Kurt Angle has shown his appreciation to the fans following the decision to retire the “Perc Angle” nickname.
During his time in TNA, the Hall of Famer would consistently put on great matches that were arguably the best work of his career. However, while also in TNA Angle was battling drug and painkiller addiction, leading to fans coining the term “Perc Angle.”
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Angle noted that while he was aware the fans were not trying to hurt his feelings with the term, it was a nickname that bothered him:
“Yeah [it does hurt my feelings], but I know they don’t mean it. And for that, I’m okay if they say it. I don’t want them to say it to my face, but it is what it is.”
Shortly after the interview was published, Angle issued a statement on social media, noting that it reminds him of a dark time in his life:
“I’ve noticed the ‘Perc Angle’ nickname trending on social media. While I know it’s made in jest, it reminds me of a time when I struggled deeply with addiction and mental health challenges. Those memories are painful, but they also fuel my commitment to helping others. I’ve been clean for 12 years and have since built a life dedicated to purpose and service. Addiction destroys lives, but it’s never too late to get help. I appreciate all the positive feedback and support. To my fans: thank you for never giving up on me. I love you all.”
Out of respect, fans retired the term from that point on. During an interview with Bro Bible, Angle was appreciative of the fans for dropping “Perc Angle” and instead referring to that time in his career as “Peak Angle”:
“I was really pleasantly surprised that they responded that way,” Angle said. “It makes me know that I have true fans out there that really enjoyed my career and loved me for what I did. I’m just grateful that they’re going to drop the name Perk Angle. It reminds me of a dark time in my life, and it’s something that I don’t want to have to deal with it anymore. I dealt with it already, and it’s behind me. Hearing Perc Angle just makes me think I’m known for that. It was not cool. I’m just glad that they’re now using Peak Angle, instead I’m very grateful for that.”
Kurt Angle Compares WWE And TNA Runs
Although many fans associate Angle’s career with his time in WWE, which saw the Olympic Gold Medalist capture the World Championship 6 times among his many accolades, the Hall of Famer also had many standout moments while in TNA. In a previous interview, Kurt Angle assessed his time in WWE and TNA and revealed which run was better.
In other news, The Great Khali spoke about a possible return.