7. Kurt Angle leaves WWE to join TNA (2006)
On August 25, 2006, Kurt Angle was granted an early release from his WWE contract because of health reasons. Angle stated that he asked for his release from WWE because he couldn’t take time off and he was working hurt, severely on some occasions.
He also stated that when he quit, WWE lost their very top talent, as he was at the very top of the payroll.
The meeting between Angle, Dixie Carter, Sting and Jeff Jarrett was kept very quiet, and in the closing moments of the September 2006 No Surrender pay-per-view, a promo aired for Angle’s debut.
With all due respect to Christian, this was TNA’s first major steal from WWE. Angle has stayed with TNA now for over 9 years and has been a pillar for the company.
