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TNA News
Interview Highlights: Kurt Angle puts a timeline on when TNA will have a true ratings war with WWE Apr 3, 2008 - 1:55:15 AM
PWTorch.com reader Mike Tavares sent the following interview summary to PWTorch.com...
Kurt Angle was a guest on the Showgram, hosted by Jim Kozimor and Henry Turner on KHTK Sports 1140AM in Sacramento (my former internship site five years ago).
Angle will be in Sacramento on Thursday, April 3 as he will be in attendance for a Sacramento Kings basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The theme will be "Celebrate the Summer Games."
Angle said the Maloofs (Joe and Gavin, Kings owners) made a call to him about the event and Angle agreed to it. He wants to promote TNA to the Sacramento area as he is pushing for TNA to make their debut there within the next six months. He said he has already expressed his interest to Jeff Jarrett and wants Sacramento to host either a TV taping or a PPV, but Angle prefers a PPV. Angle said Sacramento is one of the best wrestling cities he has been to during his WWE tenure as the Arco Arena is always sold out or close to it and has some of the best, loudest fans. He recalled his milk truck incident with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at the Arco Arena.
Angle said the Kings asked him to do an autograph session for 45 minutes but Angle told them it would be more like four hours because he will not turn anyone away for his autograph.
Angle mentioned TNA has been great to him. He said they're very flexible and supportive in allowing him to try different things such as movies, TV shows (said something about hosting two shows in the future if things work out) and training for an MMA fight with Randy Couture in the fall. Angle said they have both signed with a promotion but won't say who. Angle said they will be looking for more promoters to help the event in making it something big and special. Angle said the fight would more than likely take place in California but did not mention a city.
Angle said he is training twice per week and when there is six weeks (I believe he said six weeks) left until the fight he will increase his training time.
Angle said he talked to UFC's Dana White two weeks after signing with TNA. Angle said White would only sign him to a deal if he didn't wrestle for TNA. Angle said he couldn't do it and wanted to be loyal to TNA as TNA was flexible and supportive in other ventures Angle wanted to pursue.
Angle said he would fight Brock Lesner, but only if the money was right as they are very good friends.
Angle said the Kings game will be his first NBA game that he will attend in person. He said he has watched Ron Artest for eight years and respects Brad Miller for being on the United States squad during the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He also enjoys watching Kevin Martin and considers himself a semi-Sacramento Kings fan as there is no NBA team in Pittsburgh.
Angle said that Sting told him after one of their matches that Sting said Angle was the best wrestler he has ever faced. Angle did not watch WrestleMania 24 but he is glad Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and respects Flair for all he has done and accomplished.
Angle said his neck is 100 percent and is glad he didn't do the fusion surgery.
Angle said he believes TNA will be in a ratings war with the WWE within two to three years, much like it was during the late-'90s when it was WWE and WCW. He said TNA has come a long way in five years and has gone further than the WWE did in their first five years.
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