Kurt Angle Shocks Fans: “I Had No Clue What I Was Doing in WWE—They Carried Me!”
Kurt Angle is often praised as one of the fastest learners in wrestling history, with many believing he barely needed training when he jumped from Olympic gold to WWE glory. But according to Angle himself, that myth is far from true.
Signed by WWE in 1998 after winning Olympic gold, Angle trained under Dory Funk Jr. and debuted on TV in March 1999. Wrestling legends have long said he picked up the business instantly—but Angle says they were simply being polite.
Speaking on Going Ringside, Angle made it clear that he absolutely needed training, even if he progressed faster than most.
“I needed training. They’re just being nice,” Angle admitted. “I only trained for about seven months before I went on TV, which is almost impossible. I didn’t know what I was doing. My opponents had to lead me in the ring and call the whole match.”
Angle said he literally learned on live television, improving each week until he rose to the top.
“I had to catch on while performing. Two years in, I became one of the best in the business.”
Angle recently also commented on Triple H’s impact on WWE creative, offering more insight into today’s product and leadership.
