Kurt Angle Confirms Retirement: ‘I Can’t Wrestle Anymore’

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle has definitively ruled out a return to professional wrestling, citing the physical toll it takes on his body. The Olympic gold medalist, who retired at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, made the announcement during a recent appearance on the podcast ‘Story Time with Dutch Mantell.’

‘I won’t be in it,’ Angle said when asked about participating in John Cena‘s Farewell Tour. ‘People ask me all the time, are you going to be in John Cena’s tour? No.’ Angle, 55, emphasized that his decision stems from the lingering effects of injuries sustained during his wrestling career.

Angle’s comments followed a recent CBS commercial where he briefly stepped back into the ring. The segment, which featured a mock match against sportscaster Kyle Brandt, left Angle in pain for weeks. ‘I was so sore the next day, and my back went out of place,’ he recalled. ‘It took me a good month for my back to go back into place. I thought, ‘Man, I can’t do that stuff anymore.”

The wrestling legend last appeared on WWE TV in January 2023 as a special guest referee. Despite fan speculation about a potential comeback, Angle remains steadfast in his retirement. ‘I’m at a point in life where I’m okay,’ he said. ‘I don’t need to prove who I was or add anything to my legacy. I’ve had a pretty damn good career, and I’m proud of it.’

Angle, who was inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024, has shifted his focus to life outside the ring. He continues to make occasional media appearances and remains a beloved figure among wrestling fans worldwide.