Kurt Angle talks Olympics, WWE comparisons

Kurt Angle thinks he’s past the point of a return to amateur wrestling.

TMZ Sports caught up with the Olympic champion, appropriately wearing a red, white and blue tank top at the time, at the airport. Angle was asked about Olympic wrestling and how WWE Superstars compare. When asked about a possible return to the mat (the shoot one, that is) he was blunt.

 “I’m too old brother. Trust me, I’d get my ass handed to me,” Angle said.

Angle, who turns 48 in December, won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He defeated Iran’s Abbas Jadidi in the heavyweight final by officials’ decision. Since then, Angle has worked primarily in professional wrestling, spending time in WWE, TNA, New Japan and other promotions. He is a six time TNA World Heavyweight champion, four time WWE champion, former World Heavyweight and WCW champion.

But even with accolades in both amateur and professional wrestling, he knows there is a vast difference between the two types of action.

“One’s a real sport. One’s entertainment. It’s not the same,” Angle said.

Angle last wrestled in TNA Jan. 31, where he lost to current World Heavyweight Champion and X Division Champion Bobby Lashley at Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England. Most recently, Angle’s in ring action included a June 12 win over Zack Sabre Jr. for Revolution Pro Wrestling. The Pittsburgh native also competed March 20 in a two out of three falls match against Rey Mysterio at UR Fight iPPV, in which he lost. 

Angle will face Cody Rhodes at Wrestling Under the Stars, a Northeast Wrestling event, Aug. 27 at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY.