Kurt Angle Says He Will Never Wrestle Again After Having Both Of His Knees Replaced

Kurt Angle says he will never wrestle again.

Sometimes, professional wrestling retirements are as genuine as the rivalries that wrestling cards are built around. Kurt Angle had his final match against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Although Kurt Angle has had offers to return in the past, Kurt Angle recently had both of his knees replaced and he says that he is electing not to even try and return to the ring at the risk of damaging his body further.

Recently, Kurt Angle explained his reasoning for having both knee surgeries done at the same time while appearing on the Two-Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast.

“Well, you know, usually you have one at a time because it's — you're gonna be destabilized. So with me, the thing is, I wanted to get them out of the way. I just wanted to get them done and move forward with my life and not have to worry about the other down the road,” he said. “I can walk around. I'm still in a lot of pain, though.”

Asked whether or not he underwent both surgeries with the intention of coming back to the ring, Kurt Angle said he is simply doing this for quality of life, saying that he will not try to risk getting back in the ring with both of his knees replaced.

“My knees were shot. I had to have them done. I didn't have a choice,” Kurt Angle said. “Now with the knee replacements, no. I'm not going to mess these knees up.”

When pressed further and asked if he thinks he could do it, Kurt Angle stuck to his guns saying, “I have no idea, I don't. I'm not going to try. No.”

In the past, Kurt Angle has said that he's turned down offers from IMPACT and All Elite Wrestling. Earlier this year, he was supposed to return to work with Chad Gable and Otis, Alpha Academy. However, it was ultimately scrapped. Learn more here.

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