a match with Daniel Bryan is out of the question, but he could have a fantastic match with Seth Rollins, and we already know that he has great chemistry in the ring with Brock Lesnar, so both men would be great opponents for him.
[Featured image via WWE]
