Kurt Angle has been very open about his addiction to painkillers during the course of his in-ring career.
Speaking on a recent edition of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer opined on his past battles with substances abuse, going doctor shopping, and how he got introduced to painkillers.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his introduction to painkillers: “After I broke my neck the second, the first time in WWE, I was introduced to painkillers. When I started taking them, I really liked it. It masked the pain, I couldn’t feel the pain. It kind of gave me an energetic feel. It didn’t make me feel nauseous like it does a lot of people. I was taking one every four to six hours like I was told, but after a while, you build a tolerance and one doesn’t work anymore.”
On passing out the night before his Iron Man match with Brock Lesnar: “It kept me from going through withdrawals, but there were times where I passed out. The company knew, some of my friends knew. I’ll give you an example. There was one point in my career where my brother called me. I was at a house show for WWE. It was the night before the biggest match of my career with Brock Lesnar. An Iron Man match on ‘SmackDown.’ My brother calls me and says, ‘Hey, your sister just died of a heroin overdose.’ And it crushed me… So, here I am in a hotel room. I looked at my pills, I said, ‘F*** it.’ I took 20 of them and put them in my mouth, chewed them up, and swallowed them. I didn’t wake up til five o’clock in the afternoon the next day, and I had the biggest match of my career that night.
“We had to be there at one but I didn’t get there til 5:30. I ended up doing it. WWE was trying to call me the whole time. ‘You can go home, plan the funeral for your sister, you don’t have to do this match.’ But I kept thinking, ‘I know my sister would want me to do it.’ I knew I wouldn’t have to feel the pain of losing my sister, at least for that hour. So I went ahead and did it and it was actually one of my best performances of my career, which is kind of crazy. The painkillers are the one thing I do regret. I wish I was never introduced to them.”
On leaving WWE over his addiction and having DUIs in TNA: “I left WWE because they wanted me to go to rehab and I didn’t want to go. So I ended up going to another company called Impact Wrestling. I got my painkiller problem under control there because I found a doctor that got me on MS Contin. They’re two morphine pills. They’re very tiny, but they’ll keep you from going through withdrawal. So I would take one at morning, one at night, no more painkillers. They were painkillers because they were morphine, but they were high-dose. It was just two of them I had to take.
“Well, I started having anxiety about breaking my neck over and over again, so they put me on Xanax. Now I’m taking Xanax, and I switched to TNA Impact Wrestling and everybody drank there. So I started drinking alcohol. So I’m mixing, having these cocktails, and I’m so out of control that I’m driving from town to town drinking a 12-pack of beer. I got four DUIs in five years. I lost my reputation, everything I worked for. I was at the lowest point in my life.”
On doctor shopping for his addiction: “I had 12 doctors that I was calling. I had 12 different pharmacies because you can’t go to the same pharmacy twice in one month. Then I had a Mexican contact where I got them illegally. So I was getting about 2,700 pills a month. That’s all you think about is, ‘How are you gonna get your drug the next time?’ So I had this calendar and every day it tells me which doctor to contact. So I have all these things set up so I can get what I need. It takes over your life.”
On how he’s doing since his double knee replacement last year: “Really good. My doctor’s really progressive. He got me out of bed the day of surgery, had me walking around. It was ridiculous. [laughs] I left the hospital without using anything. I walked out of the hospital the next day.”
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Kurt Angle Opens Up About His Battle with Painkiller Addiction
Kurt Angle, the WWE Hall of Famer, recently appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast and spoke candidly about his past struggles with substance abuse, specifically his addiction to painkillers. Angle shared details about how he got introduced to painkillers, the impact they had on his career, and the consequences he faced as a result of his addiction.
Angle revealed that he was first introduced to painkillers after breaking his neck during his time in WWE. He found that the medication not only masked the pain but also provided him with an energetic feeling. However, as time went on, he developed a tolerance to the drugs, and one pill was no longer effective.
One of the most shocking moments Angle shared was when he passed out the night before his Iron Man match with Brock Lesnar. He received news of his sister’s heroin overdose and, devastated by the loss, decided to take a large number of painkillers. Despite waking up just a few hours before the match, Angle still went on to perform and delivered one of the best performances of his career. Reflecting on this incident, he expressed regret over ever being introduced to painkillers.
Angle also discussed leaving WWE due to their insistence on him going to rehab, which he initially resisted. He then joined Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA) and managed to control his painkiller problem by switching to MS Contin, a high-dose morphine medication. However, he developed anxiety about reinjuring his neck and began taking Xanax. This led to a dangerous combination of alcohol and prescription drugs, resulting in four DUIs within five years and a significant decline in his reputation.
The former professional wrestler admitted to doctor shopping as a means to fuel his addiction. He had multiple doctors and pharmacies on rotation to ensure a constant supply of painkillers. Additionally, Angle revealed that he obtained pills illegally from a Mexican contact, highlighting the extent to which his addiction consumed his life.
Despite these challenges, Angle shared that he has made significant progress since undergoing double knee replacement surgery last year. His doctor’s progressive approach allowed him to walk the day of the surgery and leave the hospital without using any pain medication the following day.
Angle’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers of addiction and the devastating impact it can have on one’s personal and professional life. It also sheds light on the importance of seeking help and treatment for substance abuse issues.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it is crucial to reach out to a healthcare professional or a helpline for support and guidance. There are resources available to help individuals overcome addiction and regain control of their lives.