For most people, Kurt Angle will forever be remembered as a top star for WWE during the mid-2000s, where he rubbed shoulders with fellow Hall of Famers such as Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, and countless others. Oddly enough, however, Angle spent the bulk of his wrestling career outside of WWE, spending only eight years working there, in contrast to the 11 years he spent in TNA Wrestling, where he worked from 2005 to 2016.

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Angle has never been shy about how much he enjoyed his time in TNA, where he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship six times, became the second-ever TNA Triple Crown Champion, and entered the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013. And as he revealed on last Friday’s “Busted Open Radio,” Angle prefers his TNA tenure in several ways.

“I consider my work in TNA better than my work in WWE as well. And the reason is I kind of came into my own. I was really…I started out in pro wrestling, I only trained for 7 months before I went on television. That’s a very short period of time. And I was getting better and better. My first two years I was in the ring, I was following the wrestler that would talk me through the matches. 

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“I started getting better and better, and I became this great follower that I could start leading matches. I’d say I became my best about 7 years into the business, and that’s when I went to TNA. I had some great matches with AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Sting, Jeff Jarrett, Abyss, Bobby Roode; a lot of great talents that I got to work with that I was very honored to go up against them in TNA. And I’m very proud of the career I had.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

WWE star Ivar is set to face “NXT” North American Champion Oba Femi on next week’s show, and the former “WWE Raw” Tag Team Champion has sent a warning to his opponent.

On this past week’s “NXT,” Ivar defeated Josh Briggs in a singles match, earning himself a shot at Femi’s title. The Viking Raider, following this week’s “NXT,” stated that the match with Briggs has motivated him for his contest against the North American Champion.

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“You’re damn right I am,” Ivar replied when asked if he was going to face Oba Femi next. “I’m ready. And forgive me, ’cause (Josh) Briggs has got me fired up. I love hitting and that man brought it. But Oba Femi, that’s a man who’s going to bring it to me, and that’s a man I’m ready for.”

Ivar added that Oba Femi has got everything handed to him in his short WWE career and that he’s a relative amateur in the pro wrestling business compared to him, mentioning how he’s been in wrestling for over two decades.

“This man (Femi) has been unstoppable in ‘NXT.’ No one can bring him down, but I did. I brought him to his knees, I put him on the mat. And what’s he got? 12, 15 matches in the books? I’ve got 23 years. Nothing’s been handed to me. He came to ‘NXT’ and he got the red carpet. Not me. It’s been 23 years of failures and heartaches. I’ve been through a Viking Experience, I’ve been through a pandemic, I’ve been through a broken neck. And, now, in 2024 and ‘NXT’ and I will have my first opportunity for a singles championship in this company and I will not squander it.”

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Ivar argued that Oba Femi may be big, but he’s not “battle-worn and battle-tested” like him. Ivar has enjoyed success as a singles star on the main roster ever since his tag team partner, Erik, suffered an injury.

The April 16 edition of “WWE NXT” saw a reduction in average overall viewership and a much higher decrease in the key demographic ratings.

An average of 625,000 viewers reportedly tuned in to watch the show, a 3 percent decrease from last week’s show, as per “WrestleNomics.” The 18-49 key demographic saw an even greater slump than last week’s show as it garnered a rating of 0.17 from 0.19. This past week’s “NXT” was competing with the NBA game between LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, while another NBA game overlapped with “NXT.”

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The brand, however, is performing better this year compared to the corresponding period, with an 11 percent increase in average overall viewership for the month of April, while the key demographic for the same period is even higher at 29 percent.

“NXT” was headlined by the grudge match between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes, with the former getting the win against his former tag team partner inside a steel cage, possibly ending their feud. The show also featured main roster stars like the Authors of Pain, who faced and defeated Edris Enofe and Malik Blade, while Ivar got the win over Josh Briggs. “NXT” Champion Ilja Dragunov defeated young star Je’Von Evans, while Ridge Holland continued his heel turn with a win over Joaquin Wilde. 

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WWE has announced that next week’s show will be a special Spring Breakin’ episode of “NXT,” with Natalya scheduled to face Lola Vice in an “NXT” Underground match, while the “NXT” Women’s Champion, Roxanne Perez, will defend her title against Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley. Dragunov will also put his title on the line against Trick Williams, a rematch from Vengeance Day.