Angle also discussed his relationship with Bischoff and Hogan during the time, revealing that he had endorsed the idea of the two coming in when TNA owner Dixie Carter first approached him. However, it didn’t take long for Angle to feel like Hogan and Bischoff were putting him on the back burner, even though Angle was arguably TNA’s biggest star at the time.

“They were pretty cool at the beginning,” Angle said. “I wouldn’t say for a very long time, because they kind of started forgetting about me. I know that the idea was to start making the younger talent, and I think they might’ve done that a little bit too quickly. There was one point where I wasn’t on TV for, like, three weeks. I was like ‘What the hell is going on? Why is the top guy in the company not going to be on the show?’

“It just didn’t make any sense, and I went to Dixie and said ‘What’s going on?’ I said ‘Listen, I’m not complaining, but your biggest star is sitting on the bench for the past few weeks. I don’t think it’s a good idea. If you want me to make people, have me go out there and make people.’ For some reason, they just kind of left me behind, and I’m not sure why. But when Dixie talked to them, they started bringing me back into the mix…I had a great relationship with Dixie and Vince Russo. I love those guys dearly, and I got along with them very well.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Kurt Angle Show” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription